E30 Indicators only working sometimes?

[just-drift-it 0]

The indicators in my e30 have been working only sometimes, like they will come on for a few blinks then stop working, and somtimes they wont come on at all and if i flick the stick up and down fast it will work again for a bit then stop again, now they dont seem to be coming on at all.

Anybody have any ideas on what is wrong?

Cheers.

[kerry 10]

maybe the relay or the stalk.. relay is my first guess

[just-drift-it 0]

Where is the relay? In the fuse box? Cheers.

[laadeelaa 0]

Where is the relay? In the fuse box? Cheers.

In the steering column under the bottom cover. It's a kind of taller looking relay.

[martyyn 2]

I have exactly the same thing....first they work, then they dont, then they do, then they dont....

Im here all week, dont forget to tip your waitress

[Nobimmer 694]

Had same problem.

Was relay.

[just-drift-it 0]

Ok thanks guys, bloody e30's ive just had one thing after another break on it, almost every week something different shits itself where can i get a new relay?

[Forrest 35]

^ story of my life, and mine doesn't even have a rotor in it

sounds like a sick car tho, rotor + e30 = best of both worlds

[hotwire 352]

Ok thanks guys, bloody e30's ive just had one thing after another break on it, almost every week something different shits itself where can i get a new relay?

I've got one if you require - PM me

You may be able to repair though - usually a dry joint inside the flasher which can be resoldered.

Remember - these cars are 20+ years old now so things will go wrong

[Shady 0]

If not fuse or relay...try removing the bumper & check the plug in behind the bulb. Mine was doing the old "work sometimes, then not work" trick. Had a look and the wire in the plug was lose. Just taped it up good for now. Need a new plug, on the to do list.

Even if it is a fuse/relay check the plug & wire anyway.

[hotwire 352]

If not fuse or relay...try removing the bumper & check the plug in behind the bulb. Mine was doing the old "work sometimes, then not work" trick. Had a look and the wire in the plug was lose. Just taped it up good for now. Need a new plug, on the to do list.

Even if it is a fuse/relay check the plug & wire anyway.

Won't be that - if a front one was out then the back would still go & besides - hardly likely both front lights are out together

[e30plz 1]

Give it a kick, worked for mine.

[Shady 0]

Won't be that - if a front one was out then the back would still go & besides - hardly likely both front lights are out together

No. The plug in behind the indicator housing in the bumper. Mine is a bit buggered, so it would slip & then tick fast as but the front wouldnt. If that discribes what happens to OP sometimes, then that may be "one" reason.

Same as E30ONP, I used to give it a thump with my hand it came back on, but then decided to dig deeper.

Everything isnt always a fuse.

[hotwire 352]

No. The plug in behind the indicator housing in the bumper. Mine is a bit buggered, so it would slip & then tick fast as but the front wouldnt. If that discribes what happens to OP sometimes, then that may be "one" reason.

Same as E30ONP, I used to give it a thump with my hand it came back on, but then decided to dig deeper.

Everything isnt always a fuse.

No What?

Read the first post again! - He states "indicators" work sometimes - & not others. He doesn't say that the rears work but the front don't.

I am aware of what you are talking about & aware of the result when this happens - fast blinking - the flasher unit is designed to do this to indicate a lamp out.

From his description - yours is not "one" reason for his indicators failing. Not disputing the fault in your car & infact have seen this problem in them myself.

AND - I didn't say everything is always a fuse, infact I didn't even mention fuse in this case.