Hazards Not Working

Hazards Not Working

Author
Discussion

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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The old 280i 2+2 has been for its first MOT in roughly 5 years today, and failed hehe

It was only on a few electrical faults (most of which sorted out by re-connecting a loose plug under the steering wheel) but the only thing left to do is get the hazard switch working.

It does not seem to really be doing anything, but if you have it on and then put the indicator on you get a very fast click from the relay. Is it likely to just be the switch at fault? I don't really know how the hazard light circuit works but it would be ghood to get it sorted so I can get a retest tomorrow or Saturday smile

Very happy it only failed on such a relatively minor fault, but the drive to the MOT station (my first ever drive in the car) was a real eye opener :crazy:

adam quantrill

11,538 posts

242 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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What style of switch it it - like the window winder switches?

In which case just switch it on and off until it starts working - it will clean up the contacts inside. You may need to do it 20-50 or 100 times.....

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Yes it is like the window switches, but I have switched it many hundreds of times now with no difference frown

I have taken it out and the contacts are all bright copper, and I also gave it a jetting over with electrical contact cleaner. Reading online though mine sounds different to other wedge owners, in that it only has 6 pins in the back.

I have also just looked behind the centre console and under the drivers side section of the dash and unfortunately it looks an absolute catastrophe. Random extra wires pulled everywhere, some things not connecting to anything and scotch locks rolleyes

I will trace the wires through properly tomorrow and try to find anything obvious with the meter I think.

mrzigazaga

18,557 posts

165 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Hi mate...You are correct about the pins...I have an old hazard switch from Delilah and that has 7....Sorry if I'm stating the obvious but have you changed the relays?...
Are your indicators working properly?...

If need be you can try my switch....Ziga

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Yes all of the relays are new in the engine bay, and the indicators work fine. I will get a picture of the switch and post it up tomorrow smile

mrzigazaga

18,557 posts

165 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Okeydokey...As said if you need to borrow my one you are more than welcome....Ziga

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Cheers Ziga smile

Wedg1e

26,803 posts

265 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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The older design of hazard circuit was pretty simple: the switch basically linked all the indicators together and fed them from a separate flasher unit that was rated for 80W instead of 40W. It was often physically possible to install a standard flasher unit in place of the hazard flasher which generally resulted in it becoming a bit crispy - at best the indicators would flash like disco strobes.

bobs280i

288 posts

140 months

Friday 18th July 2014
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I was able to use malt vinegar on mine and that's all it needed ....


jindle

246 posts

125 months

Friday 18th July 2014
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My hazards only work with the engine off (350)!

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Friday 18th July 2014
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Wedg1e said:
The older design of hazard circuit was pretty simple: the switch basically linked all the indicators together and fed them from a separate flasher unit that was rated for 80W instead of 40W. It was often physically possible to install a standard flasher unit in place of the hazard flasher which generally resulted in it becoming a bit crispy - at best the indicators would flash like disco strobes.
Would this seperate flasher unit be under the steering column like the normal flasher, or is it in the engine bay?

Grady

1,221 posts

260 months

Friday 18th July 2014
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The number of pins on the switch may really matter. Make sure that sure that you have the correct switch by comparing the pins on the switch to the wiring on the plug. The TR-7's switch looks the same but has 6 pins while the 7 pin Lucas switch was also used in the 80s Range Rover and getting hard to find. I don't know if some Wedges used a 6 pin switch, mine needed a 7 pin one. Grady

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Saturday 19th July 2014
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Sorry for the delay in pictures. Bit hungover today (sister wedding) so will crack the multimeter out when I feel a bit better smile

[url|http://thumbsnap.com/DzmVpe5P[/url]




AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Saturday 19th July 2014
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Sorted.

I just remembered that there was a jumper cable on the fuse board going to the flasher unit above the relays. I took it off when I was cleaning up the fuse board and have just put it back, and now my hazards are working again.

MOT retest tomorrow so fingers crossed

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
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Got the car back to the MOT station today but they wouldn't retest it because it was Sunday confused

I am away all week now so will have to take it back next Saturday frown

AceOfHearts

Original Poster:

5,822 posts

191 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
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tomlloyd84

7 posts

42 months

Monday 26th October 2020
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Hi

Just started a new thread about this car (BNW 329X). Does anyone know what happened to it or where it is now?

Thanks

Tom