Mk 1 indicator problems

[TO THE FLOOR]

I have a MK 1 cooper. I put in a new indicator switch on the column as I sat on the old one. It worked well in both directions but recently the left hand turn signal stopped working. Well it didn't exactly stop, as when I turn left it blinks once real quick then stops. I looked at the light bulbs and the fuses but cant find the problem. I put a test light to it and saw a small blink on the light when I turned left but then I shorted it and now neither works. But I don't believe it is the fuse. Any thoughts???

[woodypup59]

I the RH signals work OK, it must be a problem on the LH side. I had similar symptoms recently with a blown bulb in the LH front lamp. But a bad earth would have the same effect.

[MrNoo]

If you shorted it then you've prob blown the flasher relay (dont ask me how I know....) I had a similar problem but that was due to me assuming the two wires to one of the front indicator bulbs where an earth/live, thought the bulb would work whichever way around but it didnt and did exactly as you describe. But you've not had any of those wires apart so unlikely to be that.

[Bitsilly]

As mentioned above, weird things are usually a bad earth. Check the LHS bulbs and the relay.

[TO THE FLOOR]

Hi: found the flasher relay. And where are the grounds??

[Bitsilly]

Usually grounded through the metal mounting.

[AndyPen]

I had almost the exact thing and replacing the flasher unit sorted it for me.

[bwaminispeed]

The flasher units are not grounded.......
All the bulb sockets are separately grounded (black wire), and, these sometimes give problems.......

[TO THE FLOOR]

I think I will start with the flasher unit and in the meantime I will check grounds. but as someone said I shorted the flasher unit so I will start there.

[TO THE FLOOR]

What's Next??? I put in a new flasher unit but the flasher has never come on the indicator. What's Next??? Is the hot wire on the middle post???

[Andrew1967]

Do you mean the bulb on the stalk doesn’t light up ?

[TO THE FLOOR]

yes that is right and on this new one I can't take the bulb out.

[bwaminispeed]

The bulbs can become very tight in those units.....

I believe the centre wire on the flasher (light green) is the power for the bulb.....

[Andrew1967]

Have you got the earthing correct on the steering column ?

There was a thread about this a while back … I had same problems with my car and it turned out that the centre of the column was not earthed, due to a school boy error when mounting the steering rack !

Have you tried the bulb with a separate power supply and earth ?

[TO THE FLOOR]

Well...I had it so that the indicator light came on the stalk but would not blink, I tried switching the wires according to some in the box instructions but now it's dark all the time again. Will play with it again tomorrow, But at least the bulb is good.

I did read through some of the older threads.

[Bitsilly]

I have just had that problem.
I had been using a new flasher rely.
Having done all sorts of things and stripping the stalk etc. I checked with my old beat up rely and everything was perfect!
The new relay also came with a not saying if there are problems try swopping the wires but nothing helped, it was duff.
Here are details of what I bought which was NOS and it too works perfectly:

https://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32866

Good luck.

[pdaykin]

With symptoms like that it has always been an earth problem for me.

It’s usually been the front bulb holders that are dodgy.

Hope you cure it soon

[TO THE FLOOR]

I will try to check the front bulb holders tomorrow. In the mean time I have been playing with the wires again. I pulled off the hot wire (solid green) and touched it to one of the other wires (both others are green with a brown stripe) crossing it to one the stalk bulb holder lights up. On the other it sparks and seems to short the car. OK that is as far as I got.

[Bitsilly]

Well, as I said, I had an identical problem, with a new relay, and a good earth, and I had done all the wiring possibilities as you have.

[Bitsilly]

What may help is the wiring diagram for the early cars.
It is nothing like the ones in the Haynes manual as it did not use BS colours.
An excellent on was redone by a saint of a man in the States, have a search for it.