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indicators misbehaving


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Folks,

 

I've just swapped my stock indicators for crystal clear jobbies and the wing repeaters for clear ones too. When I did this I put in silvertec bulbs as well 'cos I didn't want my lights to look like fried eggs. Problem is, about 80% of the time when I indicate the bulbs just light up but don't flash.

 

If it's the indicator flasher unit, where do I find it?

 

Help!

 

Cheers,

 

Tony

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Hmmm..well, it worked for a day and then didn't work. It's strange, it seems that sometimes when I start the car they work, and keep on working, but other times they won't work (blink) no matter what I do. It's almost as if the car makes its mind up when I switch the ignition on... "Shall I have indicators today? Nah... let's not *&%$£*& bother!!"

 

Relay? If so, where is it and how much will it cost to replace?

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Hmmm..well, it worked for a day and then didn't work. It's strange, it seems that sometimes when I start the car they work, and keep on working, but other times they won't work (blink) no matter what I do. It's almost as if the car makes its mind up when I switch the ignition on... "Shall I have indicators today? Nah... let's not *&%$£*& bother!!"

 

Relay? If so, where is it and how much will it cost to replace?

It's prob a loose connection. I have the same problem on my Zed. Though once my ones are working they keep on working. I suggest you turn your signal on and basically twist the indicator until it works then screw it back on and pray that it stays on afterwards! :wack:

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Thanks W1NG, any idea where the loose connection could be?

 

Having a 260Z as my weekend toy I opened the bonnet on the Z32, took one look and thought "Oh blimey"....

 

It seems to be all or nothing with the indicators. It isn't just one that doesn't blink, it's the whole blinkin' lot of 'em!

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Thanks W1NG, any idea where the loose connection could be?
On my one it seems to be the actual connector which touches the bottom of the bulb itself. If I twist it in tight like you should do, they dont light up, I have to loosen it up a bit before it actually works. I keep twisting them tight as it's a natural thing to do and screw it all back up only to realise that I have to take it apart again because it doesnt work!:headvswal

 

Having said that, you should get your hands on a new relay or borrow one and test it to see if that isnt the problem... then wait for the next problem to arise! I suggest the next thing you do is to replace as many coolant hoses as poss and do the water by pass.

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Hmmm... why do I feel like after taking four years to fettle my 260 this all sounds so horribly familiar!

 

I'll check the bulbs. It has happened after putting in the crystal lenses and silver bulbs so that may be part of the problem.

 

Water bypass.... and that is?

Water by pass, basically Nissan thought it was a good idea to send coolant under the plenum and add an extra 101 connections which could go wrong! (Maybe not 101 extra connections but one too many in any case!) All it is, is that you removal it all and replace it with one hose for each side. Take a look at the link and you'll understand. I suggest you do this asap and replace any water hoses you can as my ones deicded it had enough last month and painted my engine bay coolant pink.

 

http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=technical&msg_id=880107

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks all.

 

Latest developement is that I realised they worked in the morning, but not in the evening. Duhhh? The difference of course is that in the evening I have my lights on! So..

 

No lights - indicators work fine

Sidelights - indicators work fine

Dipped Beam - indicators come on but don't flash

Main Beam - dunno, got too p*ssed-off by the dipped-beam result!

 

Any ideas?

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Some models have the sidelight come on when you indicate, I guess this is run via a relay and some modified wiring, perhaps you have a model with this feature and a fault has developed, do a search for "indicate sidelight" and you should be able to find out more and look into why yours is acting up.

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Think the US ones use the front indicators as sidelights/ running lights which flash brighter when you indicate, by using a twin filament bulb.

 

Could it be that yours has US spec front indicators and wiring and that putting a single filament silvatec bulb has upset it?

 

Long shot, but possible as i know some of the very early jap models had the US lights.

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  • 1 month later...

Sorted it. I finally, finally, found five minutes to have a look at the indicators!

 

The fitment is indeed a twin filament bulb, so the holder has two connectors for the base of the bulb. When you indicate, one filament lights up constantly, and the other one flashes. Why the heck it works like this I have no idea, but it does! Of course, a UK-spec bulb has one contact point and this bridges the two contacts in the holder, so the bulb comes one but doesn't flash. I reckon I can fiddle the wiring, but it looks as if there's something built into the wires there so I'm not sure I want to try!

 

I wonder whether I can buy twin-filament silvatecs!!!???

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