White wire with purple stripe

Post any technical questions or queries here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Joel Welsh 4769VU
850 Super
Posts: 215
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:54 pm
Location: Wauseon, Ohio, USA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

White wire with purple stripe

Post by Joel Welsh 4769VU »

I'm working on putting my engine back in, and getting her running after a decade.

I've found a wire in the engine bay, down by the alternator where the distributor lead comes out- that I'm not familiar with... and don't remember removing.

Does anyone have any ideas where it might belong?

It's in the same grouping with the white/black wire for the distributor, and the white/red wire for the coil.

My car has an alternator conversion loom installed by po.

I've searched diagrams, the internet, and this group to no avail.
Wauseon, Ohio- United States
1964 mk1 Austin Cooper "Dianna"
Tartan red and black
I can't take credit for what others built- all I can do is try to put her back on the road. :shock:

You just can't fix stupid... you can hide it sometimes though... :lol:
Oneball
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 920
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:33 pm
Location: Worcester
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Oneball »

Oil filter warning lamp. There’s a sensor on the earlier oil filter housing that will trigger if the filter is blocked and the oil is bypassing it.
User avatar
Joel Welsh 4769VU
850 Super
Posts: 215
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:54 pm
Location: Wauseon, Ohio, USA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Joel Welsh 4769VU »

Thank you sir.
Wauseon, Ohio- United States
1964 mk1 Austin Cooper "Dianna"
Tartan red and black
I can't take credit for what others built- all I can do is try to put her back on the road. :shock:

You just can't fix stupid... you can hide it sometimes though... :lol:
Terence
850 Super
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:36 am

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Terence »

So I have a this same mystery wire, am I correct in assuming that the sensor in the filter head, when closed completes the ground? Which illuminates the Amber crystal on the left side of the Speedo.

Just asking because I would like to utilize the Amber crystal as a Fog lights (on) indicator.
Thanks
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6143
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Peter Laidler »

All be adviised that the last Mk2 cars produced did not have the blocked filter facility in the filter head but the wiring harness retained the white and purple trace wiring. On my late 69 new Cooper S, this wire was taped up but left hanging loose.

I used the amber jewel as the heated rear screen warning light
Last edited by Peter Laidler on Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
IslandBlue
998 Cooper
Posts: 367
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:58 pm
Location: Sussex by the sea - we wunt be druv...

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by IslandBlue »

Peter Laidler wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:43 am All be adviised that the last Mk2 cars produced did not have the blocked filter facility in the filter head but the wiring harness retainen the whiute and purple trace wiring. On my late 69 new Cooper S, this wire was taped up but left hanging loose.

I used the amber jewel as the heated rear screen warning light
What a good idea!
rolesyboy
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2315
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:57 am
Location: Colchester, Essex
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by rolesyboy »

Nice one ☝️
Peter Laidler wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:43 am All be adviised that the last Mk2 cars produced did not have the blocked filter facility in the filter head but the wiring harness retainen the whiute and purple trace wiring. On my late 69 new Cooper S, this wire was taped up but left hanging loose.

I used the amber jewel as the heated rear screen warning light
Rolesyboy
Terence
850 Super
Posts: 233
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 1:36 am

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Terence »

Peter Laidler wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:43 am All be adviised that the last Mk2 cars produced did not have the blocked filter facility in the filter head but the wiring harness retainen the whiute and purple trace wiring. On my late 69 new Cooper S, this wire was taped up but left hanging loose.

I used the amber jewel as the heated rear screen warning light
So did you use the WP wire at the slam panel as a ground? And then supply power from the switch to the second wire on the Amber Jewel socket? Do you know where the power feed terminates, is it in the bundle under the scuttle?
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6143
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Peter Laidler »

I just looped the slam panel oil filter light into the loom so that it wasn't just hanging about like a spare prxxx at a tarts wedding. Then I intercepted the wire that lead to the jewel and used the warming light feed from the rear screen switch to............. Anyway, i worked a treat. As for the actual rear screen switch and bracket, I binned the braxket and used the switch in a less obvious place.

I had the best of both worlds. A year later I got rid of the oil-down-my-arm filter housing and fitted a screw-on filter head and filter. Best thing I ever did!
User avatar
Exminiman
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2924
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
Location: Berkshire UK
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Exminiman »

Oneball wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:09 pm Oil filter warning lamp. There’s a sensor on the earlier oil filter housing that will trigger if the filter is blocked and the oil is bypassing it.
Anyone know the dates for the sensor ?
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6143
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Peter Laidler »

Do you mean the sensor fitted in the filter head? If so, I don't think that there will be one. It's part of a spring loaded thinggy, inbuilt within the filter head and not accessible to mankind!
User avatar
Exminiman
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2924
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
Location: Berkshire UK
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Exminiman »

Yes, just wondering if anyone’s knows the dates when the filter head sensor was fitted from to ?
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6143
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 30 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Peter Laidler »

Ah, yes..... It was deleted on my VERY late '69, single glacier colour S. But that must be very close to the actual cut-off date because there was a stick-in memo in the user handbook stating that while the hand book and wiring loom schematics detail the oil filter light, this feature has now been deleted.

There was no connector on the filter head either. Just the white/purple trace wire taped to the outside of the loom

Can we assume that the filter head oil pressure warning light was fitted from day one due to the absence of a pressure gauge?

As a bit of an aside, I think that the 'low pressure' part of the filter head warning system was a bit of a red herring. What it really was, was a 'there's nothing flowing through here mate.....' or a NO FLOW sort of warning.

I recall using the filter head that I took off (to replace with a screw-on head and filter) and a regulated air line, the warning light would come on at approx 8psi. Not enough to get you home I suspect.

All have a great mini weekend while I struggle to refit my rebuilt pedal box

PS, for the nerdy amongst us, there was a (unanswered) question about PUROLATOR filter heads/housings about 3/4 the way down these technical talk pages
User avatar
Exminiman
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2924
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
Location: Berkshire UK
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Exminiman »

Peter Laidler wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:06 am Ah, yes..... It was deleted on my VERY late '69, single glacier colour S.

Thanks

All have a great mini weekend while I struggle to refit my rebuilt pedal box

You will be upside down then :lol:
Oneball
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 920
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:33 pm
Location: Worcester
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Oneball »

Exminiman wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 8:50 am
Oneball wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:09 pm Oil filter warning lamp. There’s a sensor on the earlier oil filter housing that will trigger if the filter is blocked and the oil is bypassing it.
Anyone know the dates for the sensor ?
‘64-‘69 according to Somerford

https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/oil-fil ... -oil-pipes
IMG_7150.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Exminiman
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2924
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
Location: Berkshire UK
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Exminiman »

Cheers, just about to buy a loom, so helps get the correct one
User avatar
LarryLebel
998 Cooper
Posts: 543
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 12:02 am
Location: North Vancouver BC

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by LarryLebel »

Just for a laugh, I looked in the repair manual I've been using for many years (Mini Cooper Owners Workshop Manual, Autobook 802, by Kenneth Ball) and the switch is there in the MkII S wiring diagram (in dashed graphics rather then solid line) but NOT in the MkIII wiring diagram.
User avatar
Exminiman
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2924
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
Location: Berkshire UK
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: White wire with purple stripe

Post by Exminiman »

TBH the oil filter sensor is pointless really, if the light comes on, it just telling you your engine is fooked and alerting to the fact that you will now need to rebuild your engine…… :lol:
Post Reply