Weird hazard light issue

[polov8]

I know the hazard switch has a reputation for failure on these cars, but this one has me stumped!

About a month ago I was sitting eating lunch at home when my neighbour knocked on the door to tell me my hazard lights were on. This was a bit baffling as I hadn't touched the car in 24 hours, and had walked past it 15 minutes earlier and the hazards weren't flashing then, so they'd come on all on their own! Very odd, but I suppose not beyond the realm of possibility.

I went to turn them off but the switch was already in the off position, they were flashing in both the on and off position, so I had to resort to unplugging the switch, which turned off the hazards, but also rendered the indicators inoperable. As this is my daily driver, this proved irritating, but as I was fortunately working down the road, I could at least wait for the replacement switch to arrive at the dealers, and go pick it up in my fiance's car.

I figured given the famous switch issues a new genuine one was the way to go. On arrival, I fitted the new switch, which meant that the indicators now worked fine, but the hazards are still not working. I swapped the flasher relay to see if that might have been an issue and no change. at least I can drive the car, but I'll need the hazards to work come MOT time in June.

I've looked at all the wiring and there's no damage, bodges, or signs of being burnt out, infact it all looks pristine and unmolested. The only thing I haven't tried is the indicator switch.


Has anybody had a similar issue?

[Jeroen]

People have seen a few weird issues with them in the past indeed. Did u try using the search function? Since the hazards are on a different fuse than the indicators, did u check the Hazards fuse (Nr 17) and or roll it for corrosion?

[polov8]

I had a good old search, but couldn't find an issue matching this. I did also swap the fuse, and the contacts are all spotless. I'm beginning to wonder if the switch, although new, is at fault, but having no good one to compare it to, it's hard to diagnose.

I reckon the best way to diagnose faults on these cars is buy another one that works to check them against !

[e21-Mark]

Take switch out and bridge the mauve wires (I think?) to see if the indicators then work as they should? If so, it points to a faulty switch.