ROADSTER ELECTRICAL GROUNDS/EARTHS
by Gary Kneisley

Here are the major grounding points on the Morgan Roadster (USA).  These may be identical, similar or not at all like the ground on the late model +8s of the same vintage or the other world versions.

 

1. Behind the Fascia there is a ground terminal on the heater box.  Suggest moving this to the scuttle bar.


2. Engine had a ground strap to the scuttle (firewall).


3. Engine computer, inside the fuse box, a wire runs to a bolt on the bottom of the fuse box. 


4. Outside of right hand valence (remove the right front wheel) near the air intake tube.


5. On the rear chassis member near the right rear wheel.


6. And of course, the chassis to battery ground. 


I am certain there may be others, but these are the ones to check first when seeking grounding points to test.  Please let me know if you find more. 


ROADSTER FAN TEMP SWITCH
edited by Gary Kneisley

Most USA Roadsters have experienced over heating problems early in their life but some people are purchasing low mileage Morgans that have not been driven much or on long trips. The first (non-US) Roadsters were fit with fine alloy rads and had no issues. But the Factory soon turned to the cheaper plastic rads they were using on the 4/4s.  An immense saving! So now there are many reasons for the overheating, the primary one is the inadequate radiator installed as standard by the factory. This was not epidemic, if the car was used mildly in the UK. But now even the UK is getting hotter. We are told that finding a replacement sensor was deceptively simple
… it is a Ford part.  Admittedly this is a rarely used part in the Ford world and the parts desk will deny knowing what it is when you first show it to them, but his Ford Dealer punched the number into their computer and discovered that, indeed, it was a Ford part and THEY HAD ONE in stock.  It is Ford part number: F5RZ-8l603-AC and it’s called a “Resistor A”.  Oh, he reminds us to keep the pigtail from the old switch as you will need it. 



ROADSTER IGNITION KEY

by Rick Frazee

Recently I had a local person who had just purchased a 2005 Morgan Roadster contact me about getting a second key for his car.  I'd heard the horror stories about having to send the Morgan's ECU and remaining key back to the factory and waiting months to get needed extra keys. The Morgan cannot be driven in the meantime and having once lost a key on a trip the extra key that my wife carried saved us a lot of hassle. At at least two keys are necessary and three are even better for peace of mind.
I used to own a hotel and had a great locksmith that I had used. I stopped by his shop and was told that making chipped auto ignition keys had become so specialized that they stopped and now send all customers to Advance Auto Locksmith, 1218 Alden Rd, Orlando, FL 32803.   Phone 407-260-0261 or 407-297-1077.   I drove on over with my Morgan and met with Darran Dent (a Brit) the owner.  We were able to make the mechanical part of the ignition key without a problem but finding the correct key blank with the correctly cloned chip alluded us for several attempts of trying various key blanks and codes to properly reproduce the Morgan key.   
We have now done it successfully and he feels confident that he can duplicate the process. The cost of cloning a key is $145.00 if you take him a single working key and your 2005 Morgan Roadster.  I believe it is possible for Roadster owners outside of the Orlando, Florida area, to mail him a working key and have him make as many clones as the owner requests.  I'd recommend sending it registered and insured USPS mail if you need to go that way.  Please call and discuss this directly with Darran.   Please note that this is for only the 2005 model Morgan Roadsters, 3.0 liters. The newer Roadsters, 3.7 liters have a different key and coding. Darran would most likely need the key and the Morgan to figure out the correct cloning for the first one of the newer model.

WATCHPOINT Clip from sufferer.  Sooooo.... after hours on the computer I found the part in Lithuania that had the same numbers, but was identified as an ignition for a 1997 Land Rover Discovery 1. Okay, this is something to explore.... Then I found a used part at a Land Rover dealer that had the same numbers on the casing but was identified also by the Land Rover part number STC 1435. Checked out some STC 1435 and they LOOK like my part, and I ordered one from a dealer in NY will arrive 4/6-4/10 I hope. So, we'll see if it works! WATCH THIS SPACE.