Quick flashing indicator

[yosini]

Hello all,

I've had my right indicator flash fast for a week or so, obviously a bulb out at the front as no indicator light at the front and flashing quickly at the back. Or so I thought. However, changed the bulb for a known good one and still the same. Connections all look good and wiggling things didn't make any difference. Could it be anything else simple?

Cheers Joe

[Slowtus]

Hello all,

I've had my right indicator flash fast for a week or so, obviously a bulb out at the front as no indicator light at the front and flashing quickly at the back. Or so I thought. However, changed the bulb for a known good one and still the same. Connections all look good and wiggling things didn't make any difference. Could it be anything else simple?

Cheers Joe

If connections ARE good AND you have used the correct type bulb then the flasher unit is next on the list

[yosini]

I wondered about the flasher unit and if it would give those symptoms if failed. The hazards act normally and all three flash correctly at the right interval but the same front side is not lighting.

Cheers

Joe

[tvr78]

Earth.

[billwill]

Hazard lights does not use the same flasher unit as the turn-signal lights.

[Andy8421]

Hello all,

I've had my right indicator flash fast for a week or so, obviously a bulb out at the front as no indicator light at the front and flashing quickly at the back. Or so I thought. However, changed the bulb for a known good one and still the same. Connections all look good and wiggling things didn't make any difference. Could it be anything else simple?

Cheers Joe

Joe,

In answer to a couple of suggestions earlier in the thread, the flasher is common to both sides, so if it works fine on the left and not on the right then there is nothing wrong with the flasher itself.

The dud front indicator looks to be the problem, and depending on the design of flasher will have the rapid flashing effect you describe. Assuming the bulb you are using is good, then the fault will either be the holder itself or the wiring to the holder. The holder has both a supply connection to the centre of the bulb and (given the Elan's glass fibre body) an earth connection to the frame of the holder. The holder and wiring are both subject to the elements, and both subject to corrosion. Likely places of failure are the bullet connectors at the ends of the wires leading from the holder where they join the loom, and the point the wires join the holder, particularly the earth.

Firstly, make sure there is no corrosion on the holder, or the centre sprung connection where the bulb fits. If that doesn't work, try earthing the bulb holder with a bit of wire to a nearby earthed bolt or the engine block, if that fixes the problem then you will need to trace the earth cable back and find the fault. If it doesn't fix the problem then the fault will probably be the cable that runs from the centre connection in the holder. From memory, the earth is black and the centre connection is plain red without a stripe. There a few multi-way bullet connectors in the path of the earth and the centre connection, the fault could be at any one.

Finally, while it is more unlikely, the insulation hardens on the wires over time and can crack, letting water in that corrodes the cable and can cause it to fail. This is more common where the cables get hot in the engine bay, but can happen anywhere given the age of the cars. So, if the connections all are sound, it could be a cable that has failed.

Good luck.