Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Some practical advice please for an ARP4 owner

I preface these questions with a warning that I am practically and technically inept so please assume you are dealing with an indiot throughout.

From my previous postings, you may have seen that I am very happy with my ARP4 but there are a couple of issues on which I would welcome the advice of TM members.

The first is the dashboard switchgear. This is not illuminated so you are left scrabbling around in the dark to find the right switch. Given the proximity of the ignition switch to the heated screen, that is not just inconvenient but actually dangerous.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could have done (I would not attempt anything myself) to improve this and provide some subtle illumination?

My car has driving/spot lights fitted. I know there was mixed opinion on the site as to the look of these but I like how they look. However, I am completely ignorant as to the correct use of the lights. Should they be turned off when there is oncoming traffic or is it acceptable for them to be on? If they need to be turned off, then one ends up either having lights on full beam or having the driving lights on because driving in country lanes, it is too difficult to both dip the headlights and find the switch to turn off the driving lights in a limited timeframe.

Suggestions on the best practical use of these lights would be appreciated. My apologies if these sound like silly questions.

Many thanks

Biffo I'm sure others might have ideas on the illumination for you but spot/driving lights are usually used to supplement the main beams. I had a +4SS for a while which had the same arrangement as you and I didn't like it to have to switch the driving lamps separately. When I had driving lamps put on my 4/4 I had them wired into the main beam so they would go on and off at the same time. I personally would like to see if I could change this to that arrangement on your ARP4.

Driving lamps should only switch on with full high beam and not come on with Dip or side lights. Are you sure they stay on when on Dip?


I would imagine a small LED strip could be fitted above the dash switch panel and come on with your lights, it would be hidden by the leather roll over.

I think that in most countries by law driving lights must only be on when the lights are on high beam. This is a simple matter of wiring the driving lights switch to the high beam circuit. They should, of course be on a separate relay.

If they are fog lights they can be on when low beam is on but they should be aimed low and only used when there is fog. This is also governed by law in some countries. People running around with fog lights on when there is no fog should be fined as it is an annoying and dangerous practice.

A couple of very valid questions Biffo.

Don't forget we are talking about Morgan, so no assumptions can be made about the correct and legal way that they have wired in the LED spot lamps. I suspect that Biffo has the same as my car, this is that once switched on when on high beam, the spots will stay on when the mains are on dip. This will most definitely blind oncoming traffic, and as Biffo says, trying to find the switch to turn them off, at the same time as operating the column mounted dip switch with the same hand is all but impossible. So I have come up with a cunning plan, which involves fitting a short piece of close fitting tubing over the spot light switch to lengthen it and make it easier to hit first time with outstretched fingers whilst the hand is still on the wheel. The spots are really good and throw a focused beam down the road further than the standard LED headlamps, which are better than most normal lights anyway, I now drive leaving the headlamps on dip all the time, and just use the spots like a main beam, and with the extended switch it is just a flick of the finger to turn them off when required, leaving the dip beams already on. It works a treat, and when the road is really empty, I can still put up the main beams, but frankly this detracts from the spread of light that dipped beam gives for the verges.

For the extension I used a small length of small bore copper pipe I had lying around, and after wrapping some insulation tape around the switch, I eased the pipe over that, but a suitable plastic tube could also be fitted and I would suggest heating it first in boiling water to soften it.

With regard to the dark switchgear , as has been suggest some sort of covered light on the dash would do it, but the best thing is to just learn where each switch is so you can go streaight to it. Bear in mind that when switching anything on you will not turn off the ignition, and the switch you will use most is the spot lamp switch, which, if you have an extension, you will not confuse with the ignition.

Don't hesitate to ask any further question you may have Biffo.

This is the best approach without doubt. Incidentally I am not sure of what technically is the definition of a driving light as opposed to a fog light. I mention this because it is illegal to drive with fog lights on when visibility is normal so I can imagine problems with plod if you drive with just the extra lights on.

An old ruling (so whether still applicable) is where fog lights are mounted above a certain height, in which case they could be used instead of dipped headlamps. Won't apply to Morgans though...
And yes, those who don't turn the bl..dy things off when visibility returns to normal need shooting...

In the days when an extract from the Construction & Use Regulations was printed in the back of the Highway Code it said that lamps mounted less than 2 feet from the ground could only be used in fog or falling snow. I believe this was later changed to significantly reduced visibility. I know someone who was prosecuted some 10 years ago for using fog lamps in normal conditions. The current regulation states that front or rear fog lights must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced (generally when you cannot see more than 100 metres). However the recent proliferation of cars driven around with fog lamps on would suggest that plod is turning a blind (dazzled?) eye.
Agree with Graham about rear fog lamps. Yesterday driving back from London in lightly foggy conditions but with tailights visible from about a half mile some 30% on the cars still had their rear fogs on.

Many thanks to all - really helpful and knowledgeable replies as ever, much appreciated.

I completely agree with the poor use of fog lamps by most drivers. I drove back up from Heathrow on the M40 on Thursday evening when there was patchy fog. There was absolutely no issue with seeing people's rear lights and all the rear fog lamps do is make seeing braking lights more difficult. (By the way, a car for every occasion, I had 6 people including me and some luggage which my Disco swallowed up and was just the ticket).

you were lucky they had any lights on. Near Amersham a great many didn't.