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MOTRS

122S Amazon

1956-1970 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 122S Amazon problems All workshop issues
Common Electrical

Lucas electrics (if fitted on UK-spec cars)

Symptoms

Everything electrical is temperamental. Lights flicker. Indicators won't self-cancel. Wipers die mid-wipe.

Cause

Lucas components earned their reputation. Age, corrosion, poor earths.

Fix

  1. 1 Upgrade where possible. Swap to Hella or Bosch components
  2. 2 Clean all earth connections. Add extra earth straps from engine to chassis, body to chassis
  3. 3 Replace old cloth-wrapped wiring if it's crumbling

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Other known issues

Common Electrical

Weak or no charging

Battery warning light on. Battery dies overnight. Dim headlights at idle.
Common Electrical

Fusebox corrosion

Intermittent electrical faults. Circuits dead until you wiggle the fusebox.
Common Engine

Oil consumption

You're burning through a quart of oil every 500-1,000 km. Blue smoke on startup or under load.
Common Engine

Carburetor flooding or poor idle

Hard starting, fuel smell, rough idle, stalling. Sometimes floods and won't start at all.
Critical Engine

Overheating

Temp gauge creeps into the red. Coolant boils over. Steam.
Common Engine

Ignition timing and misfires

Pinging under load, backfiring, flat spots, poor throttle response.
View all 25 122S Amazon problems