is this an earth fault?

Post by **ermie571** » 20 Mar 2008, 08:34

Hazard lights not working...

A reg converted panel, never has done the parking light thing with the indicators when the iginition is off.

BUT, was always pretty good on hazards

Now.....iginition off, indicators off, hards switch in,,,,,,NOWT
BUT,, ignition off, indicater on left , hazard on,,,hazard switch will flash and it will indicate left. Turn hazard off, and indicator and flashing switch stops
AND...ignition off, indicator on right, hazard on.....indicates right. No hazard flashing.

so....have I got to spend some time with sandpaper and the earth crown?
Anywhere else to look?

Thanks
Emma

Post by **Mocki** » 20 Mar 2008, 08:38

wont do you any harm to clean the earthing point, and while you are there, take the flasher relay out and clean its connections up.... also could be the hazzard switch.
are the headlights ok? not doing silly things like no main, or no dip, or alike?

Post by **ermie571** » 20 Mar 2008, 08:45

Headlights were find last night, dip and full beam were ok.....but didn't try them with the hazards, must admit.

have other switches in garage. Will see what occurs. Thanks Mocki oh which one is the flasher relay??

Emma
x

Post by **Mocki** » 20 Mar 2008, 09:03

its 191 953 227 A, or simular, in the righthand lower corner slot, cant remember the location number.......12 i think

Post by **Grun** » 20 Mar 2008, 09:19

Good memory Mocki, 'tis number 12 in Haynes (bottom right.)

I am trying to understand the Haynes diagram, and it does look to me as if it may be a fault in the hazard switch itself.
It looks as if the hazard switch when in operation normally by-passes the indicator stalk switch.
Are all the wires connected to the hazard switch, (long shot that).

I will try to find more clues as and when.

Yes, terminals marked R and L on the hazard switch should both be 'Live' in the hazard on position (Ignition off or on) R and L supply battery voltage to front and rear, right and left indicator bulbs. (Turn signals)

Emma you seem to be getting the supply from terminal 49a through the stalk switch, instead of through the internal contacts of the hazard switch.

Mike

Post by **ermie571** » 20 Mar 2008, 09:44

Mocki/Grun..

thanks for the explanation....have to admit that I don't really understand the detail. But yes, it would override the indicators when behaving itself.

Have a collection of spare switches in the garage....guess where hubby will be headed when he gets home from work!

Will keep you updated!

Thanks again

Emma

Post by **Mocki** » 20 Mar 2008, 10:10

oh, and BTW, early vans dont "do" the parking light thing with the indecator..... so thats working fine!

Post by **ermie571** » 20 Mar 2008, 10:33

Mocki - thanks for confirming the parking light thing....to be honest, it is a blessing.....

Em
x

Post by **Mocki** » 20 Mar 2008, 11:22

its a pain in the a***, thats what it is..... silly idea, im going to disable mine first chance i get.......

Post by **ermie571** » 20 Mar 2008, 11:44

Mocki - AGREED on that

What I meant was its a blessing it don't do it.....its there on the later velle...dunno how many times I have had to go back to turn the flippin things off!!

Em
x

Post by **Syncro G** » 20 Mar 2008, 13:51

Sounds like the hasserd switch to me, they often corode inside through lack of use - try turning it on and off alot and it might clean its contacts out a bit and work properly again; if you have an exchange switch though I'd probubly just fit that.

I quite like the parking lights on mine, though I have fitted LED rear bulbs so the wattage of each side is 5W total instead of 15W - helps the battery.

The other thing I did was swap the wires round so the left hand indicator puts the right had parking lamp on. Merc got it right but VW didn't! Think about it, when you pull up to a left hand curb (with the left hand indicator going) its the right hand side you want lit, likewise when you turn the igniton back on you don't want the right hand indicator saying your pulling out when you might not mean it, you want the left. This point is easy to prove as every time you see a Merc with its parking lights on (probubly used accidently granted) its on the apropreate side, a vw or audi on the other hand its always the side on the pavement lit.

I tend to turn everything off before I stop the engine on mine so I don't usally leave things on, though I guess I have to find something to do while I let the turbo spool down - is that a plus for having a TD I wonder?

Post by **matt** » 20 Mar 2008, 14:02

My Velle did this, was a sticking relay

Post by **lhd** » 20 Mar 2008, 22:33

Slightly off the topic but not far....
I had to change my headlight switch the other day as it was faulty and I swear the lights are brighter, is this possible or am I going mad. again.
Rob.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 20 Mar 2008, 22:44

The headlamp swithc does heat up and cause a lot of resistance and drops the voltage to the headlamps.. halogen bulbs dont perform well when they dont get the full voltage.. fit relays to run them... you will be surprised how much it can improve things..

Post by **Mocki** » 20 Mar 2008, 22:58

yep, rob, martin (he of hat'n'vest) had a headlight switch fail this week, and we didnt have a spare, so i took it to bits and repaired it, and it had melted the main contacts back into the plastic that holds them, so built it up again, and got him outa trouble, tho he does need a new one, it worked as a temp reapair... incedentally, the difference between early and late headlight switches is the damn parking light thing.......

anyone got a good spare late headlight switch, let us know........

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is this an earth fault?

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