MG Car Repair: Lights make car quit running, fuel guage, volt meter

Question
I recently bought a 1979 mgb. While driving it home it quit running after I turned the headlights on. While still in motion I immediatly turned the lights off and the car started right back up. I need help please! Also my fuel guage doesn't work. Can I fix this myself? Thank You

Answer
Hi Rick,
Since you don't have a history on the car you need to start from scratch. You should be able to make the repairs yourself but you need a few tools. A volt meter, test light, wiring diagram of the car and standard hand tools. The volt meter and test light are not expensive and can be bought at a Radio Shack or such and I can supply you with a wiring diagram if you don't have one. Let me know.

The first thing you need to do is to test the charging system. Put the volt meter across the battery terminals and read battery voltage. Then start the engine and set the idle at 1500 to 2000 RPM and read the volt meter. It should read 13.8 to 14.5 volts at the battery.

If that is ok, check the voltage at the white wire on the coil for voltage and write it down. Then turn on the headlights and check it again and tell me what the two reading were plus what the charging system voltage is and battery voltage is and I will tell you what the next step is.

Howard