Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Electrical Problem

I think it depends on how the Voltmeter is wired into the system. On My +8 Bitsa I ran a wire with diode from the Alternator post to the gauge. I wanted to know if the alternator was knackered. With a Delco Alternator I get 14 volts immediately and that is where it stays.

But I too enjoy the vacuum gauge. When it goes to 0 I shift gears. No Brainer

I removed the battery this morning and checked the charge. Flat as a pancake. Bought a new battery and fitted to the car. Turned the key, absolutely nothing. Dead as a do-do. No dash lights, nothing, absolutely no sign of life whatsoever. Any ideas on what to try next? Phil

Silly question - Did the battery come fully charged?

Have you got a set of jump leads? If so, start by connecting on end of one lead to the negative terminal of the battery, and the other end to a good earthing point - like the engine. Then turn on the ignition. If it look good, then your battery earth strap has failed - this can happen even if they look fine.

The advice re earth leads is good. Well worth getting an additional earth cable and fitting it where you can see it. The Morgan one (in 1985 at least) is on the back end of the gearbox hidden away but exposed to rubbing on grass etc when you park in fields. It is also made of very thin cable.

If the jump lead idea from Tim does not work, you will need to fault find the cabling.

A couple more things to check, sorry if I'm teaching egg-sucking.

1. Are all the fuses ok?
2. Is there a battery isolation switch (big red key thingy) which has got inadvertently knocked around to the off position?
3. Are the battery clamps nice and clean and tight?

My money is still on the battery earth strap - if it was the engine earth strap then you'd expect the dash lights to work but the engine not to start.

Not checked all the fuses but will do. The battery came fully charged. The battery isolator is disengaged and the battery terminals are fine and clean. I'll check the earth straps next. Failing that it's jump leads. Thanks chaps.

Sorry, meant to ask. It might be a silly question but will a dodgy earth lead prevent the dash lights from coming on? I can understand it would create a starting issue.

Depends which earth strap you are talking about, Phil.

The battery earth strap connects the negative terminal of the battery to the chassis of the car, and so if this fails you'll get no electric current anywhere. The engine earth strap connects the engine to the car. It's needed because the engine mountings, being rubber, will isolate the engine.

So yes, if the engine earth strap has failed the dash will light up but the engine won't start. If the battery earth strap has failed you'll get complete electrical failure.

Thanks Tim. The battery earth looks fine which is why I'm surprised I'm seeing no life at the dashboard etc.