Too Much Work

Post by **1800oldb** » Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:56 pm

Before I start dismantling operations to check: should the direction indicators on my SST be self-cancelling or is it normal that I have to do all the work myself - selecting both ON and OFF?
If the system is supposed to be self-cancelling - what should I look for what I get to the mechanisms?
If not self-cancelling, I have a problem with manual cancellation.
The indicator lights are not 'attention-getters' being rather dim and, unless deliberately looked for, can be missed. Also, the relay is not very loud and the engine is (louder).
This, sometimes, leads to the embarrassing "berk's forgotten his indicators" situation.
So, if manual ON & OFF is standard - can the in-cockpit indications be improved? Is there a modification (rotary rheostat?) available?

Post by **CNHSS1** » Sat Aug 10, 2019 7:11 pm

Self cancel is a plastic 'ring' that push fits over column and they do break. QRG or Reliant Partsworld should have them. Whip off the steering wheel and a 2 min job

Indicators being dim is usually poor contacts and earths or the silvering gone off the reflectors. Whip off lenses and diagnose, again few mins nothing difficult

Post by **gtcse8** » Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:23 pm

SST 1800Ti ?.

Not many left now.

My cancelling "Ring would always move on the centre shaft so I drilled and tapped it M6 and put a grub screw in.
Sounds like the ring has moved and is "Blocking" the self cancel unit.
Mark

Post by **Old and Slow** » Sat Aug 10, 2019 9:25 pm

Or buy a "buzzer" and wire it across the flasher can, so you can hear the indicators working?

Post by **1800oldb** » Sat Aug 10, 2019 10:30 pm

Thank you all.
The steering wheel will be coming off tomorrow!

Post by **1800oldb** » Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:25 pm

Spent a couple of hours faffing (long story involving forgetfulness and/or stupidity) about sorting out the problem.
Put everything back together, connected the battery, started the engine and indicated left - nothing; indicated right - nothing. (However, my 'nodding' headlights no longer 'nod' (work that one out!).
The main/dip beam switch works, it's just the indicators that refuse to play ball.
Are there any relays or fuses connected with the indicator system that may have blown?

Post by **gtcse8** » Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:33 pm

On my SST the indicator unit is fastened to the bottom part of the switch binacle, on a few occasions the connector plug has been loose and not fully connected so I got an intermittent flasher.
Mark

Post by **Roger Pennington** » Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:57 pm

1800oldb wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:25 pm
started the engine and indicated left - nothing; indicated right - nothing. (However, my 'nodding' headlights no longer 'nod' (work that one out!).
The main/dip beam switch works, it's just the indicators that refuse to play ball.
Are there any relays or fuses connected with the indicator system that may have blown?

Do the hazards work?
Does the cigarette lighter work?
Do the reverse lights & stop lights work?

Post by **1800oldb** » Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:29 pm

gtcse8 - grub screw not required. Don't know where indicator (flasher unit?) is located - will check tomorrow.
Old & Slow - good idea - maybe later.
Roger - Hazards - good; lighter - good; rev & stop - can't check them on my own.
Update - everything back together but still no indicators.
Located a wiring diagram and it would seem the problem could be a disconnected wire.
Will investigate tomorrow.

Post by **scimjim** » Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:47 pm

exercise the hazard switch several times - the power for the indicators comes from the hazard switch (in the off position) and the contacts can fur up through lack of use.

Post by **Roger Pennington** » Tue Aug 13, 2019 10:03 pm

Jim is absolutely right, failure of the hazard switch contacts through lack of use is a common problem (been there myself, on more than one car) so repeated operation of the switch may cure the problem. You've shown that the flasher unit itself works, because the hazards work. However, there's another subtlety to the problem, and the reason why the check on the stop lights and reversing lights is important. If you're able to try it after dark, you should be able to see the light from the driver's seat?.

Anyway, the point is this - the hazard switch doesn't just switch power between the hazards and the indicators, it switches between two *entirely different supplies* of power. The hazards use a non-ignition-controlled power source, which comes from fuse B3, which also supplies the lighter (hence my first two questions). The indicators use an ignition controlled source, from fuse C1, which also supplies the stop and reverse lights, hence my third question. So the stop/reverse test will confirm whether you've got power at that fuse or not. (I've had this problem too).

Alan SS1 · Post by **Alan SS1** » Wed Aug 14, 2019 12:40 pm

Roger Pennington wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 13, 2019 10:03 pm
Jim is absolutely right, failure of the hazard switch contacts through lack of use is a common problem (been there myself, on more than one car) so repeated operation of the switch may cure the problem. You've shown that the flasher unit itself works, because the hazards work. However, there's another subtlety to the problem, and the reason why the check on the stop lights and reversing lights is important. If you're able to try it after dark, you should be able to see the light from the driver's seat?.

Anyway, the point is this - the hazard switch doesn't just switch power between the hazards and the indicators, it switches between two *entirely different supplies* of power. The hazards use a non-ignition-controlled power source, which comes from fuse B3, which also supplies the lighter (hence my first two questions). The indicators use an ignition controlled source, from fuse C1, which also supplies the stop and reverse lights, hence my third question. So the stop/reverse test will confirm whether you've got power at that fuse or not. (I've had this problem too).

yep had a failure with 'lack of use' on hazards but also managed to short out the ciggy socket which took out the fuse (just after fitted a new stereo) which caused a few head scratching moments, having done the usual pre-MoT hazard button pushing
PS brush handle can be used to operate the brake pedal to see operation in day-light

Post by **1800oldb** » Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:25 pm

Managed to see operation of stop, & reverse, lights - somebody had dumped a broken TV and the inner screen made a reasonable mirror.
Anyway, dismantled the switch and checked the components. It appears that a small, possibly brass / copper cap was missing.
Made a new cap, re-assembled everything and we have self-cancelling indicators.
Thanks for all the information and ideas.

Post by **1800oldb** » Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:45 pm

Greetings, once again.
Seems, like the young lady on the bridge at midnight, I spoke too b.. soon.
Left indicator doesn't always work.
Heigh ho, it's back to work we go.

old bean · Post by **old bean** » Wed Aug 21, 2019 11:29 pm

This might not apply if all of your indicators on the kerb crawling side were not working, but if you have trouble with the front ones only, then tell the arresting officer the following:

SS1s can get water inside the indicator unit which corrodes the terminals. They can be stripped down to individual bits of metal and sanded back to good metal though. Drill a hole in the plastic housing behind each bulb at the lower rear in a 45 degree angle as an effective one way drain hole (Ti accelleration expells ingressed water

).

I sealed up a leaking unit with silicone but some water still got in so the drain holes should sort it in the future.