offside indicators continually flashing - help sought

[ds8819]

Hi all, I'm new on here .... so please be gentle!

Ok heres my problem.... had to replace the steering lock/ignition switch ( what a nightmare of a job, I will more about that later).... anyway, reassembled all the steering wheel cowling etc... then found a problem with the indicators... when the ignition is turned on the offside indicators flash continually, irrespective of where the ignition stalk is. If I move the stalk as to turn left it makes no difference... the right hand indicator is just continually flashing.

So, I figured that I must have pulled a wire off somewhere, left a connector of etc, so I stripped off the steering cowl and the panel under the column to check... no, couldn't find anything amiss.

So i thought that I mah have damaged the indicator switch at the end of the stalk whilst drilling off the old steering lock, as I noticed that I had caught the plastic switch housing with the drill bit. I eliminated this by disconnecting the big blue multipin plug that connects the steering column electrics ( it is located at the base of the steering column behind the panel).

Next I thought it may be the plug on the indicators relay, fiddled around with those, unplugged and replugged, wiggled the wires etc still no joy.

So Now I'm stuck! It's in for an mot tomorrow so panicking now that I can solve it very soon...can anyone offer any suggestions or maybe have come across this problem themselves???

ps. if I operate the hazard switch all 4 indicators operate as normal

[ds8819]

* BUMP *

Anyone?????

[g8dhe]

There are only two connections that control which lights flash;

The Black/Blue and Blue/Green on the connector E1-01, if you pull the E1-01 connector (steering column) off does the flashing stop ? If it does then it indicates that the problem is in the switch itself, if the flashing continues then it would indicate a problem back towards the flasher module.

[ds8819]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply.

I have spent all day on this problem and have got no further.

yes I have tried disconnecting the blue plug at the base of the steering column, but the flashing remains!

Operating the indicator stalk has no effect either.

I am totally baffled!

[g8dhe]

OK well if disconnecting the stalk, doesn't make a difference then it is very likely the flasher module itself that is faulty, there is a small chance that it could be a short in the loom but it really would not be my first guess. If you have a multi-meter, then disconnect the module and check the voltage between chassis and pins F and E of the F1-01 connector if either of them are at 12 volts then there is a wiring loom fault. Otherwise its a fault in the flasher module and time to contact a breaker I reckon!

[ds8819]

Thanks for your help with the wiring, it's been very helpful...

ok ... I've found the source of the proplem, it IS the indicator switch... the thing that has had me confused all day is that I have been disconnecting the wrong plug! .... I had been disconnecting the blue connector, only discovered late yesterday that it is the white one that is tucked higher up behind the dash that is difficult to see.

So ... the indicator stalk IS sending a live out on the o/s indicator circuit.... I must have done some damage when drilling off the steering lock somehow..... now to the next problem... removing it,

To do this requires removal of the steering wheel ... just one nut and pull... or so i thought!... got the nut off, but the steering wheel is impossible to pull off... had 2 people pulling but it just wont budge... anyone any ideas how to get it off?

[teenmal]

Your best bet is to use a SW puller..

[ds8819]

what does SW stand for? & where would I get one from?

[mikeWalsall]

Steering Wheel puller ..

Some thing like ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Harmonic-Gear ... 3a847b9e3b

[ds8819]

Steering Wheel puller ..

...Of course it is !!!

Thanks for the link

[Simon Jones]

Sometimes a gentle tap on the top of the steering column is all it needs. It's best to loosen the nut but not remove it totally. That way when it does break loose, it / you wont go flying .

[mikeWalsall]

With two people .. one pulling up on the rim of the wheel .. then as Simon says .. loosen the nut .. and give the centre of the column a smack with a (copper) mallet ..

[ds8819]

ok guys, thanks for all your ideas & suggestions... well spent a couple of hours today attempting rempval of the steering ... 3 furiously pulling at one stage, hitting it with various implements.. but no joy... so i've thrown in the towel and ordered a puller off ebay! All this because I managed to lose the one and only key that I had... moral of the story is ... when you say to yourself " I must get another key cut sometime" .... DO IT NOW!!!

[ds8819]

Ok, sorted with this now... had to buy a puller to get the steering wheel off... worked a treat, off in seconds... well worth buying.

the problem with the indicator switch was that some sort of flimsy plastic bracket bit that attaches to the actual switch has broken... it must have snapped off when I was drilling off the ignition barrel.

A replacement stalk assembly was £65 ... so I set about designing and configuring a new switch.... it works a treat! ... in fact it is far more robust than the original.... if anyone else has this problem, pm me and I will explain how i did it.

Thanks to all those who contributed their help and ideas to this topic.... cheers