Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing indicators not working

I would appreciate advice regarding the indicators not working on my 1983 Morgan 4/4. Put car into hibernation at the end of October as per usual and everything worked including the indicators, went into the garage a few days ago checked everything all fine except for the indicators, the hazard warning lights work (this shows all four bulbs OK) and I heard the click- click from under the dash. Started the engine, no problem, yet still no indicators, I checked the fuses under the bonnet, all four OK (none seemed applicable to the Indicators) there is another fuse outside the fuse box, I have no idea what that is for! As I stated before I would appreciate some advice on how to get them working

Thanks S

Check the connectors under the rear of the car, it could be an earth issue.

Hi RMP, don't assume the fuses are ok just by looking at them especially if they are glass lucas types. give each fuse a quick rub with some fine emery tape and try again, do your headlights work?

David Byrne

Unlikely to be an earth issue if hazards work.
I think on a model of this vintage, there maybe separate hazard and flasher relays, so could be the flasher relay faulty?
Also, if you have a multimeter, check if you have a supply to the common point on the indicator switch.

As Doug suggests there appear to be separate hazard and indicator relays for your era car so the latter or it's wiring may be suspect. Note also the hazard switch isolates the indicator relay when operated but a fault in its contacts could leave it isolated after switching hazards off.

Wiring diagram here

If the GoMog diagram is accurate, then they changed the wiring layout between 1983 and 1986, as I have a single relay. With my 1986 car in normal operation, the indicators earth through the other side. At the rear, there's a connector that links both sides, which can fail to prevent one or the other or both sides working. Because the connectors are quite exposed, it is easy for wet and corrosion to get in there.

Years ago I had an issue that if I went over a particularly savage bump in the wet, I would lose RH indicator although everything else worked fine. I ended up completely remaking the earth connections in this area, introducing addition direct earths for each side.

This is the wiring diagram that matched the 1985 car I owned until 2013. Separate flasher and hazard relays. Given the modest cost of a 2 pin flasher relay, I would order a replacement. However, if it still doesn't work, swap back tot he original - not all new parts are good quality!

Try giving the indicator relay a few gentle taps whilst powered up and indicator arm energised, sometimes they stick if left for long periods unused

Gomog takes what diagrams it publishes from the MMC Handbooks, for what years such diagrams appear. And yes, MMC diagrams are not always accurate, whether in Manuals or Parts Books they give dealers. That tradition continues to this day. A gomog exception is for the period from 1990 to 1998, a long period when no electrical diagrams came out of the MMC at all. For that era, I have been using occasional feedback to come up with our own community diagram. Any contribution is helpful.
After 1998, various loom/fusebox suppliers were used and let go and the resultant diagrams are MUCH harder to read. I have learned how...... However, these are not completely accurate either. In all cases, I fall back on Lucas wiring colors.

I do not trust any older (pre-25 years) diagrams or wiring colors as wiring does not last forever and is often added on to with the wrong or no colors over time. Low quality wire lasts much less than quality wire, but they all go. It is stunning comparing wiring from a 69 Jaguar etype to a 69 Plus 8. My 2003 Morgan wiring and fusebox are pretty much shot already. I will replace it all this summer with a foolproof American aftermarket kit. Super high quality. I will not replace the 1985 Rover EFI loom. It is one of the best quality looms I have seen! I will only replace the Morgan looms, Front-Rear-Dash. It is a gomog law for me that a failed part is proof that it must fail again with a like replacement.

Electrical sleuthing is great fun. The answer is usually in the question as it is here with RMP. Logic is the best tool with electrics.

1. The 1982 4/4 diagram (closest we can find) shows 5 fuses. (Diagram below) I have highlighted to fuses you should have. And have a red arrow point to the the relevant thingie.
2. If all four corner indicators are not working, the problem is unlikely to be the most often issue..a faulty earth. As a rule, each of these lights should be individually earthed and if not, at least earthed in pairs back and front. So it, would be a big coincidence if all earths failed simultaneously! Though that can happen.
3. It is also unlikely that each light bulb failed simultaneously, and that is bolstered by the fact the flashers work.
4. You must search for areas that the indicator lights have in common with each other. There are two, from the diagrams. The hazard/indicator flasher and the indicator control.

That is the logic. Look at the indicator control at the end of the Gw (Green/white tracer and Green/red tracer). That is the item that solely the indicators have in common. Wiggle, or better still, clean and reinstall its wires and see the effect, if any.You can also follow the Light Green with a Brown tracer wire (LGN) and you will find the flasher. Same procedure with those wires. If all fails, change the units. [

gmg

P.S. I cannot see a fuse in the relevant connection either. Now you see why I have learned that the more fuses the merrier.

Hi S, 1983 car so not fitted with BMW indicator stalks like CX cars so should be a simple fix.....