Direction Indicators, Flashin at double speed on one side only

[techmanagain]

I have recently been mucking about with lights on my trailer and find that I have apparenly blown a fuse or something more complicated some where, but for the life of me, I can't find what.
With an RP of 7760 (1989 model 2.5TD) and no wiring diagram, the driver's handbook is no use as there is no separate fuse listed. Can anyone help? The rear flashers work; the front repeaters work; the hazard lights and all the flashers also work. But when the LH flasher is switched on the flashing rate is doubled. I have just renewed all the RH bulbs at the rear due to one being blown and one darkened.
The trailer is not connected.
Any suggestions?

[Ciaran]

Thats a real strange one... normally only happens when a bulb is blown, as I'm sure you already know.

I presume, when the lefthand indicators come on with the hazards, they flash at normal rate, and only go bananas when used alone?

Could the flasher relay be damaged?

[onthecut]

Hi Techmanagain.

At the risk of being rude, have you got out and visually rechecked that all the LH bulbs are playing at full strength ? I had an issue on my current one where the rear lamp bulbholder plate went wonky at the point where the harness plugs in, giving very erratic symptoms. Fixed that by moving the harness plug down to the duplicate connector socket. I guess you may have been in this area if you've been on trailer work. Another area I would check is the state of play in the back of the 12N socket on the car. They can get pretty grotty if the damp's been in and maybe having the plug in and out has dislodged something.

Mike.

[xmexclusive]

Hi Techmanagain

The trailer socket wiring is usually added as a single inline fused positive supply that runs down the passenger side of the car under the door trims or dropped down to the floor behind the carpet. The inline fuse is usually visible tucked up by the main fuse box. The multifunction relay that operates off and minimises the current draw from the car lights wiring is likely to be behind the boot passenger side trim panel along with half the wire taps to the car wiring. The other half of the wiring taps will be found behind the trim on the opposite side. I happen to have a removed tow bar including wiring connections to car (car wiring was cut out) that I could trace the wiring on if this becomes necessary.
I note On the Cuts comment about two sockets and a single connector to each of the rear light panels. I am afraid that he is totally wrong as there should be a second identical 4 pin plug with a single yellow wire in each of the rear light bulb panels. Orientation of the two plugs into either of the two sockets of the bulb panel is unimportant but the second single yellow wire connector is the main earth to chassis for the rear lighting system on that side of the car. It might work ok with just one of them plugged in but it can also cause all the rear lights to play up though usually under load only. The trailer relay/lights will be using the same questionable Citroen earth paths and need them to be a good earth even when there is nothing plugged into the trailer socket.

Regards

XMexc

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on June 04, 2007 05:36 pm

[onthecut]

Hi Xmexc.

Note your comment about the second socket --- maybe why mine had gone pear shaped to start with. Will have to have another look when sufficiently motivated !

Mike.

[techmanagain]

And why was the indicator flashing a double speed as if a bulb had burnt out? Some damn fool had replaced a 21 watt bulb with a 5 watt bulb so telling the flasher unit that there was less resistance in the circuit e.g. a burnt-out bulb. The same damn fool fitted the correct bulb today and all was well !