Indicator flashing at double speed!

[joebloggsVR69 0]

I am pretty sure the left indicator was ok when I bought the car last week, but I noticed that the left side blinks at about double speed.

 

Any ideas?

I had a stereo + bass tube fitted the other day so could that have interfered with something electrical? :?

 

And to make matters worse, the front left indicator bulb seems to have died :x

Probably not related, just bad luck :wink:

 

Is the bulb replaceable? (Sorry I asked this last bit in another thread too :oops: )

[VR6 0]

It means an indicator bulb has gone.

[joebloggsVR69 0]

Blimey, fast response :lol:

So, a dead bulb would cause it to flash 2x speed?

[Henny 0]

yup.... half the resistance (or nearly) causes the relay to go twice as fast... 8)

[VR6 0]

That's what we're here for ;) lol

 

Yep - it's designed to let you know that one of the indicator bulbs has gone.

[joebloggsVR69 0]

Ok cheers guys :)

[Henny 0]

Yep - it's designed to let you know that one of the indicator bulbs has gone.

 

Not entirely true... "it's a by-product of the design that it lets you know that a bulb has gone by flashing twice as fast... " is more accurate...;) :lol: (VW's been using the same indicator relay setup since the Beetle! )

 

Sorry, just got back from the pub and had to point that out.... ;) :oops: :lol:

[VR6 0]

Yep - it's designed to let you know that one of the indicator bulbs has gone.

 

Not entirely true... "it's a by-product of the design that it lets you know that a bulb has gone by flashing twice as fast... " is more accurate...;) :lol: (VW's been using the same indicator relay setup since the Beetle! )

 

Sorry, just got back from the pub and had to point that out.... ;) :oops: :lol:

 

Yeah, I was actually thinking about whether it was intended as a 'feature'.

 

I had my faith in VW

[joebloggsVR69 0]

Right, so I changed the bulb today, and it still dont work. On closer inspection, it looks like the original bulb isn't blown.

 

I put a tester lead into the indicator prong sockets, and I'm not getting any current through :brickwall:

The wing and rear indicator work fine though.

 

I did notice this the day after the stereo was fitted, and that involved removing the shelf above the passenger footwell. I took it off just now to see if anything came loose, but it looks fine to me...

 

Any more ideas as to what it could be? It's doing my head in a 2x speed :x And the cops probably wont be too keen on it :wink:

[kvwloon 0]

Gonna be a pain in the arse, but if as you say it wasn't the bulb, I would follow the wiring back from the non operating indicator looking for any accidental damage to the cables. Presumably it's only one indicator not operating?

[Henny 0]

there's a multiplug on the chassis leg which connects to the wiring to the indicator... check for voltage there too, and also check for voltage between the battery -ve terminal and the non-brown wire on the indicator itself, rather than across the 2 terminals.... ;) I'd bet it's a broken wire, probably an earth, that's causing this...

[joebloggsVR69 0]

Okay cheers once again guys, I'll give it a bash when it's daylight.

 

And yes, it's just 1 indicator that isnt working. Everything worked fine before the stereo went in though... :?

[kvwloon 0]

Hmmm, that's such a co-incidence you might get some help from whoever installed your stereo in tracing the fault, or at least they could confirm it's not down to them by double checking the connections they made. Worth a try? I don't suppose your stereo flicks on and off in time with the indicators does it.... :lol:

 

Even if they haven't made an incorrect connection it's possible they may have pulled apart a connection to the indicator accidentally whilst playing with the wiring for the stereo.......

[joebloggsVR69 0]

Hmmm, that's such a co-incidence you might get some help from whoever installed your stereo in tracing the fault, or at least they could confirm it's not down to them by double checking the connections they made. Worth a try? I don't suppose your stereo flicks on and off in time with the indicators does it....

 

Yeah it is a bit odd, but then again I trust this guy, he's my bro-in-law's brother. I'll give him a ring anyway, see what he says :wink: And the stereo doesnt flick at all :)

[joebloggsVR69 0]

Update:

 

The problem was bloomin obvious :roll:

The negative wire leading into the bulb connector had no current, but the other wire did.

 

Turns out that this is pretty common, and the area is a water trap. My bro-in law reckons the neg. contact corroded away. He had the exact same thing happen on his ABS sensor on his VR6 highline. Apparently it has an indetical connector. It took him ages and loads of ££££ before he realised it was one dodgy wire!

 

(I'll take a photo of the wire tonight incase it isnt clear)

 

So he knew as soon as he saw my indicator wire he knew what the problem was :D

 

One to remember, when the ABS sensor plays up.