Indicators working erratically

southerly

My indicators have started playing up, only working occasionally. When they don't work, I press down or up on the stalk but there is no noise or light on the dashboard. Does this probably mean it is a fault with the indicator stalk rather than corrision somewhere on the wiring? It is an old Peugeot 205 which do have problems with the indicator stalks.

The_Pedant

If the indicators don't seem to be coming on then see what happens if you switch on the hazard lights instead.

If that still does nothing, could be that the indicator relay is failing. A new one would cost less than £20. Your manual should identify which relay it is & where to find it. Usually very simple to replace.

Alternatively, it could be a bad earth connection somewhere. If the hazards work reliably then it could very well be the stalk switch. Normally at that point I'd be getting my multimeter out to check before taking time to take something more time consuming apart.

SailorSam

I think the first thing i'd have a look at is the little silver flasher unit. Switch the indicator one with the hazard warning one and see if there's any difference.

AdrianC

SailorSam wrote: »

I think the first thing i'd have a look at is the little silver flasher unit. Switch the indicator one with the hazard warning one and see if there's any difference.

I've never ever come across a car that had a separate hazard warning indicator relay - and on our 205, the relay's the usual black plastic square.

OP - certainly sounds like the indicator stalk to me.

forgotmyname

AdrianC wrote: »

I've never ever come across a car that had a separate hazard warning indicator relay - and on our 205, the relay's the usual black plastic square.

OP - certainly sounds like the indicator stalk to me.

Youngster's eh!!! When i were a lad and a bit older all cars had separate flasher units. If they had them at all.

AdrianC

forgotmyname wrote: »

Youngster's eh!!! When i were a lad and a bit older all cars had separate flasher units. If they had them at all.

Most of the stuff I've mucked around with is '70s tech... and hazards weren't a legal requirement until '74.

Norman_Castle

I had similar on a Citroen. The relay was loose. Easy and free to check.

Miss_Ratty

I just had this happen to my fiesta and it was the relay, cheap and fairly easy to sort out of you are handy or know someone who is. Hubby did't get round to doing mine so I got impatient and went to my local garage and it cost forty quid.

Mr_Mink

Couldn't just be a fuse could it?

southerly

They work sometimes, if a fuse had gone they wouldn't ever work would they? I haven't tried to fix it yet, luckily have a spare stalk already so will fit that probably.

AdrianC

southerly wrote: »

They work sometimes, if a fuse had gone they wouldn't ever work would they?

No, that pretty much proves it's a poor contact somewhere.

I haven't tried to fix it yet, luckily have a spare stalk already so will fit that probably.

When they're not playing, do the hazards work? If so, that'd rule the relay out.