On Mon, 31 Aug 1998, Scott McKorkle wrote:
> Amazing how we continually embarrass ourselves in public. I took my 78B in
> for new paint a couple weeks ago. Stripped off everything that would move
> (and a few things that wouldn't). The only items I left on were the tail
> lights. I removed those at the paint shop (I'll bet some of you see where
> this is going...) They drove it into the garage and drove it back out to
> the parking lot after about a week indoors. When I picked it up today, it
> was resplendent in its new Brooklands Green paint. However, we noticed
> that a tire was going flat. No problem, they say, just drive it up to our
> compressor and we'll fill it with air.
>
> I jumped in, turned the key... nothing happened! I went through all the
> checklist items, finally figured out it wasn't getting any gas. Brilliant
> me, I figured the gas gauge went south and drove to the station for a
> couple gallons. Still nothing. Just about ready to go buy a fuel pump
> when it hit me. Tail lights! I replaced them and it started immediately.
>
> Can someone tell me why?? It isn't a ground situation--I made sure to
> reconnect the ground wires after removing the the rear license plate
> bracket (where they are fastened). Obviously, the fuel pump needs the
> electrical connections in the tail lights to complete the circuit. But
> only the tail lights--every other exterior light on the car has been
> removed. Could it somehow be tied to the fact that there isn't a ground
> wire on the tail light assembly??
>
> Please note that all is running well now. I'm just curious.
>
> Thanks!
> Scott McKorkle
> 1978 MGB
>
Yes it is the ground. I had the same problem but a jumper wire on
the pump solved the problem.
...Art
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