MG Car Repair: electrical/lights, windshield wipers, temperature gauge

Question
Howard!

I bought a 1979 MGB and just put it on the road a couple of days ago. I'm thrilled that as of now, it is awesome to drive!

However, I've got a couple problems with the electrical. I'm thinking that I've just got a couple of loose connections and wires. But my turn signals don't work; sometimes my brake lights stop working, as well as my temperature gauge, rpm gauge, and windshield wipers. Yet, sometimes I'll hit a bump and these will all work again.

When I first got the car, both headlights were working. Over time, the driver's side low beam went out. Then on its maiden voyage (about a 70-mile drive both ways), the same side high beam went out. Am I hitting any thoughts? Is there something common you think may fix this problem? Or should I just buy a new headlight?

Back to the turn signals, we changed and checked the wiring (as best as we could) and changed the bulbs... still nothing.

Thoughts? I truly appreciate it!

-JL

Answer
Hi JL,
Don't buy anything until you know what is wrong with the car.

I learned a long time ago that symptoms will sometimes tell you what area of a car the problem is but otherwise 100% useless information. Testing a failed circuit is the ONLY method to find and fix a problem. Pick ONLY ONE failed circuit and use a wiring diagram and test light to trace that circuit. (I trace from the load (item that don't work) to the source (battery)). This method is a 100% fix, 100% of the times. If you don't have a wiring diagram you can copy one from my web site at, http://mg-tri-jag.net/78-80MGB1x1.jpg for the diagram and change the ending to 78-80MGB21x1.jpg for the index to the diagram.

Howard