Thread: Stoopid Indicators

I'm not an texpert but I think that the dashboard indicator is an electrical load sensitive device, it could also involve the relay, not sure, that is how it senses if a trailer is connected, the extra load caused by trailer blinkers makes the indicator show up as it does. What I found with my Disco was, if there was a poorly connected bulb on the car it would indicate on the dash differently, i.e. normal operation without a trailer, when you move the indicator stalk the light on the dash flashes both the trailer and the normal light, then continues to show only the normal light without the trailer symbol until the indicator turns off. If a bulb was crook or had a dirty/faulty bulb connection it would not show the trailer symbol on initiation of the turn signal and may not show at all depending on how bad a connection problem existed.
On ours with a trailer connected the both indicator lights (trailer and ordinary) on the dash flash together constantly while the indicators are on for a turn.
Make sure ALL the indicator bulbs are working ALL the time you may need to clean some "high resistance" connections.

The relay is the load sensitive element of the circuit, but it only has two functions. One is to double flashing speed when the load resistance is too high (i.e. bulb out).

The second is activating the trailer light. The trailer light is activated (more than one flash when indicating) when there is less load resistance on the circuit - that is, when there are more bulbs to light up. A common occurrence here is that the extra bulbs on a bullbar trigger the trailer light, but that is no big deal.

What you have described would indicate that there is no problem with your relay (i.e. if the indicators are working at normal speed) - more than likely it is a matter of loose connections somewhere. But it's hard to tell exactly what's going on from your description.

Do you have any LEDs in your indicator circuit?