Hazards
Turbo Mini Forums

Got a a strange problemo with my hazards at the mo.

Indicators work fine in both directions, but i know the hazards are on a different circuit so anyway..

For some reason my hazards are flashing very quickly and they dont stay lit for long at all!

Ive checked all the earths and the flasher unit's new! Could it be to do with the earth in the boot? Ive checked that but I cant think what else it might be? Apart from one of my side repeaters has a dodgey holder where the bulb has to be leant to one side to work lol.

Also - do I need side repeaters? Its a 1990 car.

Cheers

check you've got the correct flasher unit - i think the indicator flasher can do this if fitted.

yes, you techincally need side repeaters on anything after 86 I think, although you may find a friendly mot tester who misses it!

I had this problem the other week. Try taking the hazard switch apart and cleaning the contacts up.

Probably nothing to do with anything, but could be useful to know with regards 'other' hazard problems - the in line fuse under the windscreen scuttle is also used by the interior light on some models' circuits.

My point? Blown hazard fuses aren't always because there's a problem with the hazards - check your interior light.

Or, check the interior light's not been taken out by the previous owner to make way for a cage and "taped" the bare light wires using masking tape! Which eventually degrades, falls off, and leaves a +ve & -ve sat on each other/ the roll cage/ the B pillar (you can probably tell I speak from experience here!)

Edited by Pottsy on 18th Jun, 2008.

Thanks for the replies!

Well, think I may have found the problem!!

Took the hazard flasher unit off to compare it with the indicator unit, turned it upside down and a load of rusty water poured out haha!!

God know's how thats got in - but at least getting a new hazard flasher unit will likely solve the issue

If for some reason the problem persists after I fit a non-submerged unit I'll let you know!

Cheers

Rich

Just fitted a new hazard flasher unit.

Seems to do more or less the same thing but the lights stay on for longer when they flash.

After you flip the switch after about a second or two the hazards go mental and then settle down into a uniform flash - which seem too fast still!

+ the flasher unit itself is getting warm.

Sound like an earth??

yeah sounds like high resistance somewhere along the line to me. check the earth points first and then change a few bublbs over, easiest things to check i suppose, after that you will have to take someone else's advice because im to tired to think properly at the moment :)

Ok been out looking at this hazard problem for a while now and still havn't cured it!

I've checked the main earth which was fine.

At the back of the switch I'm getting 12v to the hazard flasher unit, which at that end is 12v on the green/pink wire.

From the inline fuse to the other side of the flasher unit (purple/orange) im getting 12v

When the hazards are on, they initially go apeshit and flash madly, then calm down but fluctuate in speed still going way too fast!

When the hazards are on, the purple/orange side of the hazard flasher unit is still 12v, but the green/pink side fluctuates up and down, im guessing this is right??

Interior light works fine and is getting a healthy 12v supply on the purple/orange wire. The earth must be ok as i tested by putting the -ve side of my multimeter on the body and the +ve on the earth contact on the interior light and the bulb lit up!!

Just to confirm, where abouts is the earth for the interior light, is it in the boot?

All bulbs are fine as the indicators work perfectly!

When the hazards are on the flasher unit is getting really warm still.

Any ideas or pointers would be so appreciated! This is the last thing for me to fix before the MOT bar the front wheel arches

Cheers

Mines doing exactly the same thing rich. With my problem though, right indicators arent working.

I too have changed the flasher units. I think it maybe a faulty connection somewhere that has corroded or fell apart.

Back once again like a renegade master

is it the correct flasher unit? do you have all the indicators you should have? ie have you taken out the indicators in the wings?

are the wires corroded as you said you had water in the flasher unit you might want to check the wires? apart from that i am not the best with these sorts of problems over t'internet because i dont have any experience of them unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?)

James.

Did you take the switch apart? Sounds very much like the problem I was having, the contacts in mine were nicely corroded when I had a look. Run a bit of paper over the contacts and give it a squirt of contact cleaner.

Might also be worth looking at the main fuse box also, do the hazards run through there?

Just cleaned up my hazard switch while the football's been on, it wasnt corroded at all inside and the other one was squeaky clean aswell.

I got some emery across the contacts any way and a quick spray of contact cleaner but I still have the problem!

This is the unit I got from hellfrauds, seem the right one to you guys?

I had this one on my indicator unit. However, it wouldnt work on the hazards

Back once again like a renegade master

Hi,
Fit an electronic flasher unit. Mk IV Escort is a good one to use or even an MPi one. You just need to add an earth wire.
They're almost bullet proof, but mount it with the terminals pointing down
I've long since given up with those bi-metallic ones
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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Ahhh right, so ive got the wrong hazard flasher unit?

I searched on ebay for "mini hazard flasher unit" and thats what came up so i went and bought one!

I've got these yellow cube type objects that where on my first mini, are these flasher/indicator units?

If so, will they work??

Thanks for the help.

Hi,
Nope, yellow cubes are relays.
You got a black one with 3 prongs on it?
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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Hmm might do, i'll have a look in my box of bits tomorrow.

Is that tin unit i've just got the wrong one then?

I've got one for the indicators too, different coding but still tin. Seems to work ok though!!

The coding noramlly relates to the wattage of the bulbs, your hazard flasher unit being 4 x 21W bulbs (Have you checked you have the correct wattage bulbs in the indicators?).

You indicator flasher will 2 x 21W (or similar) as it only flashes 2 lamps at once (might include side repeaters).

Ahh right again i'll check tomorrow cheers for the tip.

I know I replaced the two side repeater bulbs last because they where crap condition, maybe i put the wrong wattage ones in.

But wouldnt that throw the indicators out aswell??

Hi,
Could possibly be the bulbs, won't hurt to check. I've never had any luck with those tin can flasher units, I always bin them, lot less trouble in the long run...
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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