Direction indicator issues
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
Direction indicator issues
Hi guys. Next problem. Direction indicators on car exterior all working fine. Right hand signal arrow illuminating and flashing on dashboard . Left hand and central signal showing nothing. I have changed bulbs but still not working. The turn signal flasher is obviously working so could it be a fuse issue or possibly the hazard flasher?. My car is a 1988 C4. Are there fuses controlling the bulb operation in the dashboard?. Any ideas?.
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Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Southlake, TX
Start with double checking your grounds. Sounds like yu may have an open loop somewhere in your system on the left. There is a ground strap on the rear frame rail just being the antnae. They corode after time as they are directly in the path of rear tire spray.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
Start with double checking your grounds. Sounds like yu may have an open loop somewhere in your system on the left. There is a ground strap on the rear frame rail just being the antnae. They corode after time as they are directly in the path of rear tire spray.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
Looking at the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual,it looks as though there are 2 connections on the indicator flasher unit, and by my thinking, if either were not connected, either the external indicators or the right turn arrow in the dash would not work. I am thinking your bad earth diagnosis could be spot on. Can you please tell me where the earth bolt is located on the rear of the chassis. We are expecting snow for the next week or so but I will get onto this when it has cleared . Thanks for your help.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
Looking at the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual,it looks as though there are 2 connections on the indicator flasher unit, and by my thinking, if either were not connected, either the external indicators or the right turn arrow in the dash would not work. I am thinking your bad earth diagnosis could be spot on. Can you please tell me where the earth bolt is located on the rear of the chassis. We are expecting snow for the next week or so but I will get onto this when it has cleared . Thanks for your help.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
There is only one flasher for both sides. If one side works correctly, the flasher is not the problem with the other side.
The indicators in the cluster are connected to the same wire as the front signals. Same colors too. Lt blue and Dk blue. (I don't recall which color is which side, look at the wires at the front signal bulb holder). If the front signals illuminate, there is power on that wire to the cluster indicators as well. If the below checks are all affirmative, then you may have a bad connection at the cluster connector, or on the board itself.
The indicators can get messed up by bad grounds at the front of the car ESPECIALLY with the park lights on. Do all your checking with the park lights on.USUALLY, ground problems result in the cluster indicator being ON when it shouldn't be.
Another clue as to "bad ground" or connection at the bulb is to watch the side marker light on the same side. With parking lights = off, the side marker should flash WITH the front. With park lights = on, side marker should flash opposite the front.
Verify the signals on the front of the car work correctly, including with the park lights on. If = yes, go back to the cluster and check the Lt blue and Dk blue wires going into the connector for 12V. If you use the hazards for this test, you don't need to know which color is which side. Both wires should "flash" with the flashers.
The indicators in the cluster are connected to the same wire as the front signals. Same colors too. Lt blue and Dk blue. (I don't recall which color is which side, look at the wires at the front signal bulb holder). If the front signals illuminate, there is power on that wire to the cluster indicators as well. If the below checks are all affirmative, then you may have a bad connection at the cluster connector, or on the board itself.
The indicators can get messed up by bad grounds at the front of the car ESPECIALLY with the park lights on. Do all your checking with the park lights on.USUALLY, ground problems result in the cluster indicator being ON when it shouldn't be.
Another clue as to "bad ground" or connection at the bulb is to watch the side marker light on the same side. With parking lights = off, the side marker should flash WITH the front. With park lights = on, side marker should flash opposite the front.
Verify the signals on the front of the car work correctly, including with the park lights on. If = yes, go back to the cluster and check the Lt blue and Dk blue wires going into the connector for 12V. If you use the hazards for this test, you don't need to know which color is which side. Both wires should "flash" with the flashers.
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
Right, I have been able to spend some time on the car today. What is happening is as follows. All indicators work with all lights switched off. With light switch pulled out to 1st position, rear lights work but no front lights working.With head lights on, indicating left turn, no dash arrow. Front , repeater and rear all flashing . Right side front on dim, repeater on bright but both not flashing, no rear indicator lit. Indicating right turn, everything as before but in reverse but dash right turn arrow working. I cleaned both front chassis earths but this made no difference. Is the rear earth accessed from inside the trunk?. American term, are you all impressed?.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 60
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From: Waterlooville Hampshire
Thanks again for your help guys . Cleaned the two multiplug connections on the digital dash panel. Also changed the direction indicator bulbs and full headlight beam indicator. All working perfectly as it should. Now summer is coming, I can just enjoy the car.