'77 Spitfire 1500 indicator fault

[OctaneBooster]

My right indicator works fine but the left comes on but only starts flashing once you give the engine some revs, and then only slowly. Switching the headlights on slows the flash further. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[purpleperil]

OctaneBooster said:

My right indicator works fine but the left comes on but only starts flashing once you give the engine some revs, and then only slowly. Switching the headlights on slows the flash further. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

You be low on volts! Sounds like your alternator is not working correctly. Can you check the battery voltage with the engine running at idle - should be over 14v AFAIK

[varsas]

Take it to the local merityre/quick fit type place, they'll be able to test battery/alternator for you. IIRC 13.7 is correct voltage for the car when running with no accessories switched on, 12.7ish when switched off. 14 is a little high I think.

http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Alternator...

[//j17]

If one indicator is working fine and one playing-up then I'd suggest it isn't a battery/alternator issue - more likely to be a bad earth.

The high resistance slows the blinking right down but revving the engine increases the current so compensates to a degree.

[OctaneBooster]

//j17 said:

If one indicator is working fine and one playing-up then I'd suggest it isn't a battery/alternator issue - more likely to be a bad earth.

The high resistance slows the blinking right down but revving the engine increases the current so compensates to a degree.

Thanks, that's what my instincts were telling me. Will dig out the Haynes manual to find the earth points and check the alternator too.

[//j17]

My usual suspect if the rear bulb holder. This has a silver-coloured metal 'spring' ring that locates (and earths) the bulb in the rear lens assembly and, inside the holder this just sits on a copper contact that goes down to press against the side of the bulb. I get corrosion where the copper sits against the spring ring.

[OctaneBooster]

//j17 said:

My usual suspect if the rear bulb holder. This has a silver-coloured metal 'spring' ring that locates (and earths) the bulb in the rear lens assembly and, inside the holder this just sits on a copper contact that goes down to press against the side of the bulb. I get corrosion where the copper sits against the spring ring.

Thanks, I'll make that my first port of call. Car is stored at my Mum's which is some distance away so it will be a while before I get to it and can report back.