Indicator quandry

Talk about the E-Type Series 3

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Woly64
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#1 Indicator quandry

Post by Woly64 » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:36 am

Having exhausted my own basic checklist (wiring from steering column switch, both bulbs, fuses etc) I now need to turn to the forum for assistance please.

The current situation is that the left indicators work fine and the dash display lights up accordingly but when the indicator stalk is activated for a right turn all I get is the usual sound (albeit slightly faster) from the relay unit with no dash display or action from the external lights!

Surely if the issue was with the relay unit this would impact the the left turn indicators as well?

All ideas welcome please :seeingstars:
Martin

1971 Series 3 2+2
Bentley Continental GT
S3 Sportsback
'74 Jeans Beetle (electric)
'69 Beetle (being electrified)

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abowie
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#2 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by abowie » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:38 am

Globe.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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Woly64
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#3 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by Woly64 » Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:43 am

Would you like to expand on that pls Andrew?
Martin

1971 Series 3 2+2
Bentley Continental GT
S3 Sportsback
'74 Jeans Beetle (electric)
'69 Beetle (being electrified)

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abowie
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#4 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by abowie » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:07 pm

My apologies; posted in haste from my phone.
The faster clicking from the flasher unit suggested to me that the problem is that you have a blown globe.
Having reread your post it suggests that you've checked these already so I may be barking up the wrong tree.
I don't think that the flasher unit is at fault. Do you have electrical continuity from the switch to the lights? I don't have a lot of experience with S3 cars but I'd have a look at the wiring diagramme and look for a common point in the wiring from the flasher can to where the wires split to go to the lights. Also consider the contacts in the switch itself.

Cheers
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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#5 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by abowie » Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:05 pm

Here's the salient bit from the wiring diagram.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2w0is6nopios1 ... s.JPG?dl=0

25 is the flasher can. 26 is the switch. When the switch is activated power goes via the GR (or GW depending on side) wire then branches to go to the front and rear globes and the tell tale on the dash. My guess would be that your problem lies in the switch contact or between it and where the wires branch.
153 is the hazard light switch. Power feeds into it from the same supply as the indicators.I suppose it is possible there is a problem in there somewhere but I have no experience with them.
Let us know what you find.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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Ole-xke1974
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#6 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by Ole-xke1974 » Tue Oct 23, 2018 2:04 am

As indicated (pun intended) by Andrew, I believe the culprit is the hazard lights switch. All current to the indicators passes through that switch in two separate paths, one for each side.
1974 SIII E-Type w. XJ S2 4sp w. O/D

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Woly64
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#7 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by Woly64 » Wed Oct 24, 2018 11:57 am

ok thanks guys - I was at home briefly last night and (having failed for some reason to check previously) I have established that the hazard lights are also not working so I guess from what you are saying I need to check the switch out this weekend and work back from there?!
Thanks for your advice to date and ongoing education as electrical systems are not my bag
Martin

1971 Series 3 2+2
Bentley Continental GT
S3 Sportsback
'74 Jeans Beetle (electric)
'69 Beetle (being electrified)

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#8 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by Woly64 » Mon Oct 29, 2018 8:59 am

Brief update as only had very limited time this weekend. Now established that the fuse for the hazard switch had blow so replaced that. Flipped the hazard switch on only to establish that all four indicators came on at less than normal brightness and did not flash, this was followed shortly thereafter by electrical smoke emerging from the windscreen vent to the right of the steering wheel!! So am back to square one but the good news is the left hand indicator is working fine still. Think I will order a new hazard relay and see what happens next unless others thing there is a better course of action.
Martin

1971 Series 3 2+2
Bentley Continental GT
S3 Sportsback
'74 Jeans Beetle (electric)
'69 Beetle (being electrified)

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Ole-xke1974
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#9 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by Ole-xke1974 » Mon Oct 29, 2018 11:00 am

The hazard relay may be bad, but I doubt the smoke is caused by the relay. My bet is still on the hazard switch, plus maybe some shorted wiring causing the smoke and potentially also the hazard fuse to have blown in the first place.
Try and see which other circuits are fed by the hazard fuse.
1974 SIII E-Type w. XJ S2 4sp w. O/D

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vee12eman
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#10 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by vee12eman » Mon Oct 29, 2018 6:23 pm

Hi Martin,

Have you studied the wiring diagram? The one on the manual is pretty poor, accurate but of low quality. Have you seen the one in the knowledge base:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4ubnltt94dnq ... g.pdf?dl=1

I might be able to send an even better, colour one if you pm me your email address. Currently not at my pc , but I am fairly sure I still have a colour .pdf version.

Regards,

Simon
Regards,

Simon
Series III FHC

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Woly64
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#11 Re: Indicator quandry - sorted it!

Post by Woly64 » Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:05 pm

Finally got some time to look at this in some detail over the Christmas break and it turns out that issue was a combination of a goosed hazard light relay unit (now replaced) and a poor earth in the front O/S indicator lamp unit.
Really appreciate everybody's assistance and in particular to Simon S-Y (vee12eman) for the wiring diagrams :bigrin:
Martin

1971 Series 3 2+2
Bentley Continental GT
S3 Sportsback
'74 Jeans Beetle (electric)
'69 Beetle (being electrified)

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vee12eman
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#12 Re: Indicator quandry

Post by vee12eman » Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:24 pm

No worries. Glad to help and also that you have got to the bottom of the issue.

Regards,

Simon
Regards,

Simon
Series III FHC

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