wingnutLP Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Hi, my indicator on the LHS cycle wing has just stopped working. I changed the bulb and it still doesn't work. Any ideas where I should start looking or shall I just follow the wire back to wherever it goes?! Thanks :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R300 Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Check the black earth wire to the wing stay thats where i would start Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 19, 2011 Member Share Posted November 19, 2011 Can we assume that the rear L indicator is working, and that the faulty indicator doesn't work when the hazard lights are on? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Also check the two wires through the wing stay into the econoseal plug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Sometimes you can bend the tiny contacts in the bulb holder so they don't contact the little wire contacts on the pea bulb, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 19, 2011 Member Share Posted November 19, 2011 Agreed: my money would be on the bulb-holder (assumptions as above). Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 As already mentioned check the earth. Whip off the lens check for continuity with a test buld or avo/multimeter. Give a the contacts a good scrape to remove corrosion. Welcome to the world of Caterhams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael H Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Earth is the key here I think, but remember that the metal wingstay only connects to chassis ground via the brake hose! Sometimes tightening the brake union on the back of the caliper will fix the indicator repeater problem. Good luck Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pikey Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Quoting Michael H: Earth is the key here I think, but remember that the metal wingstay only connects to chassis ground via the brake hose! Sometimes tightening the brake union on the back of the caliper will fix the indicator repeater problem. Good luck Mike +1 for what Mike said. I have spent a long time trying to sort these out before working out that the ground can only come up the brake hose.. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingnutLP Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share Posted November 21, 2011 Bloody hell chaps, I forgot to check the thread over the weekend and half the owners in the country have replied! The main front indicator and rear one still work. I have not checked with hazards but this shouldn't change anything I don't think. I will grab a meter from work and check for continuity with earth. Thanks all, I will report back. :) My last fun car was an old defender which I drove to Sierra Leone so I am all too familiar with dodgy wiring! 😬 Brake hose for a ground would have taken me a while and I figured there was a reasonable chance of some wierdness in the wiring on the cycle wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 No multimeter required, just sort the earth out 😶🌫️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 I find it hard to believe anyone can own a Caterham but not a multimeter. I think I had five at the last count. They're dirt cheap these days, get one from Machine Mart for 8 quid, or what looks like the same model on ebay for £3.61 delivered. Cheapo ones are perfectly adequate for checking continuity and voltage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Those cheapo multimeters are great value and like you I can't imagine not having one. It makes fault diagnosis obvious. I think I got 2 for £5 from Maplin a while back, and they are more accurate than the mechanical meter I used to use for electronics work 20 years ago. The only area they fall down is robustness and probable longevity but at £4 delivered who cares? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Well I own a Caterham and don't have a multimeter! I also don't understand electrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurtene Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Quoting mav: Well I own a Caterham and don't have a multimeter! I also don't understand electrics. Guilty on both counts... Though I also believe it to be the earth on the wing-stay. I had similar trouble. Edited by - Thurtene on 22 Nov 2011 12:44:04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Tsk, and a racer to boot. So do you have Caterham Midlands check your rear light bulb every time one goes out? Buy yourself a cheapy, repeat regularly "vee equals eye arr" and you'll soon pick it up. It's not hard (unless you're working with an old British bike, or anything Italian, in which case Ohm's law doesn't apply and you just need to make sure you keep the smoke in - replacement smoke is available if it gets out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3MCJez Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 They don't bother with the rear lights in Roadsport - they know they're wings aren't going to be attached later on in the race Jez PS Only joking Joel - hope the car's looking good again, and the cost was bearable ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurtene Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Cheers Jez! Car's still with Caterham Westbury - it should be back with DPR pretty soon. Cost will be insurance excess, again... Roger - totally agree I should have one. I'll ask Santa. Might also ask for a jar of smoke, too - just to be on the safe side... 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingnutLP Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 It has taken me rather a long time to get to doing this but having checked the caliper and the brake hose seems pretty tight at both ends. Am I safe to undo it a bit and then re tighten it to see if that helps or might I end up needing to bleed the brakes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 2, 2012 Member Share Posted January 2, 2012 Before doing that I suggest you take a piece of wire and make a good earth connection from the bulbholder to chassis or battery earth. If it works then but not otherwise it's an earth problem, if it doesn't work then it's something completely different. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Just make sure that any replacement smoke is proper genuine Lucas stuff, there are a number of cheap Chinese copies around that simply aren't up to the task. A Caterham deserves the best. Keep a jar handy for the next time your alternator goes down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil M Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 In view of a couple of the posts on this thread .... If you are new to the joys of multi meters or intend to get one but arent sure how to use it then buy a copy of '' Haynes -Practical Electrical Systems - ISBN 1 84425 267 1''. I am not with it on car electrics but with a multi meter and this book (not expensive) and a few other little bits and pieces you can have a lot of fun chasing faults. This combo has helped me ... re balance my throttle bodies, chase a fault with my rear brake lights, test a faulty water temp sender. I did buy an expensive multimeter in ignorance but at least its paid for itself now! There is no better read on a wet winters night when the seven is in the garage than the book above. Treat yourself Fil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingnutLP Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Hi all, in the end it was the live between teh body and where it enters the tube that supports the cycle wing. The wire seems like a very thick gague and had snapped and been bodged by a previous owner. I have now replaced with a finer stranded wire that should flex better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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