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MG MGF Technical - Flat Battery - Boot light

The battery on my 1997 1.8i F went completely flat over two days when the car was not being used. The battery is only about 12 months old and is not subjected to heavy use. A recharge got the car going again and the battery condition seemed good.
I could not find the cause but nothing obvious had been left on. I suspect however that the boot light remained on when it was closed, I could not see it go out as I closed it. Unlike the bonnet light which is operated by a mushroom switch as it is closed I cannot trace the switch that operates the boot light.
Can anyone tell me please where the boot light switch is situated, how it operates and how I may test it? Thanks.

Ken
K. J. Thresher

there is micro switch on the catch itself. Open the boot and then using something like a screwdriver to flick the catch to the closed position( reopen with the key.) The light should go out when you flick the catch shut.
a d kettle

you can tell if the boot light is staying on bacause the car will not 'superlock' if it thinks the boot (or any door) is open.

Also have you checked the maplights on the mirror?
Will Munns

Ken,

There could also be a problem with the loom in the boot where it enters on the left hand side and is tie wrapped to the boot hinge. It's prone to breaking or shorting some of the wires because of the excessive flexing it gets every time you open the boot. Worth checking.

Tony
Tony Thompson

Same problem for me battery is 6 months old.

If the car is not run for 24hrs the battery is flat.

I will check the boot tonight.
mac

Also, the light will be hot if it is on all the time. A short term fix is simply to remove the bulb. This gives you time to find the problem and cure it.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Err No. The lock feedback is "downstream" of the light bulb, before the lock cam to ground contacts. This will deactivate the superlock. If superlock works, then the light is out.
Three nuts to loosen a rear light cluster will show if the light is on.
The critical boot lid wires at the hinge location are in a split convoluted tube covered with PVC Tape. Careful removal of the tape allows access to the wire thru the split. The wire is Thinwall 16/0.20 0.5sq mm
and to splice I use 2.5mm x 8mm metal sleeves with a pair of suitable crimping pliers.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Geoff I agree with everything you said except for the 'errno'. Please be more specific as what you are dissagreeing with - I can't see anything which could be attributed to it.
Will Munns

Will,
The Err no !! is SF's "Take the bulb out". Superlock checks it.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Ah, right - I was going to remark on that and point out how it left the car vernrable, but it will stop the battery draining (which will become more of a problem as the cold weather draws in)

Will Munns

I meant taking the bulb out will stop the battery drain, it won't cure the problem (which is as you say, highly likey to be with the loom on the boot hinge). It's a 'buying time' measure so that you can look for the problem and rectify it over a week or so. It's worked for me in the past anyway (twice now).

Taking the bulb out wont activate superlocking, but it will stop the battery draining.

Also, there is no need to remove the rear light cluster to see if the light stays on, if it is on all the time it will be hot.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Checked the boot light is not. I have taped the wire where they wear against the body work and will see if that helps.

The best way to check the light is lock the neighbours kid in the boot.
mac

>The best way to check the light is lock the neighbours kid in the boot.

LOL Did you go for a drive to see if it was intermittant?
Will Munns

can some 1 help please, just drove to gatwick with open boot light flshing on dash board.
after checking all doors boot and bonet still flashing.
returning back to car after holls still flashing and internal lights not working ,when switched on the radio swiches of.
tried messing with the boot catch to no avail
was wondering weather internal light problem cauld be low battery due to boot light but this should not be a problem when car is running.
mgf y reg. thanks baz.
baz

Two Questions.
Does your Boot Light come on with Boot Open ??
Does Superlock Work ??
It looks like the Boot Wiring around the LH Hinge.

Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Baz

Just adding to Geoff's comments. A problem with the boot wiring is not always easy to spot even when you take off the tape that covers the loom because wires can break inside the insulation.

When this happened to me I finally tracked down the broken wire with the help of an ohmmeter.

Chris
Christopher Marshall

Top Tip:- the interior cabin light of a 1995 Rover 100 (metro) is the same size as the MGF boot light (and under bonnet light for that matter) and has a switch to turn the light on or off. Get one of these from a breakers, swap with the boot light and you can manually turn the light off.

Also, the bulb in the boot and bonnet light is the same as the rear lights so if your rear light fails just borrow the bulb from boot/bonnet light.

(the lens on mine still has the old Austin Rover badge on it!)
Russell Parslow

thanks 4 your help.
checked wirering loom at boot hinge again and found break smack under grey zip fasterner in 2 wirers that had been shorting all fixed now thank god and no cost best of all , just an houre or so taking lock,boot catch and all connections to bits.
without reading your help and looking again at the loom the next step was the garage and no doute a big bill so thanks again all. baz
baz

All

Thanks everyone for your help.

The boot light proved to be OK (must let neighbours kid out). Fault proved to be in the battery itself. Very odd as sometimes it would hold its charge and on others it would not. Anyway it was still in its warranty period so supplier gave me a new one. All now seems well.

Ken
K. J. Thresher

Russell,
If you switch Off the boot light, then the car will not Superlock and if you switch Off the bonnet light, then the under-bonnet theft alarm is switched Off.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Just to get it straight,if my boot light stays ON and the superlock doesn't work,is it likely to be a fault with the loom or at the boot light switch,I'm confused!
TA
paul

I have never heard of the swich failing - every time it turns out to be the loom at the boot hinge.

taking the bulb out (or the electrical eqivilent of switching it off) may well stop the superlock working and leave the alarm disabled :-(
Will Munns

Will, is the switch in the boot catch? I fitted an electric boot release ,have I disturbed something?
paul

Will.
My boot light was "missing" when I got my F, but superlock( double click), and alarm still work????.
Mark

Will,
I agree with Mark. No boot light (bulb blown) the superlock still works.
Chris
C F Jones

Same here, with boot light turned off car still super locks. Its a 97 VVC.
Russell Parslow

This thread was discussed between 10/10/2004 and 19/10/2004

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