Technical To flash or not to flash

[David Britton]

Have recently purchased a 500f 1970 after many visits to Italy and falling in love with them.
Decided to change indicators and side indicators to clear lenses with amber bulbs as it suits a white car.
During the swap all earths and terminals were cleaned to ensure good contact.
One side works perfectly with a good click from the flasher unit. The other side however just has the indicators dimly continuously lit to the front with nothing at the rear indicator and no clicking from the flasher unit.
Does the flasher unit need replacement or it something else ?
Could you please dumb down any responses as I'm not very mechanically minded having knocked too many nails in and inhaled wood glue!!!!!?

 

[the hobbler]

Check the bulbs in your indicators---in the UK where they are used only as indicators, they require double filament bulbs, although only 1 filament is used. On the Continent, they are also used as 'side-lamps' hence their need for double filament bulbs. As a result of the Continental requirement, all the 'pattern' indicator units are made for Continental use. I discovered this anomaly through experience!

 

[David Britton]

Thank you for the reply
The bulbs are double filament but I'm a little confused as to whether this is wrong or right
Also the fact that one side works and the other doesn't!

 

[F123C]

I doubt your flasher unit is faulty, if the indicators work on one side ,then the flasher unit is ok as the switching to left or right is done at the steering column indicator switch.

I'd agree with checking out the bulbs used, maybe try removing both bulbs on the side that doesn't work, checking that they're the correct type (look at the one's on the side that's working ok), then refit them one at a time and see what happens?

It's possible that you have a short at the rear bulb, preventing it from illuminating and also causing the front bulb to just glow.

Iirc, if one bulb blows, the other just lights up normally but doesn't flash.

If by chance, there's still a poor earth on the rear lamp, the brake and tail light bulbs will flash at the same time as the indicator bulb but all at reduced light intensity (remove tail light lens to check). A separate earth wire can be temporarily connected to any lamp using a crocodile clip, to check for a poor earth.

If you have a test light or multi-meter, remove the bulb, turn on the indicators for that side and check if you have 12+ volts at the centre contact in the bulb-holder.

Al.

 

[lazylobster]

Swap the bulbs over. Does the issue follow the bulb or does the side that is not working, still not work.
R

 

[David Britton]

Will do as suggested this week ?
Let you know once done
Thank you for taking the time to offer advice much appreciated

 

[AndrewHarvey]

It's almost certainly an earth issue IMO

 

[AndrewHarvey]

It's almost certainly an earth issue IMO

Try a wire wrapped round locating bolt of light body and connect other end to earth on body or battery as it's close by..

 

[fiat500]

Taking up from what Tom the hobbler has said, the source of the problem is that you should therefore only use one of the spade connections on the light fitting. You need to identify which of the incoming wires is the live feed; it's possibly easier to do that by eliminating the one (possibly black?) which connects to the body of the car.

The live wire should be connected to the terminal on the light which connects with the 21w filament of the bulb. If you choose the 5w terminal the flasher will not operate properly. I assume that this new light therefore either has a third male spade terminal on the body or requires grounding via one of the screws which mounts it to the car. To do the latter you will have to replace the spade terminal on the ground wire with a ring-terminal. So one of the male spades on the light is unused.

I'm guessing that at the moment you simply have the two existing wires connected to the two terminals on the new light; somehow, on one side, you're getting an earth via an accidental route, which allows it to work.

The original light was as Tom described, like this one which is dismantled to show the connections.

 

[David Britton]

Thank you for the replies the indicators now indicate on both sides ?
The indicators only have two terminals on rear and are made to be fitted on either left or right side. Due to this if the positive terminal is at the top on one side it will be on the bottom when fitted to the opposite side.
I was really pleased it wasn't an earthing problem as I'd taken care to clean where that was needed.
Many thanks.