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INDICATORS FLASH TO QUICKLY

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 21:14
by tr7inc
Hi guys just posting on behalf of a another member whos PC has given up the ghost, he txt and asked me if i could ask you guys this question, when he took his car for its M.O.T they said his indicators where flashing too fast, any ideas, could it be a faulty earth for connection at a first thought?

Many thanks all

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Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 21:22
by Workshop Help
Without knowing what kind of vehicle we're dealing with, a first guess is either a burned out bulb, or a defective flasher unit.

Mildred Hargis

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 21:23
by busheytrader
They're usually too slow for the MOT, not too fast. Corrosion in the connectors and bulbholders slows them down.

Adam

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 21:33
by tr7inc
Mildred TR7, ohh and Adam i thought the same as you, but he says def faster, could it make a difference if the front side repeater lamps werent in situ, just the blanking plates?
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Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 22:10
by tom bauer
assuming this is a tr, the flashers use the current of the bulbs to heat a bi-metal strip which then bends and opens the circuit. when it cools the contacts close and the cycle begins again. so there are several possibilities, wrong or defective flasher unit, wrong bulbs i.e. too high wattage, a grounded or partially grounded wire. since the hazard circuit uses a seperate flasher unit, turn them on and see if it flashes at the correct rate. if it flashes too rapidly both left and right i would suspect the flasher unit first.

tom

Posted: 07 Apr 2009 22:20
by tr7inc
Many thanks Tom, will advise

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Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

Posted: 08 Apr 2009 00:34
by moestr7v8
Hi Steve
I would advise changing the flasher unit to an electronic one much better and more reliable.
Regards
Moe

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Posted: 08 Apr 2009 01:18
by PeterTR7V8
Indicators will sometimes flash quickly if a bulb is blown but I'm guessing the tester would've looked at both ends of the car before coming to his conclusion.

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Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

Posted: 08 Apr 2009 06:18
by gaz
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by PeterTR7V8</i>

Indicators will sometimes flash quickly if a bulb is blown but I'm guessing the tester would've looked at both ends of the car before coming to his conclusion.

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Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

testers over here can be funny beggers and that may have have involved walking from one end of the car to the other i once had a car fail on the seat belt missing windscreen washer not working..........
how much would it have taken to put his hand down the back of the seat and pull the lap strap out and put a drop of water in the washer bottle instead he had to do a re test.........

It rides again.....
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Posted: 08 Apr 2009 06:38
by tr7inc
Hi Peter, yes Dave told me that they supposily tested the unit, but to be truthful it seems each time he brings thr car back from this garage & after he works through the M.O.T fail sheet they spot another fault, different day, different tester i quess, i personally think they are given hem the runaround, thats what i txted and told him, hi Gaz yes that point you made ohhhhhh so true! Many thanks i will pas it on to him Peter about the electronic flasher system.
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Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

Posted: 09 Apr 2009 09:49
by busheytrader
I use the MOT garage just down the road from where Robsport used to be. It's a 40 mile round trip but it's mostly country roads and nice when the sun's shining.

Why do I go there. Well funilly enough they're very used to 7's and ensure that the engine's running when testing the indicators, otherwise they might not run fast enough.

Adam

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TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, Green Stuff, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:05
by wedggie perrin
Yes I use the same garage as Robsport, because they see more TR7's than most and they know what they are doing. Take it to some spotty herbert in Halfrauds etc and they have never seen a TR7 before.

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Posted: 11 Apr 2009 12:30
by nofinchance
Kinda off topic but I had terrible trouble with my old capri's indicaters.They would jam as if thinking before another flash.This happened rarely but annoyed me so I changed the flasher unit.[:(!]Big trouble[:(!]. I must have had the car that the handbooks refer to as 'some models use this varient' Cuz the indicaters worked fine but the dash green light refused to work.Turns out I needed a flasher unit with one terminal different to the 100's out there that everyone else uses[:p].
As for MOT stations some are a bit over zealous. I think some find faults so they can put on the sales pitch telling you "we can mend that madam ,only and arm and a leg +VAT" I used to use a guy who every year messed up the carb because he said the emmissions were out.Then he would try and sell me a tune up! I only fell for that once and now use a Land Rover dealer as he MOTs anything but will only work on land Rovers.Oh and once a garage tried to fail my MK2 1977 capri because the fog lights did,nt work.HELLO THEY WERE NEVER EVER FITTED FROM NEW.Now I may be blonde but I ain't that daft[:X]

Posted: 11 Apr 2009 14:11
by busheytrader
Agree with you there. I know MOT's and scheduled services are meant to find things before they go wrong but there are some places that try it on, especially with female owners.

At one garage my sister took her car in for a service and MOT, they advised her to replace tyres that were down to their last 5mm and replace coolant and brake fluid that they'd only changed last year. They hoped she hadn't a clue.......

Adam

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TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, Green Stuff, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

Posted: 12 Apr 2009 18:34
by nervousnewowner
cheers for posting for me steve, and yes guys it was for my tr.... thats why asked steve to post on the tr forum,,,lol... and fiddling around on weekend and seems to be cured now, looks like was bad earth causing it, new flasher unit no diff, changed hazard switch no diff. fiddled at back and bingo, just hope it lasts til mot....

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the project at birth, watch it evolve...I hope...