Front indicators on constantly all of a sudden

[Chris_D]

Cars been sitting 2 weeks while I've been bouncing around Germany on bizniz.
Went to take it out for a blast around the Groenehart (countryside) by me today and the lightbulb indicator came on.
Was only running sidelights and fogs at the time so was relieved that it wasn't going to be one of the xenons going plop.
Got home and explored.

My front indicators are now staying on all the time when I'm running only the sidelights, like American-style side running lights which use the indicators.
The indicators work properly and all 4 bulbs are ok. Rear indicators do not stay on all the time.
When I kick on the xenons the indicators go out and it looks normal and indicators work as they should too.

Thought it might be the LED bulbs I use for sidelights causing a voltage imbalance so swapped them out for new ones, same problem.
Swapped in some old-fashioned halogen sidelights and same again; indicators on all the time. Strange.

Found a few threads here but only about people wanting to code their indicators to NOT run as sidelights - Amurrcuns I presume. Like this one.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73371&p=1078312&hilit=sidemarkers#p1078312

Scanned for codes but nadda.
Any ideas?
If I can't solve the issue it just means I'll have to run with the xenons on all the time. No biggie.

Might stick the battery on the CTEK for a refresh and see if that helps.

 

[enuff_zed]

Chris, not sure if it'll help you, but I had a light warning come on the other week.
Walked all round the car and no lights out.
Eventually noticed one of the tail lights was dimmer than the others.
Further investigation showed a tiny bit of corrosion on the bulb holder. Bulb was still fine but the extra resistance was enough to put the warning on.
Doesn't explain why your indicators are on of course, but does prove it's not always a duff bulb that puts the warning on.
Could try cleaning up all the connections?

 

[Zulu4]

If you can't find the cause (which I would also guess is some corrosion causing the bulb failure detection to give a false signal) then I think you can code the indicators to not light if a sidelight or headlight fails.

 

[Chris_D]

Chris, not sure if it'll help you, but I had a light warning come on the other week.
Walked all round the car and no lights out.
Eventually noticed one of the tail lights was dimmer than the others.
Further investigation showed a tiny bit of corrosion on the bulb holder. Bulb was still fine but the extra resistance was enough to put the warning on.
Doesn't explain why your indicators are on of course, but does prove it's not always a duff bulb that puts the warning on.
Could try cleaning up all the connections?

All bulbs look bright. Had the rear lights out back in summer while I was playing around with LED's and reverting back to halogens and all connections looked clean/free of any corrosion.
Had the headlights out last winter for a full refurb and internals also clean and tidy.
Might be a good idea to check again however.

If you can't find the cause (which I would also guess is some corrosion causing the bulb failure detection to give a false signal) then I think you can code the indicators to not light if a sidelight or headlight fails.

Might have to break out the NCS expert. Was a chew getting that running last time :|

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

How many actual indicator bulbs light up and stay on? Is it all four of them, or just one each side?
On mine, when the lights were turned on one indicator bulb on each side also lit up. But when indicators were used, both bulbs would flash normally. :idunno:
I replaced the LCM with a used one, and everything works normally - just have a tamper dot on show :headbang:

 

[Chris_D]

How many actual indicator bulbs light up and stay on? Is it all four of them, or just one each side?
On mine, when the lights were turned on one indicator bulb on each side also lit up. But when indicators were used, both bulbs would flash normally. :idunno:
I replaced the LCM with a used one, and everything works normally - just have a tamper dot on show :headbang:

As mentioned, all 4 bulbs light up ok and are equal brightness.
When only the sidelights are on the indicators come on constantly but work as indicators normally - flashing etc, then go back to being on constantly when not indicating.
What's weird is that they stop being on constantly when the xenons are turned on.
Weird.
Headlight connections are all clean/dry. I'm going to pull the rear clusters out again to see if there's any corrosion causing a voltage imbalance/resistance.

 

[enuff_zed]

You sure it's not the hazards on, and just you blinking at the right frequency. oke:

 

[Chris_D]

You sure it's not the hazards on, and just you blinking at the right frequency. oke:

But of course! I should have realised this.
Definitely a...

... moment.

 

[G600]

You said you replaced the led side lights with new ones, is that new LEDs or normal bulbs? The indicators light up sometimes when a sidelight bulb is blown, the LEDs might be low enough current to trigger that

 

[Chris_D]

You said you replaced the led side lights with new ones, is that new LEDs or normal bulbs? The indicators light up sometimes when a sidelight bulb is blown, the LEDs might be low enough current to trigger that

Yes, I tried with normal halogen sidelights and same result - still lit up.
But maybe I should try brand new halogens, the ones I used were the old ones I took out.

 

[enuff_zed]

You said you replaced the led side lights with new ones, is that new LEDs or normal bulbs? The indicators light up sometimes when a sidelight bulb is blown, the LEDs might be low enough current to trigger that

Yes, I tried with normal halogen sidelights and same result - still lit up.
But maybe I should try brand new halogens, the ones I used were the old ones I took out.

Could move to Norfolk. Then you could simply remove the indicator bulbs. :roll:

 

[Zulu4]

You said you replaced the led side lights with new ones, is that new LEDs or normal bulbs? The indicators light up sometimes when a sidelight bulb is blown, the LEDs might be low enough current to trigger that

Yes, I tried with normal halogen sidelights and same result - still lit up.
But maybe I should try brand new halogens, the ones I used were the old ones I took out.

Could move to Norfolk. Then you could simply remove the indicator bulbs. :roll:

:rofl:
Same round these parts. The old bumpkins use no indicators when turning but then indicate for mile after mile when not turning.