Vintage Cars: 71 mgb gt lights, sheet metal screws, screw size

Question
There was a question on 7/2 that you answered. My problem relates to it. I turned on my lights and they came on then went out. I cut them off then on and they came on then went off. Now they don't come on. Yes I had the car painted and headlights out of it. They worked fine for a while then this problem. Could the lights not being tight in the body be the problem?

Answer
That questioner went through a lot of connections and ground checking, and cured it. And I had an earlier question about flashers from an MG TD owner after a paint job. Mainly grounding in both cases. I agree with you: yours might be the same.

However, if both sides go on and off together, this is unlikely to be a ground problem at the individual light fitting(s), unless (coincidentally) both grounds are bad from the paint job. But I suppose it's possible, so first I suggest you make sure of the grounding to the bodywork on both sides: 1) make sure the sheet-metal screws are tight in the bodywork holes; if not, go up one screw size (eg a #10, but buy stainless!). 2) I also recommend putting a barb-type lock washer under at least one of the screws, and make sure it grinds a bit on the lamp fitting. It is the screw(s) that connect the fitting to the bodywork.

But if it's not the grounds, you may be talking about the lamp switch (which would have nothing to do with the paint job). That would be oddly coincidental. If you can pop the switch out of the dash and wiggle both switch and wires (using a 12V testing lamp), that will indicate any major problem in the switch.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to grind a bit!

Jo