I think the curse is extended...

[Mrk_Mickey]

It's not just window regs on my car anymore. It's my lighting system now! I'll explain lol..

Indicators pretty much have a mind of their own. Because my front bulbs are less wattage than stock they flash fast; but that's only the beginning of my problems... :

• They flash together most of the time when I flick one side on(the side I put on is full intensity, the other side is dimmed)..until I hit my brake pedal, in which case they both stop for a sec and then the one that I flicked on flashes on its own.
• When I put my foot on the brakes they'll dimly flicker on and off, every so often.
• Sometimes when I put my foot on the brake they STAY on, full brightness (not dimmed like the above ^^)
• Sometimes the indicator stalk won't even work...until I turn my steering wheel in the direction of my indication.
• I've recently noticed that my brake lights have some play with the working of the indicators too...ie they'll blink, but then when I brake they'll turn off, and they'll come back on if I take my foot off the brake pedal.

Anyways...I'm trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The list is endless; that's just a small sample of little things that happen. It would seem as though the brake pedal pushes more power/wattage/whatever through the system telling it to act normally again...I have a feeling that there's a problem with either the relay or the power sensing of the system, but I quite conveniently have no clue whatsoever does anyone have any idea at all what this might be, and how it could be fixed?

Bloody stupid electronics lol

[migolf]

Years ago i had a Renault Virage wagon when i put my foot on the brakes the head lights came on,i was told it was because i had the wrong bulbs in the rear brake lights .i changed them and it stopped happening .i suggest you change your indicator bulbs to the correct ones and it should solve the problem

[Pullstarter]

I had a similar problem in an Escort too Mickey, ended up being a bad earth which is a common cause of problems like this. However, seeing as it's only started happening since you put the new indicators in odds on it has to be something to with them.

[Mrk_Mickey]

Years ago i had a Renault Virage wagon when i put my foot on the brakes the head lights came on,i was told it was because i had the wrong bulbs in the rear brake lights .i changed them and it stopped happening .i suggest you change your indicator bulbs to the correct ones and it should solve the problem

The indicator bulbs I currently have in there are the same size as the side indicators; the reason I can't put the stock ones back in is because I have a shaved bumper (no indicator recess). The haywire indicators only went haywire AFTER I fixed them with a resistor, when the resistor wiring must have broken or similar. I haven't had a chance to check the resistors yet...

Thanks for the responses guys, I'll hopefully check it out soon

[VDUBD]

i got the wedge globes in my headlights (same as side indicators) but i doint have any problems whatsoever with any power shortage, so ther may be a dodgy earth along the way

[peedman]

Mickey plug ur old indicators back in and see if it still occurs. That way u will know if its the new indicators thats faulty.

[h100vw]

If the brake lights have some influence, I'd not be surprised if there is a shorted out filament or bad earth in one of the rear clusters.

Gavin

[bboyskidz]

yeh Gav and Pedro are right. go through the globes 1 by one and replace them with working/new ones. Mine was doing that and it turned out to be the reverse light that was shorting out the whole circuit.

Try what Pedro said and just connect the old globes to see if the problem still happens... If it does, you'll have to do some more investigation, but if it solves the problem, you can just buy some new bulbs and you are set.

[Mrk_Mickey]

but if it solves the problem, you can just buy some new bulbs and you are set.

Hahah ooooh no I can't do that......no turn signals at the front, remember?

[Mrk_Mickey]

Alright guys now I'm very very confused. Today I re-soldered a new resistor into my indicator wires. It does work, however when I flicked it on to make sure everything was ok I saw smoke coming from the resistor itself, like it was burning or overloading or something. What the hell is it doing that for??? lol..
Pics:


As you can see in the pic of this un-used resistor, the middle of it is intact - it hasn't been ''burnt'' like the one above

[Golf Houso]

If you want working rear clusters Mickey I have a pair that I got for free when I got the VR6 tails for my GL, if that would help anyway.

[Mrk_Mickey]

well my problem is only apparent because of the dodgy wiring so I should be fine bud.

Is smoke coming from my resistors perhaps because the current passing through it is too strong? Do I need a more powerful resistor, if that makes sense?

[Blitzen]

Is your resistor wired the right way around?

[Mrk_Mickey]

I don't think there is a certain way it needs to go..

[Treza360]

Resistor has no polarity at all so it doesn't matter what way you solder it in. Yes Mickey mate it definitely sounds like the wattage of the resistor is not high enough. Head down to DSE or Jaycar and grab some new ones at a highwer wattage. I had a quick look and 5W ones are still only like 35c or something like that. Have a check through all your fuses as well make sure none of them have blown. Also might be a good idea to take out the resistors if they're smoking as you definitely don't want a nice little electrical fire.
Hope this sorts things for you, we'll get there in the end buddy.
Cheers,
Trent