MNlotus Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I pulled off to the side of the road to check the weather and flicked the hazard lights, after that nothing works. I know the hazard light switch is known for this. What is the best fix for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 toggle the switch a bunch of times. I think it cleans off the contacts that way. Worked on mine once a few years back. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Disconnect battery. Pull hazard switch out of dash and disassemble, clean contacts and put back together. Reconnect battery. I follow the same process for all those Caterham rocker switches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Disconnect battery. Pull hazard switch out of dash and disassemble, clean contacts and put back together. Reconnect battery. I follow the same process for all those Caterham rocker switches I tried to toggle the switch a bunch of times already, no luck. Ill take it apart later today and see if that works, thanks for the tip! Is there any special way to clean the contacts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I went through the same thing about three times before I narrowed it down to the hazzard switch. The turn signal circuit runs through the hazzard switch in a really wacky way (Lucas Electrical design). I pulled the hazzard switch through the dash with all the wires still attached and when I pulled and twisted on the switch, the circuit started working again. Try pushing in on the switch with a good deal of force, both on and off a few times and you'll likely see the switch come back to life. I was able to keep it working while waiting for a new hazzard switch from Jon @ Caterham USA. Now that I have the replacement switch, the old crappy one won't quit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Disconnect battery. Pull hazard switch out of dash and disassemble, clean contacts and put back together. Reconnect battery. I follow the same process for all those Caterham rocker switches I looked at doing just that but mine don't seem to come apart other than in a destructive manner. Are yours rectangular type switches ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Is there any special way to clean the contacts? Reply With Quote If you are not careful, the switch is a virtual booby trap of little springs that will disappear into low earth orbit, never to be seen again. You may want to open it in a clear plastic bag. The contacts are low quality brass that corrodes at the first sign of moisture. I plated the contacts with a silver electroplating pen kit I scored on fleabay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 took the entire switch apart and cleaned the contacts, nothing changed still no lights. I have probably toggled the switch over 100 times and it still doesnt work. My car has been sitting for 1 year, and everything was working until i flipped the hazard switch. Any other ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 My car has been sitting for 1 year, and everything was working until i flipped the hazard switch. Maybe a dumb question, but given this happened as soon as you flipped the hazard switch, have you checked the fuse for that circuit? -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 A couple of things to troubleshoot: 10amp fuse second row, 3rd from the left, pre-1996 fuse #12 post 1996 Also check the hazard relay and flasher module. Keep in mind the hazard switch is hot with the ignition off, the indicators are not. (thus the relay) Don't let any smoke escape when poking around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Also adding to this.... The flasher relay could cause an issue as well. These fail often and if it is shared with the turn signals (unlikely) it would affect both the turn and hazard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 ok ill check the fuse and relay, where is the relay located at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Can't say for sure. I imagine close to the fuse block. Usually they are cylinder shaped. If you have changed to LED light bulbs a certain flasher relay is needed, otherwise there is not enough load for them to oscillate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 ok, the fuse was blown. But now i have a different problem, the fuse keeps blowing. The lights will work for 1 turn signal, but on the second you can hear a small pop from the fuse blowing. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 ok, the fuse was blown. But now i have a different problem, the fuse keeps blowing. The lights will work for 1 turn signal, but on the second you can hear a small pop from the fuse blowing. Any ideas? Interesting. Does your flasher relay have three or four prongs on it? Since it works through one full cycle, there won't be an obvious short until it oscilates. Is it the same if the first oscilation is switched by the turn signal or the hazard? Same result I mean? I'm thinking a three prong flasher has failed, as they have a direct connection to ground. Something in the flasher may be causing a short from the power to ground plug in the relay (flasher) itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) Pre 96 cars the flasher unit is lower left corner of the fuse block, hazard relay is up and to the right of flasher. Post 96 the relay and flasher units are the last two items protruding from the left side of the fuse block. The flasher is the bottom item, hazard relay is second from the bottom. Sigma cars are another story. Having not seen one in the flesh, I have no clue where the relays are. Have you checked for a short in one of the indicator or taillamp housings? A loose wire or something might be crowbarring the supply and compromising the fuse. Don't forget to check the repeaters on the front wings for shorts as well. Edited August 1, 2013 by bsimon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Sounds like you possibly have short. Check for chaffed wiring. One possible 'old school' way to check is to remove all the exterior turn signal bulbs and replace them one at a time. As each bulb is replaced, turn on the turn signal for that particular bulb. If the bulb illuminates and stays lit, then no chafing on that particular wire. Do this with each bulb until you find the one that blows the fuse (chafed wire). If this doesn't work, try replacing the flasher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 ok, the fuse was blown. But now i have a different problem, the fuse keeps blowing. The lights will work for 1 turn signal, but on the second you can hear a small pop from the fuse blowing. Any ideas? Mine did that originally. I found the right headlight/turn signal wiring harness had become cut/chaffed and was shorting out. There is a connector inside the front of the engine compartment for each side. You can easily isolate the headlight/ts harness from the car by disconnecting the connector, re-install the fuse and see if it holds OK. If it does, then you need to inspect the wiring near or inside the headlight. Mine was shorting out inside the headlight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 ok i havent checked the relay or the flasher unit yet, but i do have some more diagnostic info. I put a new fuse in when the car was off but ignition on. The hazards and the blinkers work fine. I then started the car, the blinkers and the hazards worked fine for about two minutes. I waited for the car to heat up, and tried the turn signals again. I blew the fuse again. So i turned the car back off and threw another fuse in with the car off but ignition on. They work perfectly fine again so i started the car again and tried them and blew a fuse right away. So it seems the work fine when the car is not running, and even on the first few minutes after start up, but once the car heats up the fuse blows immediately after i try the turn signals. It seems to blow only once the car warms up. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 ok i havent checked the relay or the flasher unit yet, but i do have some more diagnostic info. I put a new fuse in when the car was off but ignition on. The hazards and the blinkers work fine. I then started the car, the blinkers and the hazards worked fine for about two minutes. I waited for the car to heat up, and tried the turn signals again. I blew the fuse again. So i turned the car back off and threw another fuse in with the car off but ignition on. They work perfectly fine again so i started the car again and tried them and blew a fuse right away. So it seems the work fine when the car is not running, and even on the first few minutes after start up, but once the car heats up the fuse blows immediately after i try the turn signals. It seems to blow only once the car warms up. Any ideas? Having the problem only when the car is running indicates to me too much amperage from the alternator. Have any other fuses blown? Ones that you may not have needed recently. Heater, wipers, washer... that sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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