Off side indicators not working ... help!

[kas279n]

Hi there,

My dad very kindly returned my moggie to me last night after storing her in his garage for a few months ... the indicators were working on the 200 mile journey here (or at least some of it), but when I took her out yesterday evening they were not. I have had a little fiddle this morning - if I indicate left they work, then when I go to the right it sometimes give a feeble little flash then nothing. Does anyone have any idea where I should start looking to remedy this?

[aupickup]

check all connections first and the earth, also check the bolts that keep the light to the body work as this is another earthm also maybe loose bulb

[//no.comment]

My resto had this problem and after going through testing and improving earths it turned out to be the contacts on the indicator switch. you will notice that there are three contacts on the back of the indicator switch where wires leave. You can test as to wether its this by using a piece of wire to short between the common pole (middle of the three) to either of the other contacts (left and right respectively). if its still not working it will be loose bulb eathing points etc.
Also bulbs are most likely to go after being stored for a while as the fillaments become brittle.

According to the dvla my car hasnt been on the road since 1988 so there was a lot time for cr@p to accumulate on the contacts!
Its only a quick test and is alot easier than faffing with earth points!

[kas279n]

Hi there, after much more fiddling I've established its an earth problem - when holding a wire to the bulb holder and and earth point inside the engine bay the indicator works fine. There's been quite a bit of remedial work done around where the indicator sits - I'm getting no earth from around this area. Is it possible to put in a separate wire to create the earth, or is that a really silly idea? As I'm sure you can tell, I'm no technical whizz at this, so may be prone to making stupid suggestions!

To make things worse, the speedo has now decided to cease working ... its always been a bit wavery in the 2 years I've owned the car, but apparently I was doing no speed at all this morning ...

[kittyfell]

Probably just a blown bulb. Have you checked to see if one end is flashing away at double speed, and the other is out?

[aupickup]

kas has stated the problem so why would it be a bulb blown

[PSL184]

The earth is usually provided through the lamp base (actually the screws that hold it to the body). After I repainted my front wing I lost the earth so rather than rub away the fresh paint I ran a separate (neat) wire - Works fine and no issues with it.

[kas279n]

Thanks for this; a new wire tomorrow it shall be!

[kittyfell]

aupickup " kas has stated the problem so why would it be a bulb blown " because our posts crossed - look at the times. It was just a suggestion which up to the time I typed it, had not been made. I think i'll not bother in future..........

[kas279n]

kittyfell, your comments were much appreciated; its very easy to miss the simple things, so always worth making the suggestions.

Nice car, by the way!

[aupickup]

dont take offence ,

[PSL184]

I think Dennis was winding you up Kitty - Don't worry - You'll get used to him

[aupickup]

[mike.perry]

[To make things worse, the speedo has now decided to cease working ...
Most likely cause is a broken drive cable. If you remove one of the glove boxes you should just about be able to unscrew the cable from the back of the speedo then pull the inner cable out to check it

[sgray]

Most likely cause is a broken drive cable.

Do these start to fail before they break? Some days Trev's is fine, other days it's waving around in the breeze or just flat on zero..

[bmcecosse]

Not really - but it could be 'just' catching on the speedo. Maybe the securing nut is loose at gearbox or speedo.

[kas279n]

I had a little fiddle with this at the weekend ... the miles are working, its just the indicator needle isn't moving ... and yes, I was definitely driving along!

I got a new wire to earth the indicator light, sadly and for some unknown reason this did not work, the rusty screw may have something to do with that so I will find another (non-rusty one) ... I put everything back together as it originally was and then the indicator started working again. I accept this is something that will need to be fixed long term, but its working at the moment, yipee!

I shall have to have the sat nav in the car to keep any eye on my speed