Why does the the left indicator stays on permanently.

phillo

One evening I was going to go out in the car and I noticed that the left indicator was on permanently

i.e. not blinking, no intermittent flash, but permanently turned on like a headlight.

I have checked the indicator lever on the dash and the hazards, nothing seems to be amiss there. I was baffled by this, so I disconnected the battery and reconnected it and the problem remained.

Has anyone any idea what could cause this?

Hopefully it's a simple problem, as a trip to a mechanic would not be financially welcome at the moment.

colm_mcm

could be an earthing problem,

Questions:
what car is it?
does it only happen when the lights are on?
or when the engine is running?
What happens when you turn the left indicator on?
What happens when you press the brake pedal?

Darragh29

phillo wrote: »

One evening I was going to go out in the car and I noticed that the left indicator was on permanently

i.e. not blinking, no intermittent flash, but permanently turned on like a headlight.

I have checked the indicator lever on the dash and the hazards, nothing seems to be amiss there. I was baffled by this, so I disconnected the battery and reconnected it and the problem remained.

Has anyone any idea what could cause this?

Hopefully it's a simple problem, as a trip to a mechanic would not be financially welcome at the moment.

Is your car by any chance a Hyundai Coupe???

phillo

what car is it?
Toyota Starlet (Jap Import)

does it only happen when the lights are on?
It happens when its just sitting there doing nothing! e.g. no key in the ignition.

or when the engine is running?
It still happens with the engine running.

What happens when you turn the left indicator on?
Nothing happens, it remains the same.

What happens when you press the brake pedal?
Nothing happens when the brake is pressed.

L-M

I'm not being smart but it wouldn't be ur parking light?

Edit: Just read ur turning the indicator on part. My bad

Big_Mac

Mmm, sounds like a bad earth closing a circuit on the indicator loop to me. Could be a pool of water on the loom somewhere, or on the back of the light fitting.......

phillo

Good thinking Big_Mac. The recent bad weather might have water collecting somewhere, I'll give it a try.

Dirty_Diesel

Sounds like a sticky indicator relay, perhaps caused by the damp. Try switching the left and right indicator relays (probably under the bonnet) and see if the problem transfers to the other side. If so, go to any motor factors and get a new relay.

kluivert

Left indicator relay, happened my car a while back ago, opened the fuse box there should be two yellow boxes (right and left) I pulled and pushed the left one and sure enough the indicator went back to working OK.

My main beams stick every now and again when I switch them on, they wont switch off so I have to put my hand into the fuses (under the steering wheel) give it a wee push and they switch off

If you have a case where by you use your indicators and the brake light and indicator both flash then its bad wiring as per above.

Victor

phillo wrote: »

What happens when you press the brake pedal?
Nothing happens when the brake is pressed.

How are your brake lights - are they working properly?

Darragh29

kluivert wrote: »

Left indicator relay, happened my car a while back ago, opened the fuse box there should be two yellow boxes (right and left) I pulled and pushed the left one and sure enough the indicator went back to working OK.

My main beams stick every now and again when I switch them on, they wont switch off so I have to put my hand into the fuses (under the steering wheel) give it a wee push and they switch off

If you have a case where by you use your indicators and the brake light and indicator both flash then its bad wiring as per above.

I recently had a Hyundai Coupe in for the exact same problem. Hyundai approach this by replacing the whole BCM (Body Control Module), costing over 800 Euro just for the part! The BCM is in above the foot pedals (just to right of steering wheel behind the plastic trim, you can take that out, there are two NIC mini relays in there, you can get them for about $2 a piece over the internet, remove the two that are there (you're as well replacing both), and replace them. Talk about a saving, 800 Euro plus labour and the rest of is versus around 3 Euro for parts and an hours labour! I'd say your problem is the same, a stuck relay. In your case, you can just order the relay from a main dealer and replace it, no need for removing and replacing the BCM...

ivanthehunter

Sounds like a bad earth!!

Dirty_Diesel

How can a bad earth put 12v to a bulb???

mlmcelligott

Sorry to hijack the thread but I think I have a similar problem.

When I'm driving everything is fine but sometimes when I push the brake peddle the right indicator light on the dash lights up very slightly. This varies from just being a little flash to staying on until i release the break again. If i hold the brake and the car stays stationary for 30 seconds the right indicator light goes off and stays off for a few minutes before starting again.

If i have the brake pressed and turn on the right indicator the relay sounds like its clicking twice as fast too. turning left is fine.

All the brake and indicator bulbs work on the car are working and it all just started after the cold weather during christmas.

The car is a 04 seat toledo (mk2)