20 replies to this topic

[chrisg]

hey guys
indicators stopped working the other day so did a search and replaced the in line switch (15A) worked fine for about two miles the went agian. Any ideas on what is making it go, relays? want to get this sorted because diriving without indicators is not fun.
cheers

[Dev]

may sound silly but use a higher rated fuse

[cowboy]

check all your connections yo might have a bad connection somewhere that is drawing more currant than it should, also check the bulbs.

[taffy1967]

By 15amp in-line switch, do you mean fuse?

When your indicators fail, do your hazard warning lights also fail too?

You may need to replace the hazard warning light switch perhaps, because that also controls and overides the indicators.

Here's a full list of all the fuse and in-line fuse ratings, but don't fit a larger fuse otherwise your wiring loom is at risk of catching fire:-

Mini Fuse Ratings Link

[Dan]

may sound silly but use a higher rated fuse

Yes Dev it sounds silly, and quite dangerous. Don't do this, especially if it keeps failing.

What year is this car? The indicators should be fused from the fuse box rather than a line fuse.

If a fuse keeps blowing it means there is a fault that needs fixing, something is drawing too much current. Are any of the bulbs blown? They can blow dead short. Are any of the bulbholders damaged or full of water? Have you checked for damage to the wiring that could be shorting to earth?

[taffy1967]

Well that 15amp in-line fuse could be the hazard warning light circuit fuse, so perhaps the fact that keeps blowing is causing the indicators to fail? Maybe it relates to a fault with the actual hazard warning light switch?

Edited by taffy1967, 08 March 2007 - 01:49 PM.

[panelbeaterpeter]

It could be a short in the brake light switch. Its a little white switch behind the brake pedal. They run on the same fuse, this happened to me, I changedc the switch and its been hunky dory since.

[Dev]

I had this problem in both my mpi's dan and the auto electrickery bloke replaced the 15a with 20a and problem was solved. his point was rover used to low a rating on mpis for most fuses.

i know of plenty of mpis with a piece of wire there instead!!!

dev

[Dan]

Doesn't make it right and you can't do it without knowing the physical makeup of the circuit. Yours was done by a professional who presumably examined the wire and saw it was rated higher than the blow rating of the fuse he was fitting. On older Mini's the circuits are running much closer to their rated limit as the wiring was not majorly overhauled between 1976 and 1996 but more and more accessories were added to standard cars. The lighting circuit for example on these cars is within an amp of the rating of the light switch which is a cause of many fires in Minis.

[chrisg]

hey
yeah when the fuse goes it also takes out the hazard lights as well. .the car is a 1994 auto the fuses in thebox are fine its the 15A line fuse for the hazard and interior light acording to the link was fine before so something must have changed. will check all the bulbs and switches will also check what current is running through stuff. and prob get back for more help
cheers guys
useful as always

[taffy1967]

i know of plenty of mpis with a piece of wire there instead!!!

Well I hope it's fuse wire?

When my sister bought a second hand Mini LE, some fool had soldered insulated wires across all the fuse terminals in the 4 fuse box.

For less than a tank of petrol I bought and fitted a brand new fuse box and everything worked fine, so it amazes me how some people scrimp to save a few pennies and put their car (and possibly lives) and risk.

[chrisg]

hey
just been and had another look about checked all the bulbs all look ok and the connections all look fine. when the right indicator is on all is well, when the left indicatior is on they flash fast but the rear one doesnt work. When you turn on the hazards a short buzz comes from behind the dash if you hold the switch half way it buzzes all the time (i know prob not a good thing to do). also check the current had to take the fuse out to check it only seamed to draw 3amps when indicators were on. so what do you all recon flasher unit whrecked?

[taffy1967]

hey
just been and had another look about checked all the bulbs all look ok and the connections all look fine. when the right indicator is on all is well, when the left indicatior is on they flash fast but the rear one doesnt work. When you turn on the hazards a short buzz comes from behind the dash if you hold the switch half way it buzzes all the time (i know prob not a good thing to do). also check the current had to take the fuse out to check it only seamed to draw 3amps when indicators were on. so what do you all recon flasher unit whrecked?

No it sounds like the hazard warning light switch is playing up. You can fiddle about with the contacts and get them to work again sometimes, but just fit a new one and be done with it.

If that rear bulb isn't flashing then check the connections behind and change the bulb too.

[chrisg]

if i take out the hazard switchand run the car like that, if that was the problem the fuse shouldnt go again correct? so long as i keep the contacts apart

[taffy1967]

if i take out the hazard switchand run the car like that, if that was the problem the fuse shouldnt go again correct? so long as i keep the contacts apart

Well i'd imagine you have to have a hazard warning light switch fitted, otherwise you may get problems with your indicators? Well the hazard warning light switch overides the indicators anyway?