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Nitron Suspension
Freezing Instruments on a Plus Four
Devices to keep your hood up when loading luggage

Nitron Suspension
Nitron Suspension Manual as fitted to a Plus Four

Freezing Instrument dials on a plus Four

If the instruments on your Morgan Plus Four are freezing (speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge, warning lights, etc.), that usually points to either a power supply issue, a data communication fault (CAN bus), or an internal fault in the cluster module.

Here’s a step-by-step troubleshooting and rectification approach:

1️⃣ Quick Reset

  • Ignition cycle — Turn ignition fully off, wait 30 seconds, and restart.
    This can reset the cluster if it’s a temporary CAN bus glitch.
  • Battery reset — Disconnect the negative battery terminal for 5–10 minutes, reconnect, then restart the car.
    ⚠️ Make sure you have radio codes or settings saved before doing this.

2️⃣ Check the Fuse & Power Supply

  • Locate the main fuse box in the passenger footwell.
  • Check the fuse labeled Instruments, Dash Module, or IGN feed (typically 5 A or 10 A).
  • A partially failing fuse or loose connection can cause the display to lock up rather than go completely dead.

3️⃣ Inspect Grounds & Connectors

  • The instrument cluster gets its power and data via multi-pin connectors behind the dash.
  • On the Plus Four, grounding points are usually:
    • Behind the dash near the steering column
    • In the passenger footwell
  • Loose or corroded grounds can cause freezing.

4️⃣ CAN Bus & ECU Communication

The 2020 Plus Four uses a BMW-sourced drivetrain ECU and a network of control modules connected by CAN bus.

  • If the ECU momentarily drops communication, the cluster can freeze.
  • Causes can include:
    • Low battery voltage
    • Faulty battery management sensor
    • Loose ECU plug or wiring chafe in the bulkhead area

5️⃣ Software / Firmware Issues

  • Early production runs of the 2020 Plus Four had instrument cluster software bugs.
  • Dealers have access to firmware updates for the dash module, which can resolve freezing.
  • A Morgan dealer or specialist with the proper diagnostics can reflash the cluster.

6️⃣ When to Seek Professional Help

If:

  • The cluster freezes even after a battery reset
  • Other systems on the CAN bus also misbehave (e.g., ABS light, power steering warning)
  • The freeze happens at regular intervals or only under certain conditions (e.g., after long drives)

…then it’s worth having a dealer:

  1. Scan with diagnostics for CAN bus or cluster fault codes.
  2. Update firmware if an improved version is available.
  3. Test wiring continuity between the fuse box, ECU, and cluster.

💡 Tip: Because the Plus Four uses BMW electronics, some independent garages with BMW ISTA diagnostics can also interrogate the cluster and ECU without going through Morgan directly.

Devices to keep hood up when loading your Morgan

Version 1 by Kevin Postlethwaite – Spotmog Member

A simpler version by Martyn Harwood

A piece of dowl cut to the length you require with one end indented ( this was turned on a lathe)