Indicator Problem

[mrmilli]

Hello all,

Firstly i'd would like to say that this is an excellent forum, which is very very useful.

I own a 1978, 380SL, convertible and recently with the bad weather (in the UK) i found a leak which soaked the front drivers side compartment where the pedals are located. I believe that i have located and fixed this problem (water seals under the front windscreen) but.....another problem has now arised.

Basically when i indicate left or right, both indicators illuminate, as if the hazard button has been pressed. I have managed to locate the indicator relay under neath the steering wheel but that seems to be fine (when i say fine, i am talking about its physical appearance i.e. no burnt out components or parts), i have also lookd in the haynes manual but the terrible diagram given was not exactly helpful!!

If anyone out there could shed some light on this issue i would be very grateful!

Many thanks,

regards

Lewis.

 

[satcure]

Flip the cover off. You may find the relay is full of water.

 

[joe bloggs]

Cant be the flasher unit, it is on the live side, it only responds to load, there is no connection to both indicators at the same time. I would still suspect the hazard switch or stalk, also does the car have an alarm? or any other component where both indicator connections come together, and are now shorting together? btw your car should have the large hazard switch with the flasher unit built in.

 

[mrmilli]

Hello, thanks for the reply people!

The relay was not full of water as you suspected. Also there is no alarm which enables both indicators to switch on together either.

Does anyone know how these indicators systems work...because i was trying to figure it out but couldnt.

Obviously at the stalk there must be two sets of contacts which correspond to each side of the car, but does that mean that there are two relays? or some other system? and what happens to the circuit after the relay connection?

This is a real tricky one, i hope we can come up with a solution!

Thanks every1.

Lewis

 

[jberks]

From memory, the relay is in the circuit before the switch, hence a single relay rather than one for each side. The most likely fault is the hazard switch, as this is the only point that both indicators are in the same place, aside from the indicator switch itself, but a short here is unlikely (though not impossible).
I've had all sorts of problems with hazard switches before - including a ford engine that wouldn't stop - try a replacement.