No hazard lights, but fuse 4 ok...

[Spirantho]

HI everybody,

My trusty '88 GT has developed a problem.
The hazard lights don't work. That is, the indicators are fine.... but pressing the hazard light button gives a "click", the indicator light comes on on the dash, and nothing else. No flashing lights, nothing, just the steady indicator light on the dash.

I've already checked fuse 4 (the hazard lights fuse, I believe) - and it's fine.

I've seen mention that the relay may need checking. Where can I find the relay for this switch?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, it needs MOTing next month!

Thanks!

[Old Mac Rocco]

Relay locations in my (t)rusty old haynes manual has No 12 as "Emergency (hazard ) warning light and trailer indicator warning light relay".
It is at the bottom righthand corner.

[Spirantho]

Great stuff. Now I just need to work out what to replace - I have very little money so want to get it right. :)

I figure it's either the wiring (that'd be fun to fix), the switch (easy to buy a replacement, less easy to replace, probably) or the relay.

Anyone know a way of testing the relay or the switch easily so I can diagnose the problem?

Thanks for the info - it's appreciated!

[fonzooorooo]

I had an issue like this after unplugging* the hazard switch...

*by "unplugging" I mean trying to unplug, the back coming off the switch (remaining plugged in!) and all the contacts/springs little plastic parts pinging off all over the garage (car window was open)... I found all but 1 small moving contact (didn't know it was still lost - had no reference) and put it back together...

With the contact missing, it gave a similar problem to yours. I stripped the switch again, made a new contact from a bit of copper wire and re-assembled. Normal function was resumed. A fortnight later, I found the long lost contact wedged in the window scraper.

The switches are easy to remove. You can either use a flat screwdriver on one of the vertical sides, or take the plastic surround off from round the clocks (2 screws at the top) so you can get your hand (well, fingers!) in behind the switches.

Anyone live near you with a rocco (or mk1 golf etc - effectively the same switch) so you could substitute the switch?

And the final silly question: Is your earth strap connected from the ignition coil bracket to the cambox? Seems to be the root of a lot of people's dash issues.

[Spirantho]

Thanks for this!

No Scirocco owners here.... can you put in layman's terms exactly which strap to look for? I'm no mechanic (but always learning :) )

[ianaudia4]

Earth strap from the coil bracket to theback of the rocker cover, fairly thick item that you can't miss if it's fitted.

[Spirantho]

I fixed it!

I had a look for that grounding strap, though, and couldn't see it - I attached a photo of my engine - am I looking in the right area? The ignition coil is to the bottom of the bay isn't it? I'm not up on terminology, just the very basics so forgive me if I seem completely clueless. :)

The reason I'm asking is this - could this strap (or lack thereof) have something to do with my headlamps blowing a fuse a few weeks back? I'm still trying to find out what's causing that and the MOT is due at the end of the month!

As for the hazard lights, you know what was wrong? Fuse 4 wasn't making a good contact! Took it out, and fuse was fine but no lights. Cleaned the contacts, still not working. But when I replaced the fuse it gave a few clicks when I turned on the hazards. I then pushed the fuse in more firmly and the hazard lights came back to life!

Now I just need to sort out why my headlamp fuses are going!

[PeteGLi]

I had a look for that grounding strap, though, and couldn't see it - I attached a photo of my engine - am I looking in the right area? The ignition coil is to the bottom of the bay isn't it? I'm not up on terminology, just the very basics so forgive me if I seem completely clueless. :)

No. The coil is on the bulkhead behind the carburettor. If you follow the lead coming out from the centre of the distributor cap, that will take you to the coil. There should be a flat braided lead about 20/30 cm long, running from one of the coil mounting bolts to the rear right hand rocker cover bolt.