Blinking Indicators !! (not)

Before I spend hours pouring over the unintelligible wiring diagrams, squirting everthing with contact cleaner, and fiddling with 25yr old wiring....anyone have any experience of the following:

Left hand indicators do not blink but illuminate solidly

Occasionally they do blink (but it is rare)
Hazards do work, and all indicator lights flash
Right hand indicators are fine
All LH bulbs illuminate
The stalk is probably 8 years old (replaced early in my ownership)
Without the engine running - the LH indicators do work most of the time.

Anyone experienced this; any pointers - thx ?
Must be some strange threshold-type issue - not enough current to make the blinking blinkers blink...or something ??

My work around is to manually flash the LH indicator - when turning corners this is a bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy... (which I must try at the same time)

Having checked the manual, there is... somewhere under the Radio.... a bunch of relays one of which is the flasher/hazzard warning relay which is an 8 pin one, and from what I can see from the diagrams explanation, the chances are that either there is a high resistance contact (LH) on the stalk, or the stalk connector has a dirty pin,. or the 8 pin connector on the actual relay has a dirty pin 6 (LH direction indicator switch)....... or if all connections/pins are clean .... the relay could be at fault, but check pins/connectors first. See below.



Hope this helps.

Thanks John..it does..I'd forgotten the workshop manual describes some of the electrical units....
Will go looking for the flasher unit...the picture above states "located on the small bar above the fusebox"..so I now know where to get started (and to look for an 8 way connector).

Will report findings !!
Cheers

...the picture above states "located on the small bar above the fusebox"..so I now know where to get started.....

Yes Dave ... you could well be right.... I have not had a need to look for them..... yet !!!
But as you have the manual, it might be worth looking at page C-27 which shows the connections to the stalk itself with pin numbers for each of its operations. If you have a meter, it would be easy to check out the condition of the left/right selecting contacts... pins 6 & 4 of the 6 pin connector, against earth pin 5..... when operating switch each should show zero ohms. I would check this first.... its easier than looking for the relay, and possibly your problem.
John

May or may not be of use, but mine is located above the fuse box just under where your right knee is when driving.
Had a similar problem - indicators stayed on instead of blinking.
Happened just before MOT time, so I took the relay out and gave it a clean which appeared to help.
But the problem comes back now and then.
Doesnt seem to make any difference to the hazzards - they flash perfectly!

[phildini]

Yes I have had the same problem with two of my GTA's. My H reg also does it from time to time.

Thanks - good to hear I am in good company !!
I had found the unit today - indeed just behind/above the fuse and relay panel...easy to tell which one as it clicks with the hazards on
cleaned the contacts etc but no change
also cleaned at the stalk end (I still had the old spare stalk and that showed the same).

Maybe the flasher unit has gone...maybe time for a new one...or at least it would be a good diagnostic step. Other wise I might cross the connections between left and right to see if the fault reverses.
Reminds me - I must check on parts.renault.com if you can still get the flasher unit.
Seems to be there - will phone for price.
FLASHER RELAY GTA 60 01 018 629

.....cleaned the contacts etc but no change

Dave... can you open up the relay to reveal the circuit inside ?

Mine is a 1991 and (when they do work) simply click on n off. I've wanted the earlier relay where it gives an audible buzz but believe they're no longer available.

the part is GBP £101


whilst it is not a huge amount of money in car terms - it is for a blinking flasher...

@JohnC...no - have not taken it apart just yet..I was a bit loathed to do that just yet in case I make a mess (at least not until I have an alternative)
...but might go and have another look

Anyone have a spare flasher unit for sale / loan ?

thx
Dave

@JohnC...no - have not taken it apart just yet..

Dave... Not too sure if you are saying that it is possible to open it up...... if so, can you post a pic of each side of the board please. There seems to be a common fault on these flasher units as it looks as if the same symptom is affecting a number of them.

John

I had a guy after one last week .I haven't got any but he then said he'd managed to fix it ,replaced a diode .

I had a guy after one last week .I haven't got any but he then said he'd managed to fix it ,replaced a diode .

Thanks for that info Lee ..... Hence my question about the ability to open the unit up..... it could be a "component ageing" problem as a few are doing it. Usually that type of unit has a circuit in them which should be repairable.

Here are some pictures..
What still bugs me is why LH indicator works when engine is not running....
Suggests that with engine running something changes the inputs to the flasher unit...the only difference I guess would be the supply is not a nice flat dc...perhaps alternator rectifier is on the blink..who knows..weird...maybe the mention of diode replacement above is a clue too..perhaps that is there to smooth out such inputs...though why lh only is an issue...will take a look to see...hmmm..








If I could find enough 6.3 mm spade terminals I would make up some connections between plug and socket so I could swap LH and RH circuits to see if that helps isolate the issue...by seeing if the fault moves...will see if I can do that tomorrow

[BIG_MVS]

I'll check my spares tub tomorrow Dave to see if I have a spare relay. Any numbers from it?