Indicator failing sporadically

martin2345uk

Hi guys,

The front right indicator on my Clio 2005 sometimes doesn't work (can tell when it's happening as the back on flashes double speed).

Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it though it always starts off fine on any journey but if I'm driving long enough it'll eventually happen.

It's not the bulb and doesn't seem to be any corrosion around the bulb holder...

Any suggestions of where to look before I try and find somewhere to get it looked it...?

Thanks!

Hoof_Hearted

Does it go on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off?

martin2345uk

BOOM BOOM.

Now get ya coat!

vansboy

You say its not the bulb, but might be worth swapping it with the other side, to double check.

VB

martin2345uk

vansboy wrote: »

You say its not the bulb, but might be worth swapping it with the other side, to double check.

VB

I did try that, that's how I know it's not the bulb :-)

Richard53

Assuming the contacts within the bulb unit are in good condition and making good contact, I would guess at a poor earth in the indicator unit. Run a short wire from the metal body of the indicator to a known good earth and see if that cures it.

martin2345uk

Hi,
I'll be honest, I don't quite understand what you mean... what part of the indicator unit..? And what would be a good earth?

Come to think of it I don't actually have a wire...!

I'm not a natural do-it-yourself kinda guy apparently :-/

Richard53

Sorry, I was a little inaccurate there. I have no idea how the indicators on your car are put together, so my advice was very general. There will be two wires going to the indicator bulb, a + wire bringing the power and a - wire taking it to earth, thus making a circuit. The idea is to identify the - wire (often black, but can vary) and bypass it to earth with a length of wire so the bulb is earthed directly. It's all a process of elimination, as a wiring fault could be almost anywhere. Easy to do with a continuity tester, but as you admit to being not very DIY-ish, perhaps it would be better to take it to a garage. Should be a cheap and easy fix.

shortchanged_2

It's a French car, notorious for electrical faults unfortunately. My guess would be the same as Richard53 in that it is a faulty indicator unit. It's quite possible that you need a replacement unit something like this (though it may differ for your specific model). http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/181422749795?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108

pulliptears

Do you have a sunroof?
Could be one of the many weird symptoms of the multi timer on its way. It's in the passenger foot well, water tracks down through the sun roof into it and it can present many issues from total electrical failure to odd little glitches like this.

In my case the first sign was total failure of the indicators.

pullenuk

It can be the relay!

My corsa had a failing relay whixh I had to replace. It caused the indicator to go out of sync if you like. Track down the relay for your car (should be with fuses or a smaller fuse box). If you find them its likely you have one for each side. Swap them over and see if the problem swaps sides. If it does you found the problem.

If it doesn't..... ignore my post lol