Worn indicator stalk?

[kelvinp]

I've just had to change the flasher relay on my 740, this was doing odd things. I noticed a few times that the indicators and hazard flashers were not working at times, I wondered if it was the stalk that was causing that. The other odd thing was the seat belt warning lamp flashed rapidly and then after a while would stop, but I couldn't remember whether it had always done this or not.

I hadn't realised that the indicator flasher did this as well until I was groping around on the relay board and could feel it. I found by manipulating the relay the flashers either then worked or would stop working.

New relay in and everything ok and the seat belt warning is back at indicator frequency. Still haven't quite cured the bulb failure warning flashing in sympathy with the left hand indicator?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by kelvinp

Still haven't quite cured the bulb failure warning flashing in sympathy with the left hand indicator?

See the brown wires behind the aerial motor? One of those is the earth for the light cluster, chances are there's a bad connection there and/or on the cluster itself on the tail light bulb and it's using the indicator bulb as a partial earth.

If you drive somewhere dark at night (difficult in Chatham, too many street lights!) and turn the left indicator on you should see the tail light bulb dim slightly when the indicator flashes. That's the proof of the bad earth as it shouldn't happen.

Clean up those earths, it should get rid of the "sympathy flash" on the BF light.

[m1santhrope]

Originally Posted by kelvinp

Still haven't quite cured the bulb failure warning flashing in sympathy with the left hand indicator?

Yeah mine has been doing this in last couple of weeks...

Just took the car out and the left indicator is now permanently flashing. I had to pull over and remove fuse 9 to get home.

I previously ordered a relay but looks like I now need to order an indicator stalk. I'll also check the tail lamp earths tomorrow.

[kelvinp]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

See the brown wires behind the aerial motor? One of those is the earth for the light cluster, chances are there's a bad connection there and/or on the cluster itself on the tail light bulb and it's using the indicator bulb as a partial earth.

If you drive somewhere dark at night (difficult in Chatham, too many street lights!) and turn the left indicator on you should see the tail light bulb dim slightly when the indicator flashes. That's the proof of the bad earth as it shouldn't happen.

Clean up those earths, it should get rid of the "sympathy flash" on the BF light.

took a closer look to today and noticed a very slight dimming of the tail lamp when the left hand indicator was flashing, so checked the light cluster and the earth crimp was a loose fit so just nipped it up with pliers, checked the earth return, which on mine was a 10mm bolt just behind the rear side panel. Removed and refitted this one. Tried now and all seems ok so that seems to have cured that problem.

Still have the bulb failure warning light come on with the heated rear window (and it's always done this). There was another connection the earth stud with a red ident, which I suspect might be the return for the HRW, but all were clean so puzzled with this one.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by kelvinp

took a closer look to today and noticed a very slight dimming of the tail lamp when the left hand indicator was flashing, so checked the light cluster and the earth crimp was a loose fit so just nipped it up with pliers, checked the earth return, which on mine was a 10mm bolt just behind the rear side panel. Removed and refitted this one. Tried now and all seems ok so that seems to have cured that problem.

Still have the bulb failure warning light come on with the heated rear window (and it's always done this). There was another connection the earth stud with a red ident, which I suspect might be the return for the HRW, but all were clean so puzzled with this one.

Glad you found and fixed it and the trick of observing the tail light worked.

I'm guessing you have an estate? You'll have to remove the tailgate trim panel and find the earth inside for the number plate bulbs and the HRW and clean those to fix the second problem.

[m1santhrope]

I spent the morning cleaning up both rear lamp connections including that annoying 10mm bolt behind the side panel.

I discovered the black offside earth lead had come off the terminal, i must have dislodged it when adding a missing reversing lamp holder and lamp.

No more bulb warning lamp, just waiting for the replacement flasher relay now.

[Laird Scooby]

If the indicators are working now and the hyperclicking has stopped thanks to your remedial work on the earths, i'd put the new flasher relay in your spares stash for if/when it fails. Normally they're pretty robust units and don't tend to fail but either way it sounds like you've made some good improvements.

[m1santhrope]

Unfortunately the relay still plays up but only briefly after indicating. So im going to swap this out as a process of elimination. Might still be an issue elsewhere but its nowhere near as obnoxious as it was yesterday.

[m1santhrope]

The replacement relay has cured the hyper flashing. Thanks to everyone that helped.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by m1santhrope

The replacement relay has cured the hyper flashing. Thanks to everyone that helped.

Glad you've got it sorted, obviously a fault within the relay although it's not common. Did you get a straight replacement or did you get an electronic flasher relay?