Indicator / Bulb Light

[Ste]

Last few days I've been getting a problem where half way through a drive I'll put the right indicator on and it'll flash at double speed (as if the bulb is going) and the bulb warning light will appear on the dash. After a few seconds or if I put lock on it go back to normal and the warning light will dissapear.

I'm wondering if this is likely to be a bulb itself or a switch/wiring problem due to the fact it comes and goes/fixes itself and most of the time I can put the indicator on without replicating the problem.

Anyone got any idea?

 

[Liam-O]

Have you had the light unit out at all? Could be a loose connection?

I had this but after a few days it went!

 

[Ste]

Nope not touched the light unit, only work i've done on the car recently is the Xenon self-levelling sensor weeks ago and the new wheels last week. I'n thinking wiring or the switch unit, but not really sure how the setup is as to what potential faults could be.

 

[bcworkz]

I've see light bulbs behave like a loose wire, though not in an automotive setting. So you cannot reliably deduce bulb or wiring from the behaviour. To identify where the problem is, it's going to have to fail more consistently, impossible to locate whilst it's working.

 

[Ste]

Anyone have a diagram of how the bulbs/wiring works in the hockey sticks? Am i right in thinking each hockey stick has two bulbs in?

 

[ranski]

yep two bulbs in each stick, a PITA to get out unless you remove the headlight

I have had this before when fitting new headlights, in both cases one of the bulbs had gone

 

[Ste]

Hmm...

Had it flashing double speed yesterday, jumped out of the car and noticed only the side repeater and one of the bulbs in the stick was flashing (the bottom one). However when I then put the hazards on to see what happened everything flashed as normal, back to the single right turn indicator and everything worked again.


When I get the problem it'll fix itself within a few seconds if i leave it on, or fix automatically if I put any lock on. Loose wiring somewhere methinks.

 

[markeg]

The fast flashing happens when a bulb fails, as does the warning light. Have you had the headlights out lately? I expect that the bayonet connection is not seated right so is coming loose - you will need to check and reseat both - a pain unless you have really small arms and can crawl between your tyre and access panel. Would recommend either removing the headlight or just the wheel.

Be careful taking out the bayonets - they can be split easily if you force them - although you can get replacements (as I know ). You should get the long life bulbs also, there are cheap ebay ones (and LEDs), but the cheap ebay ones blow quickly, and the LEDs don't fit properly (remember what I said about splitting the bayonet )

 

[Ste]

Not touched the headlights since I've had the car (6months+). The bulb itself hasn't "failed" as it works and behaves normally when on hazard warning lights or about 80% of the time when just putting the indicator on. It could be on its way out mind, would that cause it to behave like this?

 

[markeg]

Yes, it could. I would check the bayonet first - you will need to remove it to change the bulb anyways, it may have just worked loose.

 

[Ste]

Fair enough, i'll try and investigate when I get some free time

 

[fixit man]

Hi,

99% sure it's the bulb,I've seen this many times the filament burns through at one end and then through vibrations it makes and breaks the contact like a switch as it wobbles around

 

[Bing]

Hi,

99% sure it's the bulb,I've seen this many times the filament burns through at one end and then through vibrations it makes and breaks the contact like a switch as it wobbles around

This was happening with my brake light recently. Most vexing :x

 

[fixit man]

Hi,

99% sure it's the bulb,I've seen this many times the filament burns through at one end and then through vibrations it makes and breaks the contact like a switch as it wobbles around

This was happening with my brake light recently. Most vexing :x

yes even when you look at the filament it looks OK, what I do is flick it with my finger and then you see the filament bouncing around and then it finally returns to it's normal (decieving ) resting place :evil: