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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Indicators

Abit of a weird one!

I know that when the midget last had its MOT the guy testing it said the indicators flashed too quick. They did something?? and slowed them down. I feel theyre just too slow, Its about 3x slower than any other car on the road!

Hazzards flash at normal speed, Im struggling to think what they could have done or how to correct it? All the bulbs are correct and ive changed the flasher relay under the dash.
D Tetley

Any speed bewteen 60 and 120 flashes per minute will pass the MOT

Mike
M J Pearson

Thanks mike, although I was aware of the 60-120 rule.

I have not counted... but roughly its a flash every 2 seconds at the most!
D Tetley

Is that with the engine running or switched off.

The traditional Spridget flasher unit will speed up when the engine is running.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Bob, this is when the engines running. Im quite sure it wont pass the next MOT like this, plus its a pain having to start indicating a few miles early!
D Tetley

and its a '78 1500 if its of any help to anyone.
D Tetley

Ok, just been outside.

The hazards do flash too fast! and the indicators I feel are too slow.

Ive done a video :)
D Tetley

David,
The indicators use a different flasher relay than the hazards (at least on the US-spec cars). In my 72, the directional flasher is under the bonnet on the firewall, while the hazard flasher is in the console. The original relays were current-sensing and their speed could be affected by heavy-duty bulbs (faster) or dead bulbs (slower). Voltage-sensing relays are available (at least in the US) which are much more consistent in their flashing rate. I believe the original motivation was that they would not flash faster when asked to drive the signals on a trailer as well. If you can locate both flashers, you might try swapping one for the other and see how the rates are affected. Also, as implied above, at idle, with the original alternator, they frequently flash slower than at 2000rpm or higher.
David "idle cars are the devil's playground" Lieb
David Lieb

heres the entertaining video

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/britaxcooper/?action=view¤t=100_0582.flv

Can anyone tell me where the hazzard relay is in the UK car? I have the directional flasher under the dashboard, right of the steering wheel.
D Tetley

V. entertaining. Personally I'd leave the hazards alone unless they're an MOT fail.

For the indicators, it's one of three things - the flasher, the wiring, or the bulbs (ok that's 8 things). Are all the bulbs working, including the ones on the dashboard? If so then I'd measure the resistance to each bulb holder to check it's not a short or bad connection causing it in the loom - use the wiring diagrams to work out what should be a straight connection and what is switched etc. If all that's good then it's time to replace the flasher unit and see what happens.

Ant
Ant Allen

Since the hazards appear to be flashing at the normal rate, I'd suspect the turn indicator flasher relay may be faulty.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

thanks for the replys, Ill go over the bulb holders with a multimeter.

As per my original post though, I have changed the flasher relay twice and I know for a fact they flashed quicker until the garage slowed them down.

So it has to be something they have done/added? rather than something wrong with the loom wiring?
D Tetley

The only things that I am aware of that they could have done to affect the flashing rate are to change the relay or to change some of the bulbs. If they had changed the bulbs, it would have affected both directionals and hazards, so it must have been the relay.

My Haynes manual assures me that there are two separate flasher relays in the UK version of the 79 Midget. The one for the directionals has a Green wire coming to it and a Light Green wire/browN wire proceeding to the column switch. The hazards flasher has a browN coming to it with a Light Green/browN wire proceeding to the hazard switch. Which one have you been playing with?
David "No Bentley for 1500s" Lieb
David Lieb

< " ive changed the flasher relay under the dash " >

There are 2.


< The one for the directionals has a Green wire coming to it and a Light Green wire/browN wire proceeding to the column switch " >

Yes, this one is located INSIDE the radio console box (on North American spec cars).

R
Richard 1979 1500

thats excellent, Ill have a look when its light tomorrow. See what I can find. I did find a flasher relay under the seat when I got the car! I'll try find this second one, must be that! All the bulbs are the correct UK wattage.
D Tetley

This thread was discussed between 02/01/2009 and 03/01/2009

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