John traced a fault in the wiring on our 1978 MG Midget 1500 and identified a section of melted wiring as the source of the issue. He removed the damaged wiring and installed a replacement to restore proper electrical function.
Jonn brought our 1978 MG Midget out from the Classic Lounge and conducted a road test. During the drive, he noted that the idle was slightly low and the engine performance felt somewhat flat, suggesting it would benefit from a slight adjustment to the fuel mixture. He began a pre-delivery inspection while he had the car available, checking over key components, inflating the tyres, and torquing the wheels.
While inspecting the dashboard lighting, Jonn discovered a short in the wiring that had caused the light wiring to burn out. Additionally, he found that the radiator top had been pulled away and required repair. He drilled out the spot welds on the radiator cowling and removed both the front section and the radiator top. After cleaning the surfaces, he bonded the radiator top back in place using JB Weld and left it to cure. The cowling was then straightened and test-fitted multiple times until he was satisfied with the alignment.
He also adjusted the alternator belt tension and repositioned the steering wheel by turning it a couple of splines to the right for improved alignment. Following this, he began assisting John with rewiring the lights.
Jonn continued with the wiring repairs on our 1978 MG Midget by soldering new terminals and splicing in replacement wiring where needed. Once the connections were secure, he taped the area to ensure proper insulation, then connected and tested the circuit, which proved to be functioning correctly. He retaped the loom and tucked it neatly back under the dashboard.
Rob was then brought in to spot weld the radiator cowling back into place. After the welding was completed, Jonn masked up the surrounding area, ground down the welds for a clean finish, and painted the cowling black. He then resecured it to the top radiator mount.
Following these repairs, Jonn filled the tank with 12 litres of P1 fuel and carried out a road test. On the return journey, the car began to sputter severely, prompting him to pull over at a slip road. Although the engine was hot, the radiator remained cool, leading him to suspect an airlock in the cooling system. Jonn was recovered by Tony and John using the trailer and returned the car to the workshop for further investigation.
