Indicator continuity

[George Smathers]

I'm trying to install a new loom and I'm a bit confused on the theory behind the indicator stalk. I assumed that power comes in on a green wire, goes to the flasher unit, returns to the stalk, and then is sent out either to a right or left indicator lamp.

What I don't understand is why when I have the turn stalk off the car I can't get continuity between any of the wires. As I turn the stalk up or down shouldn't it make a connection that I would detect as continuity between the green wire and a wire that heads out to an indicator? Is their something about the steering shaft that I am missing; i.e., is it part of the circuit?

Thanks for any help,

George

[mike.perry]

Green - fuse box to flasher unit Term L
Green/Brown - flasher unit Term B to indicator switch
Light Green - flasher unit Term P to indicator warning light

[GBond]

As Mike said, you won't get continuity because what the flasher does is alternate the "signal" between the indicators and the green light at the end of the stalk. The actual "choosing" of which side to flash happens at the switch.

Hope I explained correctly, in fact if you disconnect the light green wire the indicators should still work, but the green light in the stalk wouldn't.

[bmcecosse]

It MUST show continuity between the incoming cable - and the cable going out to the selected indicator circuit..... If not - it's not working! See Barry's excellent diagram at top of this section......the power goes to the flasher, and then to the switch....... but of course the flasher only starts 'flashing' when the circuit is completed to earth through the two indicator bulbs.

[GBond]

I see my mistake, yes, there should be continuity between the Green and either of the other two wires when the stalk is moved, turning on the lamps and when the flasher is put in the middle of this it just "blinks". I'm not completely sure about this but there's probably quite some current flowing through that wire so I'd not use a multimeter to measure the continuity there.

Yes George, power comes from the Green cable through the flasher, then out the other side through the Green-Brown cable that goes to the flasher and then the flasher sends the power to either side (don't remember the cable colors though).

Try testing the stalk for continuity off the car, should be between the Green-Brown wire and one for the right side when the stalk is moved up, another for the left side when it is moved down. There's a ground brush also on the indicator stalk but it's just for the horn so you can ignore it for this.

[mike.perry]

If you connect the green to the green/brown at the flasher then indicate left or right the appropriate bulbs will light but not flash.
To operate correctly the flasher rating has to match the bulb rating, in this case 2 x 21 + 5W

[George Smathers]

After many hours I finally figured it out. The reason everything was so confusing was because the electrical contacts in the indicator mechanism were all gummed up. A little electrical contact cleaner and I'm now, as we say in the States, cooking with gas!

George

[bmcecosse]

Excellent! Shale gas, I hope.

[George Smathers]

Definitely shale gas. I hear you have lots as well; go for it. It has cut our prices to 1/3 what we were paying.

George