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Craptastic Weird A$$ Indicator Spasticness

Messiah

By Messiah,
in General Automotive Discussion

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Messiah Mentor

Messiah

Posted
Posted

The other day i started my car up to go for a spin and noticed that there is a noise that sounds very much like the clicking of the indicators but twice as fast coming from the steering column of my car.

It seems to be pretty intermittent at this time... sometimes clicking away like a mad man for a few seconds at a time other times it clicks incessantly for a few mins.

It doesnt seem to be triggering the the actual indicatore light (on the outside of the car) but i could have sworn that i once caught the left indicator dash light faintly fiicking on and off.

Twiddling the indicator stick (just indicating left or right) or turning the wheel sometimes fixes it up other times it just stops itself.

Has anyone else had this problem or know what it is or how to fix it? it doesnt appear to be causing any probs but its bloody annoying and i kinda prefer my car not to do weird and unexplained things.

Oh and before i forget, the only thing i did that was out of the ordinary before this happened was to drive home in the pouring rain the other day in the middle of wednesdays big a$$ storm. The indicator in my front left qtr panel is missing so a little water may have got in there but i would havye thought it would have dried out by now.

Cheers in advance.

(B1) MR_fanny Grand Master

(B1) MR_fanny

Posted
Posted

my car makes sounds like its readin a hard drive or doin calculations from the tacho dash. it only seems to do it when my cars fuel level hits the 1/4 mark or lower and only notice it when im at idle and lasts for a minute or 2. have no idea what it is though.

elbee111 Proficient

elbee111

Posted
Posted

Messiah,

I have the same problem. It has been this way for a year or two. It is something to do with the switch and/ or circuitry in the steering column. My suspicion is some sort of tracking or arcing do do with a wiper that is moved between contacts.

Laziness and a she'll be right attitude means that it hasn't bothered me quite enough to do something about it.

Yet.

El Bee

ps. Don't freak too much if you see wisps of smoke coming out of the steering column. Mine sometimes does this when the ticking has been going on for a long time. No joke.

bomb100 Newbie

bomb100

Posted
Posted

YES!!!

Mine does exactly the same thing, and indeed i would say it's the indicator stalk engaging slightly (or not disengaging properly).

And yeah, there's occasional wisps of smoke but don't worry that your car is on fire.

It's such a bitch to get the steering column apart that i cant be bothered in this hot queensland weather.

Atreyu Rising Star

Atreyu

Posted
Posted

Haha, my car did the exact same thing for ages. It could be the indicator relay playing up. Mine stopped doing it all of a sudden and hasnt started. I also noticed smoke twice. Once after we had the steering column apart. All good now though.

Jordan Rising Star

Jordan

Posted
Posted

Mine did that, I got the whole stalk assembly replaced (wiper and indicators are on the same unit) but it was replaced from a lesser model so I lost my fog switch on the indicator (Not that I have foggies anymore anyways). Fixed it right up

  • 2 months later...
RTHRTY3 Rising Star

RTHRTY3

Posted
Posted
Mine did that, I got the whole stalk assembly replaced (wiper and indicators are on the same unit) but it was replaced from a lesser model so I lost my fog switch on the indicator (Not that I have foggies anymore anyways). Fixed it right up

how much does it cost ya to replace that whole stalk assembly? Being new or from wreckers?

oh and another thing is there a step by step instructions on how to pull the steering column apart (without causing anything to break :D)? Could somebody care to explain please.

Thanks in advance :D

elbee111 Proficient

elbee111

Posted
Posted

Finally got around to fixing this problem about 2 or 3 weeks ago.

Bought a second hand replacement for about $75.

I took the steering wheel off and the plastic surrounds etc, and found the stalk held in by about three screws.

All good now.

El Bee

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