Indicator help needed please?

[Fizpop]

Hi folks. Just returned to mini-ing with a 1990 Racing Green. Amongst the raft of faults are the indicators not working. A search of the internet has resulted in some conflicting information, so before I spend a fortune on new components, perhaps a fellow PHer can give some advice.

The symtoms below are more annoying in that for a short time whilst tinking today they started working

Hazards work fine (although a little quick). Normal driving lights, main and flash are fine. Volts at the column switch is 12v at I assume the input (only live with ignition on). Using the indicator stalk results in 0.1v on each of the outputs as they are selected. This latter bit suggests that the switch is at fault but having only picked up a multimeter today, I will bow to your judgement.

Any advice appreciated, I may be spending some considerable time here!

[minimods]

It sounds to me like the flasher canister, very common. It happened on my car and I replaced the hazard and indicator flasher with a flasher relay and SPST relay, works great and should stay working for the lifetime of the car.

It could also be the hazard switch, as it is designed to cut off the indicator feed when the hazards are on. Remove the switch and check it's bridging through the indicator feed on the off position. I forget which pins but I seem to remember it's the bottom two.

[JC T ONE]

minimods said:

It could also be the hazard switch

9 out of 10 it is, its as you say a VERY common fault on Mini,s with Hazardlight.

Its VERY easy to cure, just turn on your ignition, so the oil&charge lamps come on, then move the indicator arm to any side (L or R) then put your finger on the Hazard switch, and press it gently, you only need to move it 1 - 2 mm,s then your turning signal comes on. you then just leave the Hazard switch, problem solwed.

[Fizpop]

minimods said:

It sounds to me like the flasher canister, very common. It happened on my car and I replaced the hazard and indicator flasher with a flasher relay and SPST relay, works great and should stay working for the lifetime of the car.

It could also be the hazard switch, as it is designed to cut off the indicator feed when the hazards are on. Remove the switch and check it's bridging through the indicator feed on the off position. I forget which pins but I seem to remember it's the bottom two.

Thanks for the replies guys. I tried putting slight pressure on the hazard switch with no luck, so I removed it, stripped it down, reassembled and checked it with a multimeter, that seems fine. Checked the flasher by removing it. Once removed there is no voltage at the column switch so I am assuming that's fine too.

The only remainder it the colomn switch. As I mentioned I get 12v from the input and 0.1v at both the left and right outputs. I can only assume that this is a problem, but with continuity of the circuit I can't see why?
Having the hazards working means the light unit wiring is fine, so all that is left is the wiring from the column switch to the indicatior supply where as I take it there would have to be two broken connections.

New column switches are £40 but I cant see any other alternative, unless anymore suggestions are out there?

[JC T ONE]

Fizpop said:

I tried putting slight pressure on the hazard switch with no luck

where did you press ?? you need to press like you want to turn the Hazard on.

[Fizpop]

JC T ONE said:

where did you press ?? you need to press like you want to turn the Hazard on.

Yup JC, that's what I was trying. No joy. I was hoping that this was the problem as it's a hell of alot cheaper then a new column stalk lol

[guru_1071]

take the hazard switch out and make a little link wire to short the two wires that are the indicator power circuit (from memory they are the two plugs seperate from the other four) - the indicators should then work fine, in which case its the hazard switch thats faulty (which is the most common problem)

you can also use the same link wire to 'short' out the flasher cans, which will then tell you if they are faulty (as the indicators will light, but not flash with the can removed and linked out with the test wire)

you can also unplug the stalk and 'short' out the indicator power with each side of the flash to decide of the stalks are playing up.

the trouble with trying to test using a voltmeter is that the very action of the flasher cans making/breaking can make the test meter flicker and give a vauge reading - thats why i always test using a little bit of wire.

[cpas]

JC T ONE said:

minimods said:

It could also be the hazard switch

9 out of 10 it is, its as you say a VERY common fault on Mini,s with Hazardlight.

Its VERY easy to cure, just turn on your ignition, so the oil&charge lamps come on, then move the indicator arm to any side (L or R) then put your finger on the Hazard switch, and press it gently, you only need to move it 1 - 2 mm,s then your turning signal comes on. you then just leave the Hazard switch, problem solwed.

I agree on the hazard switch. Remember also that, although it may not appear obvious at first, the hazards and indicators are fed by 2 completely different circuits - hence the need to 'disconnect' the power to the indicator circuit feed when the hazards are switched on via the 'link' mentioned above. The hazards are supplied by a permanent live (ie work without the ignition) but the indicators' feed is only live when the ignition is on. The 'link' in the hazard switch effectively prevents the ignition circuit being activated by turning on the hazard switch.

[minimods]

The tip about using a briding wire is a very good one, this will isolate the issue before you replace any parts. If you've ruled out the hazard switch completely then I would test the canister as it can pass through voltage but still be stuck on or off (no current).

[Fizpop]

Thanks for the guidence chaps, I have have a go tomorrow. What's the best way to check the flasher? Its the orange lucas one that has about 5 to 7 pins?

[guru_1071]

Fizpop said:

Thanks for the guidence chaps, I have have a go tomorrow. What's the best way to check the flasher? Its the orange lucas one that has about 5 to 7 pins?

your probably looking at the pink dim-dip relay thats under the dash - that has nothing to do with the flashers.

both the hazard and the indicator ones are simple two terminal ones on a car of your age

[Fizpop]

Yep, like a dumbass I was looking at the relay. I tried shorting the hazard switch and that was in deed the problem.....in part. Now the left hand indicator works fine but the right doesnt. Using that one causes the flasher to tick really slowly and the ignition lights to dim (trying with engine not running). I am assuming that there is a short somewhere on the right hand indicator circuit, but I have yet to find it.

Thanks again all for your help, it's much appreciated, I would have blow £60 on a new stalk and flasher without your guidence!

[guru_1071]

Fizpop said:

I would have blow £60 on a new stalk and flasher without your guidence!

just send £30 through the post.....

the earth fault is normally the front lamp unit where it fits to the panel, a new lamp or cleaning the earths will fix if.