The Triumph 2000 / 2500 / 2·5 Register Forum

After a while of sitting dormant (both the car and myself) I've finally got round to spending a bit of time getting the beast roadworthy.

Am having a bit of a problem with the indicators so plan to track down and check/clean all of the earth points but just wanted to put the problem out there in case anyone knows of any common faults which might be causing it.

Indicators behave differently depending on whether the engine's running - when it's not running they flash, albeit a bit slowly (tired flasher unit?). When the engine's running they flash for a bit when the switch is first flicked but then slow down before stopping completely (or maybe one lone flash every 2-3 seconds or so).

The hazards don't work at all - but if I pull the switch out while the indicators are on it stops those completely as well.

Any ideas other than earths and flasher unit? Electrics are not really my strong point but happy to have a dig around to see what I can learn.

Cheers all.

Hello Llessur,

my first thought is that your voltage is too low, and if the alternator/dynamo is generating OK then there's a bad earth connection between the car body and the engine? There should be a braided strap, usually by one of the engine mounts connecting the two, I would check that assuming the car is charging.

Alec

Cheers Alec, that's a possibility as the car had a replacement engine just before I bought it (had been of the road for years prior to this due to engine failure). I don't remember seeing any engine to body earthing but haven't specifically looked for it so may well be there. Will have a look tomorrow morning. If anyone has a picture of theirs so that I know the location I'd love to see it in case I need to reinstate it.

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I was going to suggest you check the Earth from engine to body and body to battery.
Also check the earths on the rear lights, they are marginal at best.
It might just be that the flasher units are tired and need replacing.


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Also, if you hold the engine at 2000rpm do the indicators get better?


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I have found on two different "Leyland" cars (Austin 1300 Mk 3 and Triumph 2000 Mk 2) that flasher units become "tired" and flash slowly or only once or twice. Flash speed increases with higher voltage (Revving the engine) This has happened with original Lucas and aftermarket brands. Checking all electrical connections is very useful as well.

I have fitted an electronic flasher unit (from a modern Vauxhall ) to both of my Triumphs, straight swap, just needs an earth wire to the +31 terminal spade. One major advantage is that you get an instant feed to the indicators as soon as you operate the switch, handy for lane change on the motorway instead of the annoying two second delay you have with the standard flasher unit. It will also support a trailer lamp without the need for a heavy duty unit, and it has a louder 'tick'. What's not to like?

Its nice that the electronic flasher units click instead of beeping, say, the old ones only clicked because they had to as the bimetallic strip clicked the contacts in and out. Now we are so used to that, the electronic ones have to replicate it.

Hello Dave,

with the original thermal switched relay, the lamps flash instantaneously as it is the lighting of the lamps that causes the relay to open circuit and the lamps to extinguish. Your point about helping lane changing is surely that the idea is to indicate before the manouevre rather than indicate and manouvre simuultaneously?

Alec

Well, hopefully there might be a quick fix to this one - had a good look this morning and whilst I have a battery to body earth connection the is nothing directly from the engine to the body. Will rig something up - where did this lead normally go to/from?

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