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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 battery drain

I am working with a neighbor who just won a 1976 in a $10 raffle. The car was last registered in 1988 but the engine, transmission and clutch are fine.

There is a rather heavy drain on the battery with the ignition off (4.5A). I pulled each fuse but the drain remains. Also disconnected the alternator but to no avail.

There must be some light or accessory that remains on even after the ignition as been turned off. If anyone has experienced this problem on the 76, please advise. Only occasionally does the 1971 come up with a flat battery in the morning.
Glenn Mallory

Try unplugging the keyed ignition switch (plug under dash left hand side) or disconnecting the feed at the fuse block...the feed (brown wire) comes directly off of the battery cable at the starter solenoid, goes to the input side of the fuse block & feeds the switch unfused!

I had a similar problem with my 1500 right before the ignition switch melt down!

Good Luck...electrickery again!
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

Don't know if this is relevant, but thats about the drain for an alternator with one duff diode! Does it have an alternator or dynamo?
Graham.
Graham P 1330 Frogeye

4.5 A is a big drain

is there a boot/trunk light that has a distorted bulbholder that may be allowing a direct feed to earth

Thats an amperage for a device doing something, rather than just a short to earth
bill sdgpm

This thread was discussed on 05/06/2010

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