wipers,flashers,fuel gauge,horn,brake lights not working!

[Budgie]

I'm stumped on this one as auto electrics just isn't my thing so here's what happened.
Took the car out for a spin today and noticed that now and again the indicator light on the end of the stork would flash occasionally when I moved it to turn left or right. Thought nothing of it and hoped it would sort itself out seeing as it was working for most of the time. Got home and went to have a look and found that neither my fuel gauge, wipers, horn [which hasn't worked for a while now ] or brake lights aren't working but the side, main and full beam do light up. I checked the fuses and they seem to be ok so any ideas folks!

[simmitc]

Everything except the horn is fused, so it's a problem with the connection - try cleaning with emery cloth, and test with a meter. Horn either a loose connection or a failed horn. You require most of those items to be working before you take the car on the road..

[Budgie]

Thanks and yeh I know all except the horn has been working fine until today the horn was intermittent and I only new it wasn't working when I rarely needed to use it so what exactly do I need to clean, all the connections that are involved?

[bmcecosse]

The horn IS fused - but on a different fuse to all the others..... So clean both fuses - and the blades that hold them.....

[Budgie]

Ah right thanks for that guys I'll give it a go when I get a chance but the horn issue has me baffled could it be the horn itself? I have noticed that when I turn the steering wheel left or right when driving the bulb on the stork would flash erratically so would it be anything to do with some form of connection on the steering column , as far as the horn and indicators is concerned that is ? Oh and just how many fuses are there on a standard moggy....I've got three that I'm aware of and they all "look" ok to me from what I can see .

[simmitc]

On a standard car, there are two active fuses in a black holder on the bulkhead. There is also storage for two spare fuses. Expect anything from 35 - 50 amp depending on what's been used over the years. There is also an inline fuse holder, usually white, on a red lead below the regulator box. This is for the side lights.

[MarkyB]

The place that both the horn and indicator circuits come together is at the switch on the steering column.
You need to take the steering wheel off and the switch cover then see what is going on there.
You may well find that the switch is a little loose such that the earth from the horn which is via a brush and "commutator" is erratic.

[hanvyj]

If the horn doesn't work, check the interior light! You never notice it's broken and it's on the same fuse. Check the fuse is working with a multimeter/test lamp. Chances are you need to sand off some patina/oxidisation on the 40 year old contacts on the fuse box. Use some emery paper on it as suggested and re-try.

[Budgie]

Thanks for that bit of advice about the interior light.....but I have a convertible !

[stag36587]

Thanks for that bit of advice about the interior light.....but I have a convertible !

Hi did you manage to fix your problem?