Hi,
Following on from the thread about the heated rear windscreen fault some time ago, my 90 has developed an intermitent fault with the indicators. Here's the symptoms and what I've done so far:-
Sometimes; operation of the left indicator causes the 10A fuse for that circuit to blow instantly. Replace fuse blows again instantly. Operation of the Hazard warning flasher(different fuse) is unaffected. Remove steering wheel and steering column cowl, disconnect combined indicator switch/headlight dip-main-flash/horn push at multiway connector. Using an old fuse in the relevant position, as a test lead connected to a multimeter on 10A scale proves that the fault is still present when using a jump wire between the relevant pins in the multiway connector - OK so it's not the switch. BUT the HRW is now working prefectly!!
Give up for the evening. Next morning the fault has gone and the HRW still works! Remove the small panel housing the Hazard warning switch, the Rear fog lamp switch, and the HRW switch. Inspection of wiring behind here looks undamaged. Removal of Hazard switch renders indicators inoperable(as it should), and check this switch for short circuiting - nothing wrong here.
Remove instrument panel, and check wiring behind here for anything appearing likely to cause an intermittent short circuit. Locate several connectors showing bare conductors and separate and insulate ALL thoroughly. Fault still not present, poke and probe all the accessible wiring harness to see if the fault will reappear - it doesn't!
Replace everything so far removed with the exception of the fuse(leaving the multimeter and test lead in it's place). Next day check to see if faut has reappeared before starting engine - it hasn't
- BUT the HRW isn't working again(which by the way, will work with just the ignition ON and no engine running). Start the engine and check the indicator again - the fault is back!!
Other things checked so far include the indicator relay, it's socket, and the indicator lamps themselves, which work without fail on Hazard warning when the indicator fault is present. Fuse box mounting removed from bulkhead to check wiring behind - nothing here!
OK this is giving me a headache! I wonder if any of the more experienced engineers here have had anything like this before and has a "check this first" tip. One of which I have already heard which is that a fault with the indicators, is often due to a fault inside the Hazard warning switch. However, seeing as how this switch costs GBP53
- VAT, I'm reluctant to replace this without maybe borrowing one first
Any helpful suggestions most gratefully received.
TIA
Neil
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