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September 29th, 2008

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Q & A: Ignition

Tuesday January 03rd, 2006
Q & A, MGA, MGB, MGC, MG T-Type, Midget
My problem came up at a Predawn Rally at 3:30am on a Sunday. I had
driven to pick up my navigator 45 min away with no problem other than I
noticed my Gas Gage read 1/2 full or 1/2 empty, what ever I had filled
it the day before so I new it was toped off, also the temp gage was
running half of the normal temp but it was very cool at 3:30am. So I
didn't give it much thought either.

So after driving with lights and radio going about 45 min. to pick up my
navigator and got to the starting point of the Rally where I again
turned off the car and it sat for 30 min, We started the rally, The car
started and I turned on the head lights and it began to have ignition
problems (no power and sputtering), after trying to drive about 1/2 mile
it was ready to die. We pulled over and restarted it by pushing it, but
as soon as the head lights came on trouble started again. I got the car
home with the help of the rally masters head lights from behind my
stealthy 1975B (drove home with out head lights 20Min.and it ran fine).

After the rally and the sun was up I started the car and it ran fine as
long as I didn't turn on the head lights, 10-30seconds after turning on
the head lights it would start to die, as soon as it started to have the
ignition prob the voltage in the battery droped like a rock and had to
be charged for 10 min.before it would restart and then it ran fine again
as long as the head lights remained off, All the gages started working
again and no problems with turn signals or hazard lights etc. After
looking everywhere for burnt, frayed and loose wires all I can come up
with is the Alternator?
Have you ever come across this before
Robert!

Several things hit me right away. #1 Service the battery.
Physically REMOVE the clamps from the battery, clean them, clean the posts,
even disconnect and reconnect the earth strap at the battery. #2 Disconnec... read more