Great indicators relay fix

E21noob
E21 Fanatic
Posts: 355
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:46 pm
My E21(s): SOLD
Location: Oslo, Norway

Great indicators relay fix

Post by E21noob »

Every morning now, my indicators are going like crazy! Seriouly fast, almost continuous..

From what I know this is normally a sign of a blown bulb right? However, no bulbs are blown, all the fuses are ok, and funnily enough after driving about 15 mins the blinkers are back to normal frequency - and every afternoon when I drive home, after the car has been sitting still for 8 hours, it is as if it never happened!

Other ideas?
Last edited by E21noob on Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:29 am, edited 1 time in total.


Microang
Upcoming E21 fanatic
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:36 am
My E21(s): 1981 BMW 320/6 E21 Manual Sunroof

Re: electrical problem

Post by Microang »

Sounds like it may be your indicator relay, my brother had a similar problem. Or it could be the pesky hazard light switch, although it sounds like it's ok.
E21noob
E21 Fanatic
Posts: 355
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:46 pm
My E21(s): SOLD
Location: Oslo, Norway

Re: electrical problem

Post by E21noob »

Hope it's not the indicator relay - new one is 178 euros!

Nothing seems wrong with hazard light switch - works like it should, with the same symptoms as the indicators.

Could it be related to water coming in? May be imagination, but seems worse when its wet/damp or raining...
User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29199
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: electrical problem

Post by Jeroen »

Are the fuses making solid and uncorroded connections? Especially of course nos 15 (indicators) and 16 (hazard sw)
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
E21noob
E21 Fanatic
Posts: 355
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:46 pm
My E21(s): SOLD
Location: Oslo, Norway

Re: electrical problem

Post by E21noob »

Jeroen wrote:Are the fuses making solid and uncorroded connections? Especially of course nos 15 (indicators) and 16 (hazard sw)
I'll give em another look, but did wiggle them all to no avail.
E21noob
E21 Fanatic
Posts: 355
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:46 pm
My E21(s): SOLD
Location: Oslo, Norway

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by E21noob »

Had a good look at all the fuses which all look ok to me.

The funny thing is that it is bat shit crazy every morning, and totally normal every afternoon!
User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29199
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by Jeroen »

Weird. Really wondering if temperature or humidity could play a role. Is the car garaged at night? As that rules that theory out I guess. Perhaps try a different indicator relay. Not at the usual rediculous rate from the dealer, but a used example. Can't think of much else even though I haven't run into a broken indicator relay in all 25 years I'm working on E21's!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
User avatar
nas80
E21 Mad
Posts: 2975
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by nas80 »

do all the indcators flash when its going crazy?
[img]http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/nasbucket/forumsig.jpg[/img]
E21noob
E21 Fanatic
Posts: 355
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:46 pm
My E21(s): SOLD
Location: Oslo, Norway

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by E21noob »

Yepp, just double checked.

Both L, both R, all four with hazards - bat shit.
User avatar
nas80
E21 Mad
Posts: 2975
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by nas80 »

get a dremel with a wirebrush fitting and clean all your fuse box terminals and your fuses too,
[img]http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/nasbucket/forumsig.jpg[/img]
User avatar
e21-Mark
E21 Master
Posts: 5715
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:19 pm
My E21(s): 316 m52/2.8 Cat Cams & Jenvey ITB
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JackyardBackoff
Location: Cornwall - UK

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by e21-Mark »

Clean the bulbs and bulb holders too. I seem to recall someone's E30 having the same issue down to corroded bulbs and weird connections.
User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29199
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by Jeroen »

Well yeah that's how I started off with this topic, corroded electrical contacts in the E21 fusebox is a known issue, same for fuel pumps not working for example. But apparently this was checked/cleaned?
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
User avatar
BertjeConti
E21 Mad
Posts: 3007
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2013 9:49 pm
My E21(s): E12 520-6
Location: nederland , Weert

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by BertjeConti »

For shure it is the indicator relay.
You could try with a universal indicator relay.
Only then the dash indicator won't work.

Had exacly the same problem a year ago. Swapped the relay for a cheap universal one and wired the dash indicator later in with 2 diodes.

I can provide a diagram if you're interested.
Last edited by BertjeConti on Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
Megasquirted '77 E12 520-6

Aspen Silver '96 E39 523i
User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29199
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: electrical problem - indicators

Post by Jeroen »

:thumbsup
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
E21noob
E21 Fanatic
Posts: 355
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:46 pm
My E21(s): SOLD
Location: Oslo, Norway

Great indicators relay fix

Post by E21noob »

BertjeConti wrote:For shurre it is the indicator relay.
You could try with a universal indicator relay.
Only then the dash indicator won't work.

Had exacly the same problem a year ago. Swapped the relay for a cheap universal one and wired the dash indicator later in with 2 diodes.

I can provide a diagram if you're interested.
Great! Thanks! Yes please - that would be very helpful.

Do by chance you know if I could wire in a relay from a newer model? It doesn't fit, but looks very similar..
Post Reply