Took the trafficator out today

[Jojax]

Hello again, folks.
A little background. My series 2 has modern indicators, fitted by Minor Miracles for a previous owner. The modern ones are "wired to" the trafficators. So, when I activate the big round switch on the dash: The nearside traffficator goes "in-and-out" repeatedly without flashing. The offside trafficators is "stuck."
I have mentioned this on another (wrong place ) thread, so this is an update.
Took out the stuck trafficators, squirted the moving parts with WD40.....is still stuck as we speak, but I'll persevere. It energises ok, I'm using a battery charger to test it.

Now....I'm asking myself if it's going to be a great hassle to have the trafficators and the modern working in tandem. I've seen a diagram on here, and I'm assuming I'd have to fit a second flasher unit to achieve this. Not sure whether to disconnect the trafficators and just use the modern indicators.

I need reassurance that this would not be a pain-in-the-ass job. If anyone has done it, I'd be really grateful for your input.

Thanks in advance, folks. I've already learned so much about my car in the short time I've been on here.

Thank you all.

[mike.perry]

I run my trafficators and indicators off the same switch as per the diagram which is the simplest way to get the indicators to flash but not the trafficators.
Trafficators work best if used frequently

[Jojax]

Thanks, Mike. I was beginning to think that no-one was speaking to me.
Disconnected them from the indicator cct today. I've now got a single wire coming out from under each rear trim (connected to each trafficator.) Don't know if I could trust myself to attempt at wiring into my existing switch. Was thinking it might be easier....and safer to wire another cct to a DPDT switch on the dash. One of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270904590890? ... 1439.l2649

I suppose I could play really safe and use a 4-pin relay for each trafficator.

That way I could have a compromise. Modern flashers for everyday use, and trafficators for novelty value......if they work. lol.

BTW. I took out the trafficator that was stuck, gave it some tlc with WD40. It would stand proudly a couple of times then become "stuck" again.

Oh the joys.......

[smithskids]

Unless you have them blanked off they have to work for mot I think. Mine are wired separately so I have a choice. and as Mike says they are best used or they sieze up.

[Jojax]

What type of switch have you wired them to? Did you use a relay......or two?

My car is MOT exempt....just as well.

[Trickydicky]

The trafficators on my 61 4 door are wired separately too, they are operated via the steering column stalk switch and don't flash, the indicators on the wings are operated via a switch under the dash.
I tend not to use them as other drivers are not aware of them.

[Jojax]

Good point. Other drivers will be expecting modern indicators.
No stalk on my steering column.....the old girl is a no frills model.

[mike.perry]

Follow the wiring diagram, join the left indicator wire to left trafficator wire and connect to indicator switch. same with right side. Next wire in a flasher unit in each side before the indicators. No need for 2 switches, relays or anything else.

If the trafficators are not lifting and falling correctly loosen the top and bottom mounting bolts and adjust slightly

[Jojax]

Is that not what I had previously, apart from flasher units? I've got working, modern indicators. Someone has added a wire to each rear indicator which goes to the corresponding trafficator. That means the trafficators are wired in parallel with the indicators...all controlled by the indicator switch...the problem is that instead of getting a steady current, the trafficators get a pulse from the main.....and only......flasher unit. That's why they want to flap like a budgie.

So, given that particular scenario, what alterations should I make?

My head hurts

Thanks for your patience, guys.

[Shawn]

Here's what I've done with mine. It's been working for about five years now. I had to separate the bulb and electro-magnet circuits on each trafficator, so that the bulb circuit flashes, while the electromagnet receives a steady current. The trafficator on the left shows the separated connections.

Omitting the Hazard light circuit would simplify this a bit.

[mike.perry]

[frame][/frame]
This is the simplest method. You will see that the trafficators branch off before the flasher units and indicators, so will operate correctly

[GBond]

Here's what I've done with mine. It's been working for about five years now. I had to separate the bulb and electro-magnet circuits on each trafficator, so that the bulb circuit flashes, while the electromagnet receives a steady current. The trafficator on the left shows the separated connections.

Omitting the Hazard light circuit would simplify this a bit.

That's very clever, any ideas on what it would take to combine something like this with the 8 way relay to use the brake lights as indicators? I have a 1960 Tourer awaiting restoration and a couple of trafficators I'd like to install.

[Jojax]

I like that. How do you feed both ccts? Output from a flasher unit to the bulb, but how do you feed the solenoid?

[Shawn]

Thanks! The electromagnets get their currents from the dioded wires that are between the indicator switch and the flasher unit, so they get a steady current, not a flashing one.