Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Aero 8 Supersports (2011) - annoying issue

Hi All,
Every now and then when driving along at any speed I lose literally everything - the care engine dies, steering,brakes,etc all the same. All the lights on the dashboard completely dead. I manage to park up and then switch the ignition back on and everything fires up and no issues again until the next time. It does seem to happen when the car has warmed up and then around 10 to 15 minutes after starting.
I was wondering maybe a dodgy battery terminal? Bad earth?
Really frustrating and getting to the point of just not trusting the car
I fact thinking of getting the S1 out of long term storage!
Many thanks
T

Could even be dodgy ignition key switch. Maybe a faulty battery?

If the battery earth strap hasn't been changed, then I would start with that. If you are losing all power to all systems then the battery and its connections has got to be chief suspect.

Check the isolator switch also fitted just below the front of the fuse box.

I had this on the Coupe which is from the same period. I was driving home late night in the dark and the entire dash/headlamps/engine/powersteering went off with no warning. I have a brown interior, more so at that point in an auto in the outside lane of the A34. Only thing you don't mention is that it was raining and the windscreen was leaking like a sieve. I suspected water on the dashboard for steering column causing a short. In some cases the pipework to the windscreen washers can come loose (known fault and factory fix) and the water can be put through the dash causing it as well. Fill your windscreen wipers and run them to ensure they are all fully connected.

My Aero +8 has done this once.... complete shut down - right on a quick corner too. I rarely drive it on a motorway, but this would have been lethal had I been in the overtaking lane.

Some of my dash lights are intermittent - indicators and main beam lights on the dash are quite often out. So I suspect wobbly wiring behind the dash somewhere.

many thanks for all the responses. I will have a look at it next weekend. I do keep off the motorways etc now! What is interesting is that the previous owner had a trickle charger on it all the time as after 3 days the battery would go flat - and he had fitted a new battery on it. Would that possibly direct the fault to that area rather than the ignition switch?
Cheers
T

Yes that sounds like part of the same issue. If it is the trickle charger then it should stay good. If off the charger and not being used 1 week might be a rough average among the responses I hear.

If you need it to stay live then the big red switch on the front of the electrics/fuse box in the engine bay (in front of the steering wheel sort of) can be flipped to kill the car which tends to keep it all live. This will isolate everything so can make audio/trackers a little jumpy etc.

Inspect the wires around the door to body joints for fraying and exposed cable as they don't seem best protected.

On the Supersports the roof panels are known for leaking a bit and need some love and new rubber seals on an infrequent but regular schedule. If the water is coming in through these and down the pillar into the dash area then it won't help.

I would guess you may have a trapped wire or lose connector. Fastest way to resolution is probably a pure electrical specialist rather than most of the generic dealers.

Thanks for this Alastair.
One other issue that I have on the car is a low noise "rumble" coming out of the back axle(well that area). Its particularly noticeable going very slow and especially in reverse with some steering -if you see what I mean. I took it to the independent Morgan specialist and he checked it all over and his conclusion was a very "tight" limited slip diff and he said it wasnt a problem. It doesnt sound healthy to me but I may be getting a bit over sensitive now !
Any thoughts?
Thanks
T

I used to keep the Speedster on a permanent trickle - but kept getting “ bulb failure” warnings and strange light shows at the end of the journey as I was switching off. Now I just use the isolater switch most of the time and the electrics are behaving better. I hope to pick the car up on Friday with it’s new steering rack and reattached exhaust system in time for Prescott on Sunday. Will check with the dealer today - they have already had it for two weeks. So hoping !