Odd indicator problem

[Felix]

Hi guys, ok so I have this odd issue with my indicators. They work fine outside the car (i.e. they physically work), but they do not flash up on the cluster. You click to whichever direction you want, and the associated arrow will light up, then the "TRAILER" light comes on, and then they go out and you don't hear from them again.

It sounds to me like a trailer plug issue, so I took that apart, checked for shorts between wires, couldn't find any- unplugged the indicator wires from the tail lights to the trailer plug, still the same thing.. Given they're flashing and all good, is there anything inside the cluster which can fail?

Sorry I'm completely new to Range Rovers, and don't have a wiring diagram. Are there any online?

Thanks

[rovers4]

Hi,
I bet you have a bull bar with repeater (extra) turn indicators. These add to the current draw. The increase is sensed and brings on the trailer dash lamp. All normal.

The bit about the disappearing dash lamps is possibly due to a poor connection in the dash area or a ground circuit. -- The current flow (from the outside and working part of the loom) through the local lamp and then to earth has found a poor connection. This causes a bit of heat. The resistance of the joint rises a bit and that reduces the current, so this part of the circuit effectively goes "open" and ceases to operate - no light.

Look for a loose/dirty joint in/ around dash to firewall? earth point.

Rovers4.

[Felix]

Thanks for the reply- I'll pull out the binnacle and see whats there....

Hmm I don't have bullbar repeaters but I do have LED lights in the rear bar. I unplugged the LEDs to see if that was the problem but the situation does not change even if I unplug them. I can see though how the trailer light would come on with them connected though- current draw would be the same as with a trailer connected I suppose.

[PeterH]

I noticed the dash trailer light on my '89 classic appearing when I turned my indicators on, but the indicator light was still working normally. The trailer light was flashing once every time I used the indicators.
It turned out to the be the flasher unit, which started doing all sorts of weird things not long after that, so for me it was a first sign of failing flasher unit.
After replacing the unit everything went back to normal.
Very easy fix, plugs in under the drivers side dash, I think the flasher was around $55 from memory.
I also took all the indicator bulbs out and cleaned the contacts with contact cleaner to make sure the current was getting through to the bulbs properly.
Hope this helps, Cheers, Pete.

[PhilipA]

AFAIK the trailer light is supposed to flash once when indicators turned on.

The 3 Rangies I have had have always done it, and my current one has done it for 10years without flasher can failure.
Regards Philip A

[Scouse]

AFAIK the trailer light is supposed to flash once when indicators turned on.

The 3 Rangies I have had have always done it, and my current one has done it for 10years without flasher can failure.
Regards Philip APhew, I thought I had a problem for a minute. Thanks PA :).

[Felix]

Great, this is helpful :) I've been playing around with it this arvo after work and now, somehow, magically (as rovers seem to act) the hazards have started to work, and so has the interior light. It has been ****ing down rain lately so I'm guessing I have an earth problem somewhere. The hazards come up on the dash ok and work fine outside so I'll check out the flasher can see how that goes...

Thanks for the help!

[350RRC]

The year of your RRC would help a lot with knowing which wiring diagram to consult.

cheers, DL

[Felix]

**** sorry, it's an 82 2 door

[Felix]

Ok so I have been thinking about it and decided, what happens if I plug a trailer in?

So I did that. Now, the left side indicators work perfectly BUT I still have the issue with the right side and the hazards. If I pull the hazard switch the right side comes on only. Only when it feels like it, will the left side start to work.

Does anyone know where the trailer harness goes? I've found some of the connections at the tail lamps, but where else does it go? Does it head up to the cluster?

hmm.. this is annoying.

[StuRR80]

I'd be interested in knowing how you go.
I had fun with my indicators on my '81. I put in a proper 5 pin flasher can which worked the outside indicators but the one's on the dash we so faint, I couldn't see if they were on or not (let along hearing the can click). I ended up putting the 4 pin back in (which was in the car when I bought it) and it all works great again, except for the hazards whihc don't show on the dash (but work outside).

I also installed a new wiring pattern on the back of the dash which may have helped.

Do you have a trailer plug fitted? Would it be something to do with a short or earth in it?

[Felix]

Well here is a bit of an update- I've been speaking to the auto elec teacher at TAFE, who apparently has done a bit of work on rovers and rekons that replacing the flasher can with a 3 pin from a VN commodore will solve my problems. What happens is, with the extra load on the circuit from the trailer plugged in, the flasher can operates as it does normally, but without the load it flashes incorrectly. With the electronic flasher, all should work as they are apparently, more reliable.

My question is, with the 4 pin flasher- One is power from hazard, the other is signal from the switch, one is earth to the cluster.. but what is the other one? Does it just go to the 'TRAILER' lamp?

I've been staring at the trailer flasher wiring diagram trying to figure out how I'm going to do this retrofit. I'll give it a stab this weekend and see how I go.

[StuRR80]

[QUOTE=StuRR80;1203286]I'd be interested in knowing how you go.
I had fun with my indicators on my '81. I put in a proper 5 pin flasher can which worked the outside indicators but the one's on the dash we so faint, I couldn't see if they were on or not (let along hearing the can click). I ended up putting the 4 pin back in (which was in the car when I bought it) and it all works great again, except for the hazards whihc don't show on the dash (but work outside).
QUOTE]
I should have said 4 pin & 3 pin! Not 5 & 4 (was thinking of a relay for some dumb reason)

Yep, the fourth connection is for the "Trailer" wire.

[Felix]

Ok... PROGRESS!!!

I pulled the under dash panel off to have a look at what was going on. Well, I was greeted with a substantial amount of terrible wiring, which after 6 hours I still have not cleaned it all up. I'll give you a good picture of it, lots of twisted non soldered wiring, all miss matched of course! Earth cables twisted and crushed onto tek screws and instead of twisting then soldering wires together, whoever did this decided it was a good idea to use household wire terminators to join wires together! I've collected about 10 of them now and there is still more there!

Anyway- so I located the flasher can and replaced it with the electronic one. I soon learned that the two black/red wires are not earths- they are the return wires for the lamps in the cluster. So, I ran a new earth and the indicators now work perfect. I did have to do some modifications with my wiring however- as my car does not agree with the diagram. My wiring colours are for some reason around the wrong way- left is on the right and right is on the left. When the black/red wires are earthed, the indicators on the outside flash on the correct side however on the inside they show the opposite. To overcome this problem, I swapped the wires going into the cluster. Works 100% now.

Also I have learned that a good, operational hazard switch is crucial. I have two, both which are a little intermittent. One sometimes doesn't do anything at all, and the other sometimes only lets one side work. I think a new one is in order.