LIGHTS OUT JIMBOB

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LEEMAN · #1 Post by **LEEMAN** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:44 am

Hi all,

Just a quickie; my girlfriend whilst negotiating some steps from the house, took a fall yesterday and decided to use my bike as a means of stopping her hit the pavement.

Fortunately no major damage to Ruby and I think my girlfriend is ok.

I rode her (the bike) yesterday and all the lights (head lamps and dash) flickered and then died. indicators work fine and occasionally the head lamps flickered back on for a couple of seconds then disappeared.

Any ideas? apart from trade in the GF?

Aladinsaneuk · #2 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:48 am

check relays/fuses are seating correctly - that would be my first place to check

FlyingKiwi · #3 Post by **FlyingKiwi** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:10 am

Hmmm, remove your seat. take covers off battery electrodes.
get Girlfriend to put one finger on + and the other on - to check if battery is ok

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:34 am

Painstakingly check through your wiring harness. If things are flickering on and off then you've probably got a broken wire or the insulation is worn and it's shorting.
Any points where things turn/ rub are likely areas.

You could check your fuses as it's easy to do but that's unlikely if they still flicker on and off at time - though a fuse could have now been taken out as a secondary failure.

Probably not your battery terminals being loose as that would reset your dash too if the lights are out for any period ... oh, and the engine would stop too.

Wiring diagram is in your user manual and also in the workshop manual.
If you don't have them, download from Martin Poll's website:
http://www.martinpoll.dk/div_april.htm

Falcopops · #5 Post by **Falcopops** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:03 am

My money is on the big connector in the back of the dash.

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:56 am

Falcopops wrote:My money is on the big connector in the back of the dash.

I think you may find a bank would be safer ..... there again, maybe not .....

Falcopops · #7 Post by **Falcopops** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:47 am

Falcopops wrote:My money is on the big connector in the back of the dash.

Nah! probably not actually they're pretty well held in. Must stop posting technical shit when pissed

LEEMAN · #8 Post by **LEEMAN** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:48 pm

FANTASTIC REPLIES

thanks to all.....looks like it may be a spot of painstaking thorough analysis of the wiring harness then

you chaps are fantastic help and therefore much appreciated thank you.

BY the way if anyone has also joined the MX5 fraternity too, my girlfriend and also just bought herself a Mk1, so would be good to hear from you.

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:08 pm

LOL - sorry - I do have a Mazda but it's a light bulb

......... oh, and a Mazda6 too ......

HisNibbs · #10 Post by **HisNibbs** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:37 pm

Helped buy my eldest daughter an MX5 a few yeas back (1990 Eunos) nice little car. She got good use out of it and I also had some fun with. After a couple of years, all grown up and needing a car for some seriouse commuting, she's upgraded to an Audi a3 TDi.

LEEMAN · #11 Post by **LEEMAN** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:55 am

Yep, this be one of they.....as they say in these parts.

Really does drive like an old British sports car - i think the GF is gonna like it......really do need to get her on 2 wheels also tho as she really doesnt like being on the back of old Ruby.

Pillion on the GS was arm chair like and whilst often bored, the GF definitely appreciated the comfy ride.

joecrx · #12 Post by **joecrx** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:04 pm

i never let a women near my bike , not even as a coushon to fall on

Kick her mx5 door shut see how sh likes it

yellowasp · #13 Post by **yellowasp** » Sat May 01, 2010 8:37 pm

joecrx wrote:i never let a women near my bike , not even as a coushon to fall on Kick her mx5 door shut see how sh likes it

LEEMAN · #14 Post by **LEEMAN** » Tue May 04, 2010 7:58 pm

SO after tinkering around - I was flumoxed, I checked fuses and relays and all fine. then gave up and decided I would at least give her a good clean whilst I ponder some more.
Then this evening I discovered that when I turn the ignition on and turn the handle bar to the right, the light and horn both work.

So am assuming this is just down to a miss aligned wire?

any ideas chaps?

D-Rider · #15 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue May 04, 2010 9:51 pm

LEEMAN wrote:SO after tinkering around - I was flumoxed, I checked fuses and relays and all fine. then gave up and decided I would at least give her a good clean whilst I ponder some more.
Then this evening I discovered that when I turn the ignition on and turn the handle bar to the right, the light and horn both work.

So am assuming this is just down to a miss aligned wire?

any ideas chaps?

Or, as I said above, a broken wire that touches and makes a connection when the wires are pulled one way .... or insulation worn away and it shorts to the frame when the harness is pulled one way but moved away from the frame when turned the other way.