Indicator Problems

[MacQuigley]

I had to replace the indicator stock on my Morris this week with a new one as the Bakelite on the stock had broken beyond repair.

Up to this point the indicators had been working just fine. Now they dont!

I've belled out all the wiring and everything seems fine but I cant fathom out whats wrong. The indicator relay is new, but I guess it could have failed (I do get occasional flashes of the lamp on the stock but not on the lights).

The only thing I can think is the relay that operates the combined indicators and brakes has failed but I need to know how the internals operate before determining that.

Does anyone have a schematic of how the contacts operate?

[bmcecosse]

If you make the connections electrically (ie not using the stalk) - do the indicators work ok?

[MacQuigley]

No. I can hear either the relay or flasher relay operating and the repeater light on the stock flashes once or twice but the indicators do nothing.

[bmcecosse]

But that's the point - disconnect the stalk completely...then try. The only thing you have changed is the stalk - ergo the problem is likely in the stalk....

[MacQuigley]

I did put the old stock back on and it wouldn't work either.
I'll play about a bit again tonight.

[MacQuigley]

Right, with everything disconnected and by bridging out the left then right indicators I still get nothing.

A new flasher relay that I ordered up at the weekend, just in case, arrived and I tried that - still nothing.

I can feel the coil(s) of the large relay energizing but dont know precisely what is going on inside it.

I've belled out all the wiring and I seem t o have sufficient voltage where its meant to be but still nothing. I even checked the bulbs just to make sure they hadn't popped and as a result insufficient current was being drawn to bent the bi-metallic strip in the flasher relay.

The only thing I can think of now is to rewire the circuits using standard 12V relays (Which is what Ive done with the brake lights). I can do it in such a way that it can always be returned to original if necessary) even if its only to prove its the relay thats at fault.

[myoldjalopy]

Hmmmmmm.....a bit of a puzzle,then. Are you sure you re-connected everything up correctly? If the indicators don't work with a new flasher and connecting the wires without the stalk, then has something else been disturbed/disconnected in the wiring? Or a bad earth maybe? If you have a test bulb you could try and trace the wiring....

[MacQuigley]

I have belled each cable end to end and Im happy nothing has changed.

I can only think the relay has failed or I have a bad earth somewhere and its not operating correctly.

[IslipMinor]

It does sound like the DB10 interrupter relay may be playing up - a well-known problem.

This is the circuit that you can use to replace the innards of the DB10 relay:
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[MacQuigley]

Thanks for that diagram. Much appreciated.

I'll check it out tonight and if it turns out to be the cause Im just going to replace it with standard 12V relays. Ive already removed the brake lights from it as Ive fitted later wings and lights so its no bid issue t o do the same with the indicators. Im not building a concors vehcicle so a few different relays wont make a difference (and they are far cheaper).

[bmcecosse]

If it's not interrupting the brake lights now - then you don't need it - nor do you need any other relays. The flasher can will just operate the flasher lamps directly.

[MacQuigley]

Decided to stop buggering about and just rewired the indicators. They are now working just fine. Im sure it was the relay that was faulty.

[bmcecosse]

Exactly - you don't need it now. Well done !

[MacQuigley]

Part of me was trying to keep it as original looking as possible but as I said Im not building a concourse vehicle so practicality won in the end.

So this weekend, Ive the passenger door to finish filling and then paint, repaint the drivers door, finish fitting the bonnet lock, bolt up the front grill and front wings. Thats probably as much as I'll get done over the weekend but there is still a fair bit to do, though mostly small stuff now.

[bmcecosse]

Hope you are having better weather down in Hamilton than I am seeing up here in Stonehouse !

[MacQuigley]

Doubt it. It is, as they say, precipitating down.

But I was in the garage all day so I hardly noticed.