Discussion
At the last MOT on my 1989 350i,I was advised that the hazard warning light switch should operate without the ignition on. Is this correct for this year of car? The hazards work on my car,but only when the ignition switch is turned to the auxiliary or ON positions, but not when OFF. I've pulled the switch apart but it all looks totally original! If I have got to modify this switch, has anybody got any ideas as to what to do? ( I ain't too hot with electrics!!)
Dunno if this is true, but I was told that if you had hazard warning lights they had to work for the MOT. They had packed up on my 1500 Midget, so I taped over the switch. The guy passed it! (on the basis it didn't have hazard warning lights)
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Sunday 21st August 21:43
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Sunday 21st August 21:43
2 Smokin Barrels said:
Dunno if this is true, but I was told that if you had hazard warning lights they had to work for the MOT. They had packed up on my 1500 Midget, so I taped over the switch. The guy passed it! (on the basis it didn't have hazard warning lights)
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Sunday 21st August 21:43
You may be right, the spare wheel is not required for the MOT either, but if you have one, then it must be roadworthy, (unless thats changed-think not though because there was a car around with rear wheels different to the front ones and it didnt carry two spares either)and surely some of the older classic cars dont have hazzard warning lights fitted, do they?
As far as I'm aware, the law never required you to carry a spare (but if present it must be legal).
I'm sure the situation is different as regards hazard warning lights though.
I would expect it to be similar to seat belt laws, rear fogs, cats, etc.
In other words, date of manufacture related.
I'm sure the situation is different as regards hazard warning lights though.
I would expect it to be similar to seat belt laws, rear fogs, cats, etc.
In other words, date of manufacture related.
re: the hazards
My hazards worked intermittently at last years MOT - it was an abolsute bloody nightmare to sort out. The switch was brittle and breaking inside and could I get another switch - could I b******s!
The switch has a lucas part number which during the time I got 3 different switches from different sources with the same part number that did not work and were not the same as the original in the car.
I ended up having an elecrowizard style mate fit (I not sure exactly what he did cos I am not an electro wizard) one of the wrong switches with a relay and assortment of wires making the right connections. I also replaced the indicator/stalk assembly (from the bloke who sells them on ebay), and my mate cleaned all the connections on the back light panels as they were greenish looking.
Finally this sorted it and passed the MOT - it drove me nuts cos the car was fine other than the friggin hazard switch!!
Anyway, if you are an electrowizardry kind of bloke thats what you need to do - otherwise book it in somewhere and get them to sort it
My hazards worked intermittently at last years MOT - it was an abolsute bloody nightmare to sort out. The switch was brittle and breaking inside and could I get another switch - could I b******s!
The switch has a lucas part number which during the time I got 3 different switches from different sources with the same part number that did not work and were not the same as the original in the car.
I ended up having an elecrowizard style mate fit (I not sure exactly what he did cos I am not an electro wizard) one of the wrong switches with a relay and assortment of wires making the right connections. I also replaced the indicator/stalk assembly (from the bloke who sells them on ebay), and my mate cleaned all the connections on the back light panels as they were greenish looking.
Finally this sorted it and passed the MOT - it drove me nuts cos the car was fine other than the friggin hazard switch!!
Anyway, if you are an electrowizardry kind of bloke thats what you need to do - otherwise book it in somewhere and get them to sort it
You don'ty have to use the official switch for the MOT, you could leave the existing one alone if it's proving difficult to fix it/find the parts. Then wire a second switch in on a flying lead that hangs behind the dash near your left leg.
Once the MOT is passed you can tuck the second switch up out of the way. Don't forget to tell the MOT man which switch works the hazard lights though! I almost failed a MOT once because the man couldn't make the fog lights work - wedge switch labelling being what it is.
Once the MOT is passed you can tuck the second switch up out of the way. Don't forget to tell the MOT man which switch works the hazard lights though! I almost failed a MOT once because the man couldn't make the fog lights work - wedge switch labelling being what it is.
adam quantrill said:
You don'ty have to use the official switch for the MOT, you could leave the existing one alone if it's proving difficult to fix it/find the parts. Then wire a second switch in on a flying lead that hangs behind the dash near your left leg.
Once the MOT is passed you can tuck the second switch up out of the way. Don't forget to tell the MOT man which switch works the hazard lights though! I almost failed a MOT once because the man couldn't make the fog lights work - wedge switch labelling being what it is.
The only problem with that is the original switch (on my wedge anyway) does several things - its not just an on/off thingy... (remember i am not electro minded but I try to expain
) - The hazard switch allows current through to the indicators when it is off, and the ignition is on, however when the ignition is off, it allows current to the hazards when they are switched on... but not to the indicators - so if the hazard switch itself does not function properly then it can bugger up everything else related to your indicators.
Thats why we fitted a "standard" on/off switch and a "non standard" relay to do the rest of the stuff... so if you just fit a standard switch and bypass the old one you might get working hazards but your indicators wont work (with the way my wedge is wired). I am sure other wedges will be different
hopefully someone else with better knowledge can fill in the gaps - all I can say is it didnt work before and now it works. Replacing the worn out steering column switches and cleaning the back connections also helped make everything more consitent.
>> Edited by skyrocketship on Tuesday 30th August 11:28
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