After winter storage the indicators on my 1980 4/4 have stopped working. Nothing at all happens when I move the switch. I have checked all the fuses and cleaned the various connectors without luck.

As a test, I disconnected the flasher unit and connected the two wires together. By doing this I thought that the indicators would light but not flash, but still nothing happened. Does this rule out the flasher unit as the problem or is it not a valid test?

The hazard warning lights work fine.

The annoying thing is that the same thing happened many years ago and I managed to fix it, but I can't remember how! Any suggestions are welcome.

If you connect the two flasher wires together, then move indicator switch to one side or the other you should get a continuous glow on the the side selected.
If you don't I would suspect the flasher relay is not the problem Ian. Column switches do fail occasionally.

Ian, given findings of your test I would agree the flasher unit does not appear to be the problem, assuming you selected one side or other with ignition on, as mentioned by Graham.

Noting that hazards work ok I would suspect the hazard switch which disconnects power to the single side flasher relay when hazards are operated but should restore when they are switched off. To prove this check for presence of +12 volts on each end of plain green cable that runs from hazard light switch to flasher unit, with ignition on and hazards off of course. A temporary ignition controlled feed to flasher unit should restore indicators to allow use of car whilst waiting for parts, assuming you prove above.

Section of wiring diagram below to better illustrate. Here it shows pin 8 as feed from hazard switch but later models show pin 1.

I think the hazard flasher and the indicator flasher are the same, so swap them round to eliminate.

As Richard says, my money would be on the feed from the Hazard Switch. Something as simple as the +ve coming lose, or an internal switch issue. My switch packed up a while ago, but was fairly easy to strip down, I cleaned all contacts and re-glued the middle contacts/rocker section back in and all was good.

The hazard flasher has provide similar flash rate with twice the current so likely to be different TBM.

If it is the same as my 73, the power lead to the indicators comes through the flasher's rocker switch. I had intermittent problems with my indicators. Moving the flasher rocker switch back and forth would temporarily fix the issue. I ended up taking the rocker apart and cleaning it out. That solved it. I also took all the other rockers apart and cleaned them which solved other problems.

Thanks, everyone for the replies. The hazard switch sounds like a good lead (pardon the pun), I shall investigate further.

Let us know of your findings Ian. My money is on the switch itself. Inside I believe is an H shaped plate shifted up and down by switch action, joining contacts 7 and 8 in Off position and 1, 2, 3, 4 in On position.

^^ I never cease to be amazed by Richard's electrical knowledge

^^ Ditto! Richard's diagnosis was spot on, the power was not getting through the hazard warning switch. The switch mechanism itself is remarkably crude, I'm amazed it's lasted this long.

The wiring diagram in my owner's handbook shows the feed as pin 1 rather than 8, although it is actually labelled 6 on the switch!



I've made a temporary connection through the socket until I can get a new switch.

Thanks for the help, I would never have found that fault myself, as the hazards were working I didn't go anywhere near them.

I'm very pleased to have the indicators working again. We are on a club tour this weekend and Mrs W. was not looking forward to doing hand signals!