W124 - Relay for indicators and wipers

[eyelight]

We have a 1994 E280 estate bought about 3 months ago. Pretty soon after buying it the indicators stopped working one day and I noticed that the intermittent wipers weren't working either, (though the regular speed wipers were).

With advice from Malcolm (Television) on the forum here, I pulled out the relay behind the fuse box, and cleaned all the contacts with a switch lubricant. Problem solved, or so I thought. A few weeks later the same thing happened. So I gave it a more thorough cleaning, and all was fine.

Today, it happened again, and more of an intermittent fault too. Indicators fail to operate, then at the next turning they're working again, or maybe they just stop working halfway round a corner, and then start again.

Maybe I'm imaginging it but this seems to happen when the weather is a bit damp. Definately the first time it happened was on a rainy weekend, and this week has been wet too. Today was the first time I drove the car since last Saturday.

Is there anything I can do to keep the relay protected from the damp, if that could be a factor in this? Looking after my 7 month old daughter all week so won't get time to go fiddling around under the bonnet till weekend.

If I need to get a new relay, any ideas how much they cost?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[kth286]

A lot of 124 owners experience this kind of problem and in my case it was the corroded fuses in the main fuse box.

Just twist the appropriate fuse to get a result and then replace in due course. When you are next at the dealer you can buy a pack and replace all.

 

[eyelight]

Finally got to get under the bonnet today. Pulled the relay out and gave it another good clean, popped it back in and all worked fine. Closed the bonnet and started the car and it was back to square one with no indicators.
Second attempt, opened it all back up, gave relay a wiggle and got indicators. Put lid back on fuse box and screwed it down and nothing worked again. So figured it was just loose on it's connectors, and positioned it with a small wedge of paper which was handy in the door pocket.

Put the hazard lights on as I screwed the lid down and they stopped working. Had to slowly screw each of the six screws down and then back each one off a turn as the hazards cut out.

So, problem solved temporarily. Could go again any time. Isthere a better fix for stopping this relay moving? Anyone else had this problem with it?
Would buying a new relay be the best cure, or would I have the smaa eproblem with it moving?

Thanks for any info.

 

[television]

Finally got to get under the bonnet today. Pulled the relay out and gave it another good clean, popped it back in and all worked fine. Closed the bonnet and started the car and it was back to square one with no indicators.
Second attempt, opened it all back up, gave relay a wiggle and got indicators. Put lid back on fuse box and screwed it down and nothing worked again. So figured it was just loose on it's connectors, and positioned it with a small wedge of paper which was handy in the door pocket.

Put the hazard lights on as I screwed the lid down and they stopped working. Had to slowly screw each of the six screws down and then back each one off a turn as the hazards cut out.

So, problem solved temporarily. Could go again any time. Isthere a better fix for stopping this relay moving? Anyone else had this problem with it?
Would buying a new relay be the best cure, or would I have the smaa eproblem with it moving?

Thanks for any info.

What is the number on the N10 relay

They can be open up and re soldered, I can do that for you, if I have one the same you can borrow it

 

[c955]

Finally got to get under the bonnet today. Pulled the relay out and gave it another good clean, popped it back in and all worked fine. Closed the bonnet and started the car and it was back to square one with no indicators.
Second attempt, opened it all back up, gave relay a wiggle and got indicators. Put lid back on fuse box and screwed it down and nothing worked again. So figured it was just loose on it's connectors, and positioned it with a small wedge of paper which was handy in the door pocket.

Put the hazard lights on as I screwed the lid down and they stopped working. Had to slowly screw each of the six screws down and then back each one off a turn as the hazards cut out.

So, problem solved temporarily. Could go again any time. Isthere a better fix for stopping this relay moving? Anyone else had this problem with it?
Would buying a new relay be the best cure, or would I have the smaa eproblem with it moving?

Thanks for any info.

I had a very similar scenario today with my indicators/hazard lights - not that that's any consolation to you I guess I wonder if it's anything to do with the time of year...

I've ended up with the same 'bodge'; some paper wedged under the relay cover to keep everything in place. However, which relay is it we're talking about 'A' or 'B' as marked in the pic below?

 

[television]

I had a very similar scenario today with my indicators/hazard lights - not that that's any consolation to you I guess I wonder if it's anything to do with the time of year...

I've ended up with the same 'bodge'; some paper wedged under the relay cover to keep everything in place. However, which relay is it we're talking about 'A' or 'B' as marked in the pic below?

It is the N10, that is the biggest one in there

 

[c955]

It is the N10, that is the biggest one in there

Hmmm...that's a bit odd because it was the smaller relay (marked 'B' in my pic) that brought the indicators/hazards to life when I wiggled it around. Is it possible it's not the relays, but the solid bit they all plug into which has become slightly 'out of shape' or something?

 

[television]

Hmmm...that's a bit odd because it was the smaller relay (marked 'B' in my pic) that brought the indicators/hazards to life when I wiggled it around. Is it possible it's not the relays, but the solid bit they all plug into which has become slightly 'out of shape' or something?

In most cars it is the biggest one, sorry if this has put you out. The contact in the holder could be strained and need closing a little

 

[eyelight]

C955, on my car it's the relay that you've marked 'B' that I've been playing with. My previous bodge failed yesterday and I had to do it all over again but so far it seems to be holding.
Malcolm, I think you're right about the contacts in the holder needing to be closed in a bit. Thanks for your offer of soldering, as well. The numer on the relay is the same as in C955's photo, 201 821 00 47. Maybe I can sort all that out though by somehow closing up the holes in the holder section.

Have more pressing worries with the car though after yesterday, but should put them in a new thread. Briefly though, the ASR light came on in heavy traffic. Didn't notice any difference in power and it stayed off when I stopped and restarted, but worrying.

 

[bernardtam]

In most cars it is the biggest one, sorry if this has put you out. The contact in the holder could be strained and need closing a little

Hi Television,

I am having the same problems in my combo relay, put new one in but still doing the same thing - intermittent wiper - a few times per week. Do you mean that we have to turn the holder for the relays over and close the connectors in the socket a bit ?? Is it safe to do so ? I think of that and give up the idea as there are so many wires down there !!

If this is needed to fix the problem, i will disconnect the grounding wire in the battery and give it a go !

 

[television]

Hi Television,

I am having the same problems in my combo relay, put new one in but still doing the same thing - intermittent wiper - a few times per week. Do you mean that we have to turn the holder for the relays over and close the connectors in the socket a bit ?? Is it safe to do so ? I think of that and give up the idea as there are so many wires down there !!

If this is needed to fix the problem, i will disconnect the grounding wire in the battery and give it a go !

Its a long time since I have seen one of the sockets. I do not think that there will be anything gained by lifting the socket as the wires will be stiff and hard, and I do not think that you can get to the rear of the sockets.

I always used a carpet needle from the top to close the connectors a touch.

As you say with the battery neg off.

 

[bernardtam]

Its a long time since I have seen one of the sockets. I do not think that there will be anything gained by lifting the socket as the wires will be stiff and hard, and I do not think that you can get to the rear of the sockets.

I always used a carpet needle from the top to close the connectors a touch.

As you say with the battery neg off.

that's a good idea, lol ! I have to look something round in shape with a pointed end and try to do that as soon as I am free !

Thanks and no thanks ! you always keep me working on my car !!

 

[c955]

Given that my bodge appears to be working for the time being, I might hang on a bit before I bodge it irreversibly

I'm only too aware of the adage, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

 

[bernardtam]

Its a long time since I have seen one of the sockets. I do not think that there will be anything gained by lifting the socket as the wires will be stiff and hard, and I do not think that you can get to the rear of the sockets.

I always used a carpet needle from the top to close the connectors a touch.

As you say with the battery neg off.

2 days ago, a A/C specialist fixed the A/C, my A/C console was dead and have to replaced with a new console, wow, 2 days before I fixed the car, my console is still working fine back then and I should have save myself US$600 for a new console. The mechanics explain to me that the compressor kicks in and stay there too long and kill the console. I don’t quite understand what they said but they are honest people. I replaced a reconditioned compressor and it is working quite ok now. But they warn me that the Blower Motor and Blower Regulator are almost there and I better replace them ASAP !

Hi Television, I did it tonight. I found there is not much I can do about it as all the connectors were in solid round shape. Not much hope about improvement but will see how my intermittent wiper goes.

I hope the wiper will back to normal !! If not, I will try to find out the diagram on the combo relay and concentrate myself on the connectors that are for the wiper control, then do the exercise you suggested once again

 

[television]

If you can be sure that it is the socket, then what i have done before is to tin the pins on the relay with solder, the trick here is not to have a blob on the end as it would make it worse when you plug it in.

Normally on these things I turn the wipers on and lightly move the relay or tap it.

Have you managed to open it

 

[bernardtam]

If you can be sure that it is the socket, then what i have done before is to tin the pins on the relay with solder, the trick here is not to have a blob on the end as it would make it worse when you plug it in.

Normally on these things I turn the wipers on and lightly move the relay or tap it.

Have you managed to open it

No, I'm not sure that it was the socket !!!! Yes, soldering and put a bit of tin on the pins is another good way to try it out.

Excuse me, do you mean that I turned the Relays board around and look at the socket sides of the board ???? If this is your question, I did not do that this time.

 

[television]

No, I'm not sure that it was the socket !!!! Yes, soldering and put a bit of tin on the pins is another good way to try it out.

Excuse me, do you mean that I turned the Relays board around and look at the socket sides of the board ???? If this is your question, I did not do that this time.

What I asked was have you managed to open the relay to see if it is dry soldered inside or a relay has bad contacts

 

[bernardtam]

What I asked was have you managed to open the relay to see if it is dry soldered inside or a relay has bad contacts

Excuse me ! It is a new one. I replaced 2 months ago. I opened up on the old one and all solders are still good. So, I think it must be something else like the Socket or the wires. had a peek on the wires on the socket side and seems to be fine. So, may be the connectors in the socket are getting bigger and bigger with all the big bumps in the parking lot and all sorts of vibrations on the roads etc....

 

[television]

Excuse me ! It is a new one. I replaced 2 months ago. I opened up on the old one and all solders are still good. So, I think it must be something else like the Socket or the wires. had a peek on the wires on the socket side and seems to be fine. So, may be the connectors in the socket are getting bigger and bigger with all the big bumps in the parking lot and all sorts of vibrations on the roads etc....

So sorry I missed or forgot that you had replaced it, this would mean that you could tin the pins of the old one, but not too much

 

[bernardtam]

So sorry I missed or forgot that you had replaced it, this would mean that you could tin the pins of the old one, but not too much

That's ok ! Television. Will wait and see how is the fix this time ! If no good, then will do the tin experiment.