18 replies to this topic

[skier]

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Cityl:
1989r:
[b]

My indicators are working, but just REALLY slow between flashes. Everything else works fine (for once!)

Any ideas what could be causing this and how I could fix it? Would it be an MOT fail?

Thanks all!

[dklawson]

Have you recently replaced some or all of the turn signal bulbs?

The flasher unit is an electro-mechanical switch that works by internal heating of resistance wire. If you put in low-wattage bulbs by mistake, the current flow is reduced as is the heating. This will make the flashers work slowly... so will bulbs that aren't flashing.

If all the bulbs are flashing, you have a couple of options.
1) Replace all the bulbs with higher wattage units having the same bayonet base, or
2) Buy and install an electronic flasher to replace the factory part.

The electronic flashers use a capacitor and some inductors to set up a timing circuit. They don't work by heating. They will flash at a steady rate regardless of what bulbs are installed. The down-side is, they won't change their flash rate as bulbs burn out.

[taffy1967]

Replacing the rusty old fuse box on my Mini made a hell of a difference to the flash rate of my indicators.

[Gazw]

I had the same problem with mine, when i looked the flasher unit for the hazard lights had been put on my indicators, my car has two
two flasher units one for the indicators and one for the hazards. I just put the right one flasher units on. Indicators use 21w x2
and the flasher units use 21w X 4. All this means is each bulb is 21 watts and the 4 is all the lights that will work when you turn them
on, so the indicators use 21w X 2 so again 21 watts each and only two lights light up. You can also get a 21w X 4+5. All the 5
is for is if you have indicators in your wings of your car. I asked people about this problem and all i got was it's a mini, but i managed
to sort it give it a try.

[stormintrooper]

i have wing mounted indicatros, do i need to get the 21w x 4 + 5?

[Gazw]

Yep.

[stormintrooper]

oh human excrement

[stormintrooper]

http://www.minispare.....0FLASHER UNIT

iv basicaly got this in square form, havent seen another hazard flasher unit on there that has the plus 5

[stormintrooper]

jus found it, it says 21w x 2 + 5

[dklawson]

I believe all those 21W numbers are indicating the number of 21 Watt bulbs your flasher is expecting as a load.

Again, if you have the wrong bulbs fitted, the flasher won't have the right load and will flash slowly. Only invest in a new flasher if you're confident you have the "correct" bulbs for the flasher you have installed. Putting in a new flasher with bulbs rated for low-wattage will not cure the problem... until you replace the bulbs.

The electronic flasher I use is the Tridon EL12. I've seen some threads on message boards that imply it is available in mainland Europe. I don't know about the U.K. Certainly you'd have something similar available in the form of an electronic, 2-prong flasher. Again, the electronic flashers don't turn on and off in response to load so their rate will stay the same no matter what bulbs are installed.

EL12 Info and picture here (half way down the page):
http://www.southernp...om/flashers.php

[Wil_h]

Bin the old bi-metallic strip flasher unit.

Go to halfords and select a suitable flasher unit (say of a fiesta). they are labelled as 4x21w iirc.

It's a simple wiring job, you just need to run an extra earth wire.

You'll get a consistent flashing rate, with a normal on to off ratio and great reliability. The only thing dklawson got wrong is that these flasher units cause the indicators to flash quickly when a bulb goes.

[dklawson]

Wil_h and I are not talking about the same product. I did not make a mistake and I'm sure he's right also.

The Tridon EL12 flasher that I'm using does not change rate when bulbs blow. I can't say whether or not the Fiesta flasher Wil_h recommended would or wouldn't so I defer to his knowledge.

However, if you get a 2-prong electronic flasher to replace a 2-prong bimetallic flasher, you won't need to run additional wires.

[skier]

Replacing the rusty old fuse box on my Mini made a hell of a difference to the flash rate of my indicators.

I actually did that a couple of months ago as he was really struggling through the rain... but it's made no difference to the indicators?!

[skier]

Have you recently replaced some or all of the turn signal bulbs?

The flasher unit is an electro-mechanical switch that works by internal heating of resistance wire. If you put in low-wattage bulbs by mistake, the current flow is reduced as is the heating. This will make the flashers work slowly... so will bulbs that aren't flashing.

If all the bulbs are flashing, you have a couple of options.
1) Replace all the bulbs with higher wattage units having the same bayonet base, or
2) Buy and install an electronic flasher to replace the factory part.

The electronic flashers use a capacitor and some inductors to set up a timing circuit. They don't work by heating. They will flash at a steady rate regardless of what bulbs are installed. The down-side is, they won't change their flash rate as bulbs burn out.

Think I'll try some new bulbs and go from there... If they're flashing slow because they're on the way out that is?!

Thanks for the help.

[taffy1967]

If the fuse box is good then consider changing the flasher unit, but buy one from Mini Spares or Somerford as the el-cheapo ones from Halfords don't last long.

Edited by taffy1967, 10 November 2008 - 10:02 PM.