6 replies to this topic

[montyc]

hi guys, 

 

little problem ive noticed, my indicators are flashing really fast at the moment but not all the time. after the indicators have been on for a bit they start slowing down and eventually stop flashing and stay on.

 

ive located the flasher unit and its not one ive seen before its a ''lucas sfb 115''  is a faulty flasher the root of the problem? the hazards work fine.

 

cheers

[Ethel]

Possibly, but it could equally be a bulb or wiring/earths.

 

A hazard flasher has a permanently connected internal winding that  heats the bimetallic strip to close the contacts, then it cools because most of the current can bypass it, the contacts open and the cycle starts again. The indicator flasher is normally closed and is heated when current flows to the bulbs, the contacts open and stop all current flow - so the rate it flashes is dependent on the resistance of the bulbs (and wiring) - too little resistance and it flashes fast, too much (or too little current/voltage from a duff battery) and it's s-l-o-w.

 

There might be a clue if the left or right side behaves differently.

[montyc]

ok, they both behave the same way, any suggestions on how to find out what the problem is. 

 

ive looked up the flasher unit and its not one that comes up on any mini parts websites, would it be worth getting a new flasher and then seeing how it goes?

[KernowCooper]

Chances are as both sides are the same its the flacsher unit, I change quite a few for that very reason.

[Ethel]

I suppose you could test it off the car, or in the boot, by hooking it up to a couple of 21 watt bulbs in parallel. The connector for one cluster gives you that with an indicator and brake light. 

 

Chances are it is faulty, fast would be the points barely opening, slow would be it then overheating and the resistance going through the roof.

[Guess-Works.com]

The SFB115 is a pretty generic flasher unit, problem is that's a lucas part number and many if not all Mini websites will refer to it as its rover/austin part number... GFU2125

 

I would not even bother testing it, replace it for the cost of a couple of pounds.

[montyc]

Awsome. I had a trawl through mini parts sites and nowhere has that flasher unit so will order a proper one off minispares, then itll atleast fit in the fastner behind the dash.

Thanks for the replies