S3 Indicators

[vjay48]

Not working,hazard indicator warning lights up,doesnt flash,any ideas?

[phillpot]

Guess the obvious starting point would be the flasher unit Is it the correct one? might operate indicators okay but not enough "oomph" to operate all six lights for hazards?

Presume indicators working okay?

mine is stuffed up behind the dash to the right of the steering wheel

Edited by phillpot on Saturday 12th May 12:28

[Penelope Stopit]

As long as the fuses are ok, take a good look at the Hazard switch as it is wired to break the LH/RH indicator circuit when switched on

[v8s4me]

phillpot said:

..Guess the obvious starting point would be the flasher unit ...

That's the mot likely cause. You should be able to hear it "ticking". No "ticking" sound"? Then that's probably the issue. Mine is under the dash to the right of the steering column.

[Penelope Stopit]

You could try operating the Hazard switch several times as this will help clean any dirty contacts inside it and possibly cure the problem for the time being

[vjay48]

Will check fuse,had a rummage by the steering column,cannot find a relay,have opened the rats nest on left hand side,i get depressed looking at it!

[GreenV8S]

Is the car basically in running order apart from this problem? If you've got a dead battery, that could cause all sort of weirdness on the electrical side.

Edited by GreenV8S on Saturday 12th May 18:56

[vjay48]

It runs fine,need to buy some fuses,i am reading wiring diagram at the moment,wish I could find relay? Previuos owner tidied wiring during a body off resto. rolled wiring into balls done up with tie wraps!

[DelboyH]

vjay48 said:

It runs fine,need to buy some fuses,i am reading wiring diagram at the moment,wish I could find relay? Previuos owner tidied wiring during a body off resto. rolled wiring into balls done up with tie wraps!

On my S3 the indicator relay is behind the dash on the drivers side, above the pedals. You'll need to be a bit of a contortionist to get to it though....

[phillpot]

What relay are you looking for?


Can't see it being a fuse if indicators are lighting up but not flashing?

Can you hear the flasher unit "clicking" with indicators (not hazards) on? that should lead you to it

Edited by phillpot on Saturday 12th May 17:50

[v8s4me]

vjay48 said:

........... Previous owner tidied wiring during a body off resto. rolled wiring into balls done up with tie wraps!

That's a really bad idea. There will be a build up of heat and the balls of wire can melt and fuse together. Probably not a fire risk but could cause all sorts of freak electrical issues as you use the car more. A nice little unraveling job for you and a great way for you to get to know your car

[vjay48]

I'm pretty certain its the flasher unit,other items on the fuse are powered,so I need a 3ft midget, not me 70 year artistic pensioner,to get under dashboard.Indicators don't light up so I assume they don't get power past the flasher unit. What does the unit it look like?

[phillpot]

vjay48 said:

What does the unit it look like?

Bit like a flasher unit ...

[RayTVR]

vjay48 said:

not me 70 year artistic pensioner

Draw us a picture while you're under there then..

[glenrobbo]

RayTVR said:

vjay48 said:

not me 70 year artistic pensioner

Draw us a picture while you're under there then..

I'm quite an artistic 70 year old pensioner myself....

...but I'm not saying what type of artist!



Top Tip:
Access behind the dashboard is much better if the driver's seat is removed.


Safety note:
When a current passes through a coiled cable, it causes an induced current which heats up the cable and can actually break down the insulation causing shorting and possible fire.
For this reason it is always advisable to fully unravel a coiled extension lead or something like a vacuum cleaner's coiled flex before use. The higher the current, the greater the risk...

Edited by glenrobbo on Saturday 12th May 22:00

[greymrj]

I am another excessively mature owner (age not cheese!) and the days of contortion under the dash are mostly gone but occasionally painful. Important part of my toolkit is one of those handy mirrors on an extending handle. That and an LED torch and I can actually see the flasher unit on mine! It was tucked away in amongst other stuff well above the drivers side but it is now tie wrapped to the cross member to which the steering column is secured. I can actually reach it now and, incidentally, you can feel it when it is working (the flasher unit, Glen, the flasher unit!!)

[glenrobbo]

greymrj said:

I can actually reach it now and, incidentally, you can feel it when it is working (the flasher unit, Glen, the flasher unit!!)

Richard, I am truly honoured that you chose to name your flasher unit after me.
( obviously because of the intermittent displays of brilliance, not because of flashes of ... err.... flashing! )
But please be careful when you are feeling it, you might get a shock!

[vjay48]

I used to artistic, but is £4 a pint now, so I have given up! I get the drift of where the relay should be, I think I will get the seat out and crawl in,thanks peeps

[v8s4me]

vjay48 said:

I used to artistic, but is £4 a pint now, so I have given up! ....

Come and live where I do, it's nearly £5.00 a pint! Good job I've become allergic to alcohol

[vjay48]

Diffirent theme,my fuse box looks nothing like diagram in s. heath book,also fuse values in mine seem odd ,7.5 amp??