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MG MGB Technical - More indicator woes

Yesterday after covering the garage forecourt in petrol my indiicators stopped working altogether. Literally I turned them on, they clicked a few times, then stopped. I immediately suspected the flasher unit. No such luck. I shorted the 2 terminals and they still dont work. Im getting power to the flasher unit so judging by the wiring diagrams all is well up to that point. It then goes to the switch. It doesnt work in either direction. I checked the multiplug and theres no power there, nor is there power at the hazard light switch. I went through all the connections in great depth but I must have overlooked something. Any ideas?
Ross Kelly



If you are getting power on both sides of the flasher, then the next thing in line would be the switch on the column. And finally, clean the grounds at the back and front of the car.

Pat Harrison

Well thats the thing. There's only power on one side of the flasher, but when I short it out they still don't work. I assumed that the flasher wouldnt start working until there was sufficient current flowing through it and thats why it was dead on one side. Generally Im not bad with electrics but this one has me stumped.
Ross Kelly


Have you visited www.advanceautowire.com to get a copy of the schematics?

There are several places which you will need to verify you have current flowing.

Do the hazard lights work? If so, that says the bulbs and grounds are probably OK. If the hazard lights don't work, then you need to check the hazard switch, the grounds and the bulbs to ensure everything is clean and well connected.

Power for the turn signal flasher comes from the hazard switch. It could be that the switch is corroded preventing enough current from reaching the TS flasher and bulbs. A couple of vigorous flips of the switch will usually temporarily clean the corrosion. With a bit of care, you can disassemble the hazard switch and clean out the old grease, use a bit of steel wool to clean the contacts and then reassemble with some fresh dielectric grease.

I don't know what model your car is but in general:

With the ignition key in the ON position -

if you have 12v on the green wire and jumped it to the Light Green / Brown wire at the TS flasher, then the next stop is going to be the TS Switch on the column. When you jumped the wires, did you check out the TS Switch to verify you had power to it? Even better, when you jumped the wires, did you have the TS switch set to either the right or left or was it still in the center position? Check the contacts on the TS switch. If they are corroded, then use an emery board to lightly clean them.

After all of that and if the lights are now on solid, put the TS flasher back in the loop and see if you have turn signals. If you do, great. If not, probably time to replace the flasher.


Pat Harrison

I replaced the flasher yesterday with an electronic one that was earthed and that fixed the problem. What I dont get though is the hazard flashers wont work unless the indicator switch is in either direction. Whats more, the indicators work even when the hazard switch is removed, and I know the power should flow through the 2 terminals that are connected when the switch is in the off position. Its weird. Any ideas on that one?
Ross Kelly


Ross,

what is the year and model of your car?

Have you taken a look at the wiring diagrams from Advance autowire?

My first guess is a couple of crossed wires at the flashers or at the emergency flasher switch - in particular, the LG/N wires at both flashers.

Time to get a meter and print out the wiring diagram and methodically check the connections to validate each wire is going to the proper place.

Pat
Pat Harrison

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2008 and 14/06/2008

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