Indicators revisited

Post by **MattRuch** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:31 pm

1969 Morris Minor 1000

Hello again. I thought I had this sorted, but was incorrect.

My left indicators work fine. The flasher relay ticks nicely and audibly.

The right indicator does the following:

The green lamp on the indicator stalk briefly winks once
The relay makes a fast "fluttery" noise that is not as audible as when using the other side
The front right indicator lamp does not come on
The rear right indicator lamp does come on, but winks fast (at the same speed as the flasher relay).

I have cleaned connections and replaced bulbs.

Would this indicate a dodgy flasher relay?

Thank you in advance

M

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:42 pm

make sure the front indicater bulb is a good one
failing that it could be the flasher unit
are all the connections correct

Post by **MattRuch** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:58 pm

Okay. I've replaced it with several new ones...no luck. I think all the connections are correct...it just sort of quit working the other day.

It "sorted itself" when I removed the right rear tail lens the other day. I had the lens off, got distracted by SWMBO several minutes, then turned the ignition on and voila...it worked. I buttoned everything back up, drove it a bit, then parked it back in the garage.

Now, it's not working again. I'll pick up a flasher unit next week.

Thank you.

Post by **nigelr2000** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:46 pm

Sound more like a dodgy connection to the front indicator as both sides use the same flasher so it would be the same both sides if it was faulty. Check for 12 volts at the bulb holder if you have a multimeter then check back at the bullet connectors inside the engine compartment. Where are you in Norfolk ?

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:53 pm

if one lamp flashes quickly, it could be a connection, clean all in where the contacts sre in the front indicater area

i did have this once, and it was actually the flasher itself that had gone

Post by **MattRuch** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:59 pm

Just north of Weeting off the A 1065. I'll take another look...

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:20 pm

It's certainly NOT the flasher unit - if one side works ok! The problem lies in the front light unit that's not flashing - it's either corroded, or has poor connection - or poor earth!

Post by **MattRuch** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:08 pm

And it's not the flasher unit. It was a poor connection at the front right light. It's almost like the "springiness" of the socket has worn off. A liberal coat of vaseline on the base of the bulb has returned the flashing.

Post by **nigelr2000** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:50 pm

See I was right (smug grin) shame you are at the other end of the county was going to pop round and have a look if you had been nearer

Post by **MattRuch** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:56 pm

You are always welcome...I'm usually working on something on a Sunday! Where was the photo on your reply taken?

Post by **nigelr2000** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:09 pm

Outside Blickling Hall near Aylsham. Have done a B & W version of it in a frame with the missing hubcap photoshopped ( well correled to be exact) it looks very 1950's

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:46 pm

The spring inside the lamp unit can rust solid and/or dissolve. Well worth squirting WD40 inside all the lamps from time to time. If the spring has gone - your vaseline repair may be short lived - best to get a spare light unit 'in stock' !

Post by **MattRuch** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:35 pm

Well, if the fix is indeed short lived, then I will surely ask you how to fit a new "light unit".

Brilliant forum...thank you again

Post by **MattRuch** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:41 am

Well, the "fix" was not a fix.

I get nothing at the right front light unit. No blinking of the light, no matter how much wiggling I do at the bulb. Wiggling used to sort the issue, but not now.

I did use penetrating oil, and there is springiness to the assembly, but no power to it.

May I ask what my next step is?

Post by **LouiseM** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:48 am

Sounds like you need to replace the front light unit. This is easy to do. Push the plastic lens cover in and turn it to remove then undo the two screws holding the unit to the wing. The two wires should just have bullet connectors so just pull these out, making a note of which one goes where. Fit the new light unit by reversing this process.

Post by **mike.perry** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:51 am

Have you accidentally pulled a cable out? Has the bulb just blown?
Check all your connections again and if no good shake the moths out of your wallet and buy a new unit.

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:16 am

In the past I have had to run separate earths to the bulb itself. The light units rust badly and fail to make any kind of useful connection. As a temp step just run a wire from the battery neg to the side of the bulb and see if it restores flashing. Its not the flasher unit that is faulty.

Post by **MattRuch** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:41 pm

I'm puzzled...I've removed the indicator housing unit from the front of the car (it is still connected to the wiring). I have power going to the assembly. A test light (the kind that has the alligator clip on one side and a pointy end w/a lamp on the other) shows a soft glow in cadence with the flasher unit. The test lamp has the same intensity and pattern as the working side (I tested the other side just as a reference).

I'm not able to make any of the spare bulbs work (including the working one from the left side of the car).

Sorry if I'm being thick...I'm just not seeing the solution. I'm happy to purchase a new unit (DSN has one in stock and they are open on Tuesday morning).

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:50 pm

The flasher unit works on resistance and requires the combined load of the 2 x 21w bulbs on each side of the car to operate it correctly. Your test lamp will not give the correct load and a weak earth will probably also show some kind of return path (hence working test lamp) but not sufficient to operate the flasher with full load on it. Run the separate earth as I said above and see what happens - it could just be a bad earth on the inner wing.

Post by **MattRuch** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:51 am

Like I said, sorry for being thick...I'm not quite tracking on the earthing bit...

The car is a positive ground. Would I run the wire from the positive cable to the indicators?

Next, I'm unsure where to ground to the indicators. There is only one wire to each lamp.

Thank you for your continued patience.