Thanks for Steve for pointing me to this local resource.
I'm a new owner of an MGA. It's my first classic car, and I'm not very experienced with Auto mechanics. I bought the car with the intent of having a fun driver and learning more about doing auto work along the way, but I'll admit, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I've only owned the car a few weeks, and she's been towed twice.
You can read my current situation here in this thread, which is where Steve "found" me.
http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?2,1624293" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
but I'm starting to feel a bit out of my league for figuring this out. I could take the car to a mechanic, but I'd like to learn this stuff myself. At the same time, I'm not having much luck figuring it out myself, and could use some guidance and experience. I live in Alhambra, near Pasadena, in Southern California.
I've even considered buying and installing a new wiring harness. Figure if I did that I'd KNOW the electrical system, but I don't know if that's crazy, and I'd certainly want experienced help.
I did buy a heavy duty headlamp harness from Victoria British, but I'm intimidated to try and install it.
I'd be quite happy to pay for your time, either in cash/beer/wine/scotch. Moss gift certificates? I could be generous.
Again, the goal is to get it running again, and to learn more about the car along the way.
geoffcj@gmail.com
MGA Electrical Issues. New owner needing help! Will pay!
-
- Core Member
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:19 pm
- Vehicles Owned: 1954 Velocette LE Motorbike
1956 MGA
1971 BMW 2002 tii (Sold)
the most generic gold tan minivan you can imagine
A pile of kayaks and bicycles.
- Steve Simmons
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4106
- Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:45 pm
- Vehicles Owned: .
1937 MG SA Saloon
1946 John Deere AN
1949 MG TC
1953 MG TD
1958 MGA Roadster
1959 Morris Minor 1000
1965 MGB
1967 MGB GT (UK-Spec)
1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8
1969 MGC GTS - Location: Co-Nay-Ho Valley
- Contact:
Re: MGA Electrical Issues. New owner needing help! Will pa
Hey Geoff, welcome to the forum! The good news is that MGAs are very simple cars in the grand scheme of things. Like anything there is a learning curve, but with time you'll undoubtedly have all the bugs sorted.
If I remember correctly, you had some wiring issues and found a bad ground, bu the car still wouldn't charge? My guess is that you have either a bad generator or control box (voltage regulator). Both are very simple devices. The generator can be rebuilt in 30 minutes with $10 worth of parts. The control box is a bit more tricky and perhaps best left to an expert. For this I recommend Jerry at British Auto Electric in Anaheim. Cost is minimal.
Feel free to swing it by and I can try to help, or if you want someone who actually know what they are doing then take it to Malcolm (also a member here) who is an ace mechanic in Temple City right down the street from your area.
If I remember correctly, you had some wiring issues and found a bad ground, bu the car still wouldn't charge? My guess is that you have either a bad generator or control box (voltage regulator). Both are very simple devices. The generator can be rebuilt in 30 minutes with $10 worth of parts. The control box is a bit more tricky and perhaps best left to an expert. For this I recommend Jerry at British Auto Electric in Anaheim. Cost is minimal.
Feel free to swing it by and I can try to help, or if you want someone who actually know what they are doing then take it to Malcolm (also a member here) who is an ace mechanic in Temple City right down the street from your area.
-
- Active Member
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:07 am
- Location: SoCal
Re: MGA Electrical Issues. New owner needing help! Will pa
We can definitely get this sorted, but developing a relationship with a pro like Malcolm is a good idea.
- kiwimark
- Active Member
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:46 pm
- Vehicles Owned: 1958 MGA Coupe
1969 MGB Gt
1995 Ford Bronco - Location: Del Mar Ca
Re: MGA Electrical Issues. New owner needing help! Will pa
Hi Geoff
Try this site. Has a lot of great info. http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I gleaned the know how to convert my MGA from pos to neg earth and fit an alternator. I no longer need the control box but left it in for show. has a lot of good info in one place. Saves a lot of searching. Steve is right though, the MGA is a simple car and with a wiring diagram and some patience you can fit a complete new harness system in a short time frame. Took me a day to wire and half a day to trouble shoot as I did not wear my glasses when wiring the dash( big mistake). Do not think by the way that a new harness will be trouble free, test the continuity of all the wires before fitting (another mistake I made as I found a dead wire in the dash harness after installation) to save a lot of heartache later.
Regards
Mark
Try this site. Has a lot of great info. http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I gleaned the know how to convert my MGA from pos to neg earth and fit an alternator. I no longer need the control box but left it in for show. has a lot of good info in one place. Saves a lot of searching. Steve is right though, the MGA is a simple car and with a wiring diagram and some patience you can fit a complete new harness system in a short time frame. Took me a day to wire and half a day to trouble shoot as I did not wear my glasses when wiring the dash( big mistake). Do not think by the way that a new harness will be trouble free, test the continuity of all the wires before fitting (another mistake I made as I found a dead wire in the dash harness after installation) to save a lot of heartache later.
Regards
Mark
- VWNate1
- Veteran Member
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
- Vehicles Owned: LBC's
Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617
1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox
1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe
1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox
Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers - Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes
Re : Charging Fun
If you just want to pay to have it done , Malcom is honest & reliable , close by in Temple City too.
OTOH , I'm using a brandy new made in India Lucas generator for several years now , along with a Lucas voltage regulator converted to electronic by Wilton Electrics in Wilton , N.H. ~ the best $ I ever spent on my daily driver (800 + miles / week) LBC .
It charges *perfectly* all the time now .
Moss Motors sells these new generators cheaply , not for show cars or 100 % restorations but every bit as good and reliable as an alternator .
OTOH , I'm using a brandy new made in India Lucas generator for several years now , along with a Lucas voltage regulator converted to electronic by Wilton Electrics in Wilton , N.H. ~ the best $ I ever spent on my daily driver (800 + miles / week) LBC .
It charges *perfectly* all the time now .
Moss Motors sells these new generators cheaply , not for show cars or 100 % restorations but every bit as good and reliable as an alternator .
-Nate