Help: No Indicators

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:31 am

hey guys,

i have a 89 brumby, and the indicators dont work

if i put the hazards on the left indicator will flash really fast, while the hazard button is on and if indicate left, then both hazard lights flash as they should. indicating left or right has no action what-so-ever.

I've pulled the steering column apart and blown the dust out of the unit with compressed air, pulled the flasher relay and banged it (it still clicks) and now just trying to find if there is a power problem somewhere.. its doing my head in

any help would be greatly apreciated

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:15 pm

check for blown bulbs or crusted up bulb sockets.
Also see if there are any body-earths you may have disturbed recently.

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 pm

body earths? under the dash.. or under the bonnet?

(the indicators have not worked since i bought it)

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:57 pm

There is an earth usually for indicator wiring loom, but think it is more the earth of each bulb socket to check. New bulbs don't hurt, maybe attach a temp earth to the earthed part of bulb holder of each one not activating to see if that helps.

If you have a tow connection, they can get build up of mud, snow, ice? and cause grief, same for the actual wiring inside the plug of tow thingy.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:09 pm

I'd say check for loose earths under the bonnet, near the lights. Also around the rear lights in the tray. One little earth wire flopping around not connected can cause all kinds of weird problems to do with lights.
The flasher units are quite sensitive to earths and also blown bulbs.

That's why if you ever notice a car with an indicator light flashing excessively fast it's normally a given that at least one of it's other indicator lights isn't working.

Yes also a very good point from Steptoe there - the trailer socket is directly connected to the lights wiring, if something is messed up there it could also cause these problems.

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:13 pm

i totally forgot about that! it does have wiring hanging down for the tow-socket. i'll get onto it and see if that fixes it

cheers guys

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:25 pm

ok i have removed the trailer plug/wires/wireclamps, replaced all the bulbs with new ones, cleaned up the sockets in the taillights. and replaced the flasher unit (the big black 3 pin one)

now the Hazards work as they should.. but still have no indicators at all.

are there separate relays for each side (left flasher unit / right flasher unit)? where are these found??

cheers

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:32 pm

have replaced the indicator stem on the steering coloum with one from the wreckers.. still nothing

its really starting to do my head in, i think i should just finish fixing it up and when all finished take it to an auto-electrician

tony · Post by **tony** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 1:00 am

Had a similar problem turned out one of the wires inside the towhitch connector had come loose, dismantle it and check the leads.

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:59 am

i've completely removed the all the wiring and components for the trailer plug

preno · Post by **preno** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:39 pm

so you say that when hazards are turned on all 4 indicators flash? this shows that the wiring to the indicators and the flasher unit are all working fine. what i believe it is is the indicator stem. the one you replaced from the wreckers did you give it a good clean?

a while back after pulling my dash out and removing the indicator stalk as well an then installing it back together i had the same problem with the indicators not working. pulled the stalk back out, pulled it apart, gave it a good clean, put it back in and the indicators worked! but then i turned the hazards on an that caused the indicators to stop working again. so i pulled the stalk apart again got the indicators working an have left it at that havnt tried figuring out why turning the hazards on stuffed the indicator stalk.

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:52 pm

preno wrote:so you say that when hazards are turned on all 4 indicators flash? this shows that the wiring to the indicators and the flasher unit are all working fine. what i believe it is is the indicator stem. the one you replaced from the wreckers did you give it a good clean?

a while back after pulling my dash out and removing the indicator stalk as well an then installing it back together i had the same problem with the indicators not working. pulled the stalk back out, pulled it apart, gave it a good clean, put it back in and the indicators worked! but then i turned the hazards on an that caused the indicators to stop working again. so i pulled the stalk apart again got the indicators working an have left it at that havnt tried figuring out why turning the hazards on stuffed the indicator stalk.

yes when hazzards are on all the lights flash as they should. i did pull the one from the wreckers apart and cleaned the brass bits with emery paper, still no go

78sti · Post by **78sti** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 4:17 pm

I had a similar problem.

It is due to the new paint in the engine bay and I didn't scratch the paint off behind the earth connector for one of the indicators, near the headlight.

Dane · Post by **Dane** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:37 pm

Nice experience shared!

The old problem of paint being a poor conductor. You need more valency

preno · Post by **preno** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:21 pm

am just having a thought... the problem could be a power wire running to the indicator switch (if not any connections in the switch) as i believe there is one positive wire that runs of the battery to give power when the hazards are switched on (which in this case would be fine) + another power wire coming of accesories that powers either right or left indicators. was just a thought.

cheers.

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:30 am

after doing EVERYTHING all you boys have suggested, including taking all the grounds off and sanding back/replacing the terminals...

id given up and moved on to the headlights.. was pulling the fuses out... HOLD ON.. a few are blown... BINGO!!!! now i feel like a total dick as i thought id checked that one.

so i dont know if it was just that.. or all of the things but there working strong now.

cheers for all your help guys

thread closed! haha