Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Dashboard

Peter,

the issue you describe is a "school boy" error!

I was taught at school that NOTHING goes between an electronic component and ground/earth. All switches, controls and other stuff must go on the live side of a component.

Why? Because if the switch is on the wrong side then the component is never properly off and there is a risk of both overheating and electric shock. Also, as you describe, a motor is also a generator and back emf can do all sorts of strange things.

OK, on a car electric shock isn't a serious issue, but even so...

Yes, re-wire it.

PS: on the +8 the electrics/electronics are mostly BMW. I hope/suspect they do it correctly.

Peter

There a re 4 screws on my 2006 car holding the dash on. Two at the side & 2 in the middle over the instrument switch panel.

Take photos as you open it. On mine the wires pull of the pcb.

It seems scary but is actually easy to do. While you are there I would change the Morgan cheap washer pipe & T piece. Tie wrap the pipes on. Mine failed & it then sprays the electrics. Mini (old style)bits fit.

I have just had a car in which has also had 3 circuit boards. After hours of investigating [i][/i]we have come to the conclusion that the circuit board is poorly designed and simply not up to the job, not helped by some poor wiring circuitry that can cause back feeds.

We have designed a new board that converts everything back to relays and keeps the 2 stage illumination of the dash mounted switches (for on and off) this is pretty much guaranteed to solve all problems permanently and is done as a plug in conversion so that should you ever need to it can be converted back to original.

We intend to offer these fitted to any customers who are interested, please easy for more details.

Andy

I would be interested to know a little more Andy. I certainly agree with you that the circuit board is poorly designed and has little or no protection from feedbacks and voltage pulses.

I would be particularly interested to know if the logic of the control of the two speed heater fan has been reversed so that the control is on the power supply side, not on the earth side.

You could send me a PM with your contact details if you wish.

"on the +8 the electrics/electronics are mostly BMW. I hope/suspect they do it correctly"

When I bought my (older) Plus 8 I was also running a BMW 740i. Comparing wiring on the two cars was an education.

I find it difficult to understand how the two approaches could differ so much, the BMW electrics resembling an aerospace installation and the Morgan more like some schoolboy practical experiment.

I PMed Andy and have had no reply. He seems to have come and gone in the flash of a printed circuit board and a puff of smoke.