I know this sounds like a set-up for a lousy joke ("Are my indicators working?"......"Yes....no......yes.....no..."etc.) but my erratic indicators are starting to do my head in. Some days/weeks they work fine and then without warning they get all temperamental: flashing once or twice then nothing or not flashing at all. Often turning left is fine but turning right is a no-no. All the bulbs and fuses seem fine. I know if I go to a garage they'll work perfectly the entire time I am there and pack in again about half-way home.

Sometimes squeezing the plastic cover on the underside of the steering column seems to help so this weekend I took it off. There was far more stuff in there than I was expecting but none of it appeared to be loose or singed (although to be honest I don't know what I was looking at and it took me flippin' ages to screw the cover back on).

Any suggestions?

In the year I had the barchetta they have let me down 3 times.
Pressing the emergency blinker button once has always solved the problem.

Stelvio, the symptoms are classic bad connection. If you have removed all the bulbs (both sides and repeaters), cleaned the contacts and made sure there is no damp or grot in the holders, checked the back of the connectors/holders and cleaned off any build up of road dirt, then it would seem that under the steering column shroud or the solenoid is the problem. I'd go back to the shroud and once removed spray a good amount of electrical contact cleaner on the wires. Try driving round without the shrould for a couple of days. If that doesn't clear up the fault then find the indicator solenoid and firstly clean the earth contact or get a replacement from a motor factors. Unfortunately I have no idea where the solenoid is, but I'm sure somebody here does.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Crachat's advice sounds good. It does seem like a connection problem. Good luck.

also when you remove/disconect hazard/emergency button blinkers will not work at all. maybe to look at there first. that's why sometimes pressing this button could solve problem.

bollie69 said:

In the year I had the barchetta they have let me down 3 times.
Pressing the emergency blinker button once has always solved the problem.

Click to expand...

Mine does exactly this as well. Had the hazard light switch out, cleaned it up and refitted, still the same.

Thank you for the advice. Of course this week the indicators are working fine so I am not in any hurry to take the casing off and start spraying stuff.

No, this week it's a leaking slam-seal. Cornering on my way home from work this afternoon was accompanied by what sounded like a bath-full of water sloshing from side-to-side somewhere behind my seat. Last time I had the seal replaced I had holes drilled that were supposed to encourage the water to drain away before they rusted the floor pans any further. This no longer seems to be working. I don't suppose there's any other way of encouraging the water to leave before the rot sets in? I can't see where the water is getting in or where it is going but it sounds like there's quite a lot.

It is most likely the connector blocks on the column stalk switches, they probably just need cleaning and the contacts crimping slightly.

If and when the column stalk switches do start to fail, they look very similar to those fitted on the Fiat Multipla...hmmmm

collumn stalk?

bollie69 said:

collumn stalk?

Click to expand...

Column Stalk

That would make some sense. Mine has had a new indicator relay, which doesn't appear to have fixed anything.

afroking said:

Column Stalk

Click to expand...

ahhh, thanks for that.

Stelvio Verde said:

I know this sounds like a set-up for a lousy joke ("Are my indicators working?"......"Yes....no......yes.....no..."etc.) but my erratic indicators are starting to do my head in. Some days/weeks they work fine and then without warning they get all temperamental: flashing once or twice then nothing or not flashing at all. Often turning left is fine but turning right is a no-no. All the bulbs and fuses seem fine. I know if I go to a garage they'll work perfectly the entire time I am there and pack in again about half-way home.

Sometimes squeezing the plastic cover on the underside of the steering column seems to help so this weekend I took it off. There was far more stuff in there than I was expecting but none of it appeared to be loose or singed (although to be honest I don't know what I was looking at and it took me flippin' ages to screw the cover back on).

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Hello,

I had the same problem. Check the relay which is under the steering wheel.

No, this week it's a leaking slam-seal. Cornering on my way home from work this afternoon was accompanied by what sounded like a bath-full of water sloshing from side-to-side somewhere behind my seat. Last time I had the seal replaced I had holes drilled that were supposed to encourage the water to drain away before they rusted the floor pans any further. This no longer seems to be working. I don't suppose there's any other way of encouraging the water to leave before the rot sets in? I can't see where the water is getting in or where it is going but it sounds like there's quite a lot.[/QUOTE]

Had same sloshing problem, the water sneaks in from the seams of the rear window, slowly but surely. Had this 100% solved by applying clear silicone RTV sealant on the outside seams of the rear window. Just squeezed it neatly along where the plastic window edge meets the black "ribbon" around the rear window. You can't see it there unless you really start staring at it, and why would you...

I have the original 1998 vinyl top, so I also "created" additional seals and stuck it to the hood frame behind the B pillar (rearwards from the side windows) where one could see daylight thru. This may have additionally helped the water not leaking, but I suspect it is the rear window seal that leaks the worst.

I'd recommend you remove the rubber floor next summer (or next week if you have a carage) and take a look at the rust you maybe sitting on top of. And then remedy it.

On top of the rust on the floor, I found two 20 cm x 5 cm holes starting from the fire wall along the front sills. Had them welded this summer, draugh diminished also. Nice.

For the erratic blinker check the relay also, just follow the ticking noise...

I seem to be having the same erratic blinker issue... took everything apart yesterday cleaned it and put it back together again.. no luck.. I will replace the relay today and see if that solves the problem.. failing that I will start by taking all the bulbs out and clean the connections etc...
does any one have instructions on how to take the column stalk out completely?

thank you,
Harris

got a new relay today and a can of contact cleaner.. seemed to have done the trick.. although early days yet..