MG Car Repair: Electrical, for a 1968 MGB roadster, 6 volt batteries, mgb roadster

Question
Hi Barrie,

I own the above car.  Before, you advised me on alternator/starting issues for me; in the interim I have replaced the old 12 volt battery (the previous owner converted from two 6 volt batteries to one 12 volt) with a new battery.  The car starts and maintains a charge just fine, now.

I am now chasing a number of electrical faults that I believe can be only resolved by pulling the dashboard.  Before undertaking such a project I have a few questions...

1.  If the faults are because of faulty connections, will I fix them by taking apart/cleaning to good conductivity, or would you predict I will have to renew them?

2.  The tachometer and speedometer may be faulty to the point of needing to be rebuilt.  Would there be any harm in me operating the car while I am waiting for the instruments to be rebuilt or replaced? (speeding tickets I can risk! :-)

3.  One of the faults I am chasing down may involve connections to the 'voltage stabiliser'.  Will I find this part behind the dashboard (I am hoping so...)?

Again, thank you in advance for any and all information you can give!

Regards,
Dan

Answer
Hi Dan

1) Faulty connections can often be fixed by cleaning the corroded terminals.  If it is a bullet connector, then I usually slip off the rubber surround to inspect the metal core.  These can corrode to the point where they no longer grip the bullets, at which time they are best replaced.  There is one in particular behind the dashboard, which has 3 or 4 white wires going into it.  It often causes trouble.  There is a bunch of connectors under the bonnet (inboard of the fusebox near the heater unit) which also cause problems.  Also, many problems tend to be bad earths.

2) I cannot recommend driving a car without a speedo.  It houses the red ignition light, which is live when the engine is running, and that could easily cause a fire.  

3) The voltage stabiliser is attached to the bulkhead behind the dashboard.  It should be above and to the left of the wiper motor.  It is a small can with 2 connectors and it attaches with a single self-tapping screw.

Happy New Year