15 replies to this topic

[hawthorne]

I recently fitted an electronic conversion kit to my distributor by accuspark and a Lucas Gold sports coil and my top fuse blew (someone before me used a 10amp instead of a 35amp) However once replaced my indicators worked again but my hazard lights no longer work, but they did before this fuse blew. I checked the inline fuse which correct me if I'm wrong should be 15amps but my mini had a 35amp fuse in and hasn't blown.

Any ideas on what could be causing the hazards to stop working?

Its a 1991 Rover Mini Mayfair if that helps matters

Thanks in advance

[TheBlueMeanie]

Some minis have two flasher units. One for indicators and another for hazards. First thing I would do if your indicators are working and hazards are not is have a look to see if you have a second one. If you have it may be open circuit.
If you only have one, pull your hazard switch forward of the switch panel and take a close up of the plug with wiring so i can see which colour codes you have and ill tell you which ones to test with a multimeter. :)

[hawthorne]

Mine has 2 flasher units one inside and one on the bulk head from what I can see all the wiring seems to be ok, and apart from the fuse being the wrong rating that seems ok as well.

Just thought it was weird that this happened at the same time the fuse in the top slot of the fuse box blew but once that was replaced my hazards still don't work.

When I press my hazard switch nothing happens at all no light on the switch and no noise from the flasher unit if that helps.

[TheBlueMeanie]

If they're both the same style flasher try swapping them out. Some had a three pin on the indicators and a two pin on the hazards. Old flasher units are very easily damaged. I smoked a few when I was starting out to be honest. Do you have a multi meter handy? If so one of the pins on the flasher plug should have 12v.

[hawthorne]

Just swapped over the flasher units and its definitely not them, both worked on the indicators but neither worked on the hazards relay, any other suggestions?

[TheBlueMeanie]

Ok cool thats good news because you dont need to buy a new flasher. Ok Do you have 12 v on one of the pins of the hazard flasher plug? If you dont have a meter get an indicator bulb and make yourself a little test light out of it. Its safe for this test you cant hurt anything. :) With the flasher unpluged put the lamp between ground and each of the plug pins. ( one at a time obviously ). If you dont have a constant 12v there thats your problem. If you do have 12v get back to me and ill tell you the next step.

Edited by TheBlueMeanie, 30 July 2012 - 08:16 PM.

[TheBlueMeanie]

Oh one more thing are they 2 pin or three pin flashers?

[hawthorne]

Both are 2 pin flashers. I'll get the multimeter out tomorrow night after work and I'll get back to you, thanks for the help so far!

[TheBlueMeanie]

No problem. The problem is almost guaranteed to be a lack of 12v to the flasher unit from what you've told me. If thats the case trace the colour code back to the fuse box and check it there. Alot of the time with minis I find the faults like these are caused by a bad connection at the fuse box push fittings. I generally remove the whole fuse box (if you need to, label it first) and spray all the connections and fuse fittings with contact cleaner then hit them with a wire brush and sandpaper. The best option if you dont mind spending a couple of bucks is to buy an aftermarket sealed blade fuse holder. Hella make one for about 30 bucks nzd that is a direct replacement. No idea what that is in pounds sorry.

[tiger99]

There are always two flashers in a Mini with hazards. Careful, you should not realy be swapping the flashers around for fault finding. The indicator flasher is rated for a 42 watt load, and the hazard for 84 watts. You stand a chance of ruining a good flasher.

The feed to the flasher is purple/orange and almost always shares a fuse with the interior light. Does that work? The fuse is fed from the brown (permanently live) circuit, and in the majority of cases is an in-line fuse, not in the box. The cause of the fuse blowing is very often a short to earth at the interior light, which happens either due to mechanical damage or by putting the wires on the wrong terminals.

[TheBlueMeanie]

Not wanting to get into an internet argument about it however I have three different wiring diagrams here for mini haz/ind circuits one of which is a single flasher. There are also 2 and 3 pin variant wiring. As for the flasher swap I disagree based on the symptoms and feed back from Hawthorne but i guess everyone has a right to an opinion. I shall take my 15 qualified years of electrical experience with minis and leave you too it.

[tiger99]

The two or three pin variants may certainly confuse the issue, especially as some three pin flashers are solid state and need the extra pin grounded, while in older bymetallic flashers it feeds the single warning lamp.

If it is a single flasher for both functions, it would have to be the solid state type to keep the flash rate within the legal limits whether it was feeding two lamps or all four. A hazard flasher used for normal indicators will flash slowly, if at all. But there is a much more fundamental problem, the hazard flasher MUST be powered from the permanently live circuit as it must work at any time, with or without ignition key, but the indicators MUST be powered from the ignition switch controlled circuit, in the UK at least, therefore it would be impossible to use one flasher for both functions without complex extra switching. I would be very interested to know where you found the diagram which shows only one flasher, as the 20 or more Mini wiring diagrams which I have available all show two.

It is also rather fundamental that if you overstress any electrical component beyond its design limit, it may be damaged, and may fail prematurely, if not immediately. I happen to have 39 years experience in high reliability electronics design, and am fully conversant with how and why things fail.

[TheBlueMeanie]

As I say, im absolutely uninterested in having and internet argument with you about it. The diagram is for a 1275 gt clubman euro just for reference sake and both the hazards and indicators work just fine. Also to be clear there is no problem at all swapping out a known good flasher in a functional circuit for a possibly non functional unit to check it when the person in need is dealing with at home tools and experience. I have used this forum for a long time for information and at times inspiration but only recently became a member because I thought that as someone who works on minis everyday I might be able to help out those who are less experienced and in need of some guidance. As i said ill leve you to it.. I hope you will assist Hawthorne in sorting his problem. Hope its going well by the way mate, sorry for having a vent in your thread.

[tiger99]

So in your diagram how does the single flasher get power with the ignition off?

[TheBlueMeanie]

As i said its not really worth getting into as its not helping Hawthorne with his problem, but for reference the indicators can be operated with the ignition off. Unsure if its a German/Swiss thing or if its a LHD thing but it is what it is.. end of my input here. Good luck with it guys.