Flashers, one side only

[fussyoldfart]

I have just spent a little time reviewing previous electrical problem submissions and it seems like signals come up about twice a month. Here's another one.

I have just bought a 1967 Minor and need to get it safety checked (like your MOT) before I can put it on the road. The problem is that the signals work only for turning left. Oh, the bulb on the end of the stalk doesn't work at all but that would not fail the car. I checked out the wiring diagram to see what is common to both right side lamps and it appears that it must be either the relay box or the signal stalk switch. I did check the bulbs, of course, but they are OK. That's as far as I got this afternoon.

Now, the big problem is - where is the relay box? How do I get to it? I shall pray that tomorrow, when I tackle the stalk switch, the problem is there because from the sounds I hear when the left signal is working, the relay box and maybe the flasher too is located somewhere behind the Heater!

Why does the shop manual not tell one how to actually access some of these parts? I can figure out how to fix them but first I have to get them in my hands.

[charlie_morris_minor]

are you sure that you have looked at the correct wiring diagram? certainly in UK spec cars the relay was done away with a long time before 67.

but back to your question, the relay on UK cars was positioned under the dash board behind the glove box up against the outer wing on the drives side of the car.

[Declan_Burns]

Mine is 1964 and has the can type as shown on the photo top left. Maybe sombody has fit non standard components.[frame][/frame]
Declan

[phurn]

keep it simple first! check your earths are in good order, then worry bout other parts.

[mike.perry]

If the flashers work on one side of the car then the flasher unit is ok since the power goes to the flasher unit then to the indicator switch. The light green wire for the warning light should connect to the P terminal of the flasher. You can check the bulb by removing it and testing it on the battery.
The flasher unit on a 67 car should be on the engine bulkhead under the hood and you should have a 21W x 2 + 5W, 3 terminal unit as shown in the photo.
Since the bulbs are OK and the side/tail lights are working then the earth connection to the lights must be OK. You can double check the bulbs by swapping them with the opposite light units. If one bulb is faulty then neither will flash or the other will flash rapidly. My guess is the problem is with a connection between the indicator switch and one of the lights. Is the wiring original or has it been messed about?

[bmcecosse]

You can check the non-working side by temporarily swapping the wires where they exit from the stalk switch - so that moving it to the left operates the lights on the right. Obviously - don't forget to swap it back!

[PSL184]

Just clean the contacts on the non working side of the switch....

[fussyoldfart]

Thanks to all who replied. Today I have isolated the problem to the signal switch. I took it out (quite a little job, that) and have it on my workbench now in pieces. Dainty little pieces. The contacts are worn quite a bit and the corners of the brush are also worn so that connection is intermittent at best and one way (right) doesn't make any contact. So far I have tried adding a thin coat of solder to the contacts on the theory that the brush might then reach but this has caused other problems. I guess my "thin coat of solder" is too thick. I shall shop around for a replacement switch. I don't have the eyes or hands for that sort of work any more.

BTW, the manual I have has a set of nine wiring diagrams and the one for ... Export (Left-hand-drive Models with Central Instrument Dial and Flashing Indicators) page N31 in the book shows a Direction Indicator Relay Unit. Since the flasher lamps are separate bulbs from the brake lights I don't understand the need for it, nor have I actually found the beast, but the book says it's there

[mike.perry]

Wiring diagrams up to N30 are for cars with trafficators up to '56
N31 is for LHD cars where the brake lights also act as indicators, ie when you indicate the brake light on that side flashes and if you are braking at the same time the other brake light operates as normal. Up to '56
N36 is for trafficators, up to '61
N38 See N31,LHD & RHD cars '62 - '63
N44 Cars with separate indicators, '63 - '71
The years are approximate

[fussyoldfart]

Hi Mike,
Obviously I didn't find the right page. I have now discovered N44, a different sort of schematic, a little unfamiliar but that's the one I need.

Darrell