'93 240 SE - Indicators not working, popping fuse 5

[Sig the V40]

Hi Everybody,

Grovelling for help again if you'd all be so kind!
Long story short, Indicators stopped working 2 days ago, had the AA out to it, kept popping fuse 5. Indicator stalk tested and appears good (not so sure...), threw 5 more fuses before all of a sudden, fine. Indicators working, all other components on the circuit made to operate at the same time as the indicators (Mirrors, seatbelt relay, brake lights... erm...) and no problems, sooo the AA man wrote me a receipt and after shooting the breeze about RWD Vovos said goodbye.
Wake up this morning turn the car on, belt on and "POP". Fuse 5 again and that's where I am.
Couple of things that might or might not be relevant;-
*When aftermarket steering boss fitted, plastics on the column have shifted to left and appear slightly distorted from original position even though the boss isn't fouling anywhere and is installed correctly. (It's a genuine OMP one)
*Headlights are on (dimmly) whilst driving with the selector switch turned to off, I understand this is an indication that the stalk is knackered, but it tested ok?!?)
*Hazard flashers have continued to work throughout with no problems
*Have just had new sills welded on, possible issues?
*Aftermarket alarm wiring is "Hmmm" according to the AA man, he advised a delete, I don't use it either, is it easy enough to just disconnect or does that incur a world of pain?
*Electric windows stopped working in January, garage fixed them in May, but they don't know how they did it, or where abouts in the car they were poking when they started working again. I don't imagine they got much further than the fusebox or cleaning the relay though.

Once again, I hope someone can give my fingernails a rest and thanks for any help offered in advance.

[Antz]

Try replacing the indicator relay.

[Clifford Pope]

Originally Posted by Sig the V40

*Headlights are on (dimmly) whilst driving with the selector switch turned to off, I understand this is an indication that the stalk is knackered, but it tested ok?!?)
.

They are meant to do that - it's called dim/dip.

[Sig the V40]

Oh...
In which case, the lights have started working again...
Whatever it is, we're having an investigate tomorrow night with a meter.
Relay on order, I suppose it's always useful to carry a spare and as always, much appreciated.

[tannachyallen]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

They are meant to do that - it's called dim/dip.

My 91 SE doesn't have 'dim/dip'. I have 'off' (side lights), 'parking' and 'Headlights/full beam'.

Dave A.

[Sig the V40]

Originally Posted by tannachyallen

My 91 SE doesn't have 'dim/dip'. I have 'off' (side lights), 'parking' and 'Headlights/full beam'.

Dave A.

Thanks for that. I thought I was going mad!!!!

The more i'm thinking about it, there have been a couple of times in the past months where i've turned the headlight selector switch and the engine dies for a second and then comes back. I'm connecting the two now...
Possibility of the pesky flasher relay or stalk switch leaking current into the system?

[Stephen Edwin]

... or a faulty light switch. Or a frayed bit of wire, well worth lookign for.

I can see you replacing several parts some of which might not need replacing.

It could be the fuse box. Those fuse boxes are often troublesome. Is it a ceramic bodied fuse or a plastic bodied substitute?

What happens if you remove the fuse, and connect a modern in-lin fuse across that fuse slot? If that works without blowing, you could wait and see if an actual fault develops or not.

[Clifford Pope]

Originally Posted by tannachyallen

My 91 SE doesn't have 'dim/dip'. I have 'off' (side lights), 'parking' and 'Headlights/full beam'.

Dave A.

But that's not the dim/dip. Dim/dip headlights come on (dimly) when you turn the ignition on but have the light switch OFF. If you turn the lights on dim/dip goes out, and is replaced either by parking or ordinary headlights.

I'd be surprised if a 91 didn't have dim/dip. I've had 89, 91, 92 (2) and all have had dim/dip. Sometimes owners disconnect it, by pulling a wire off fuse 12 (I think)


I think there are possibly several unconnected faults here.

Indicators are very sensitive to damp or corrosion in either the fuse contacts or the relay. Sometimes they work on a dry day but then buzz or blow the fuse if the weather turns humid.
The relay is a long black one, loosely tucked in down one or other sides of the central console level with the bottom of the moulded plastic side panels.

A slight engine hesitaion when turning on another circuit is a sign of a poor connection somewhere. It might be anywhere, possibly a poor earth. Cleaning all the fuses carefully would be a good starting point, then going round every connector block with dielectric grease.

[tannachyallen]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

I'd be surprised if a 91 didn't have dim/dip. I've had 89, 91, 92 (2) and all have had dim/dip. Sometimes owners disconnect it, by pulling a wire off fuse 12 (I think)

My 87 GL had dim dip. I just assumed that they had stopped doing it on later models, but having looked at fuse 12 there is indeed an empty spade connector; no obvious disconnected wire unfortunately............

Regards,

Dave A.

[Sig the V40]

State of play if anyones interested...
Spent a good couple of hours yesterday and this evening going round checking for shorts / breaks (managed to fix my number plate lights in the process so happy days...) Found a couple of likely candidates but car is still popping fuse 5 as soon as the ignition turns to position 2.
Meter shows 12.2v across the fuse terminals, which, according to the HBOL is not supposed to happen and is indicative of a permanent short. Wobbling various wires around yields no movement on the meter, but as soon as I go near the aftermarket alarm (yeah, I know) and start wobbling them about, the voltage drops. Only to 11.5, but it's the only fluctuation I got from anything. And I wobbled everything. Mirror switch checked, mirror heaters, seatbelt warning, indicators, headlamps. Haven't (and can't) check the relays though.
The car did happily allow ignition position 2 without blowing the fuse once though, we didn't do anything in between off / on cycles, and let me operate ALL of the dash instruments / pedals without blowing the fuse. Turned the car to ignition position 3 and it blew as soon as the engine fired.
"Pop"
"BA$&£!*D!!!!!! I'M GOING TO SCRAP YO.....etc,etc"
The lambda sensor and the MAF are logging missing or faulty codes thinking about it... Could it be that?

Nowt is persistent but woe...