AW11 Electrical Gremlins - Indicators, Headlights, Gauges!

[bnicho]

I had a weird electrical experience with my AW11 last night.

I should say up front the hazzard flashers have never worked since I have owned the car, but I'm used to older cars without them anyway, so it hasn't worried me.

Also, being an ex-USA car converted to RHD, it may have had some wiring bodgery inflicted as part of the conversion.

Last night I was driving happily down the freeway last night when I used the indicators to change lanes. Suddenly all the gauges (except speedo) dropped to zero and the indicators/hazzards on both sides came on solid, not flashing.

I banged at the dash and fiddled with the indicator and hazzard switches and everything came back to life. All was fine for the next 10km or so.

As I exited the freeway and hit the high beams the same thing happened again, except this time I also lost the headlights on both low and high beam. The only way I could get any headlights at all was to hold the stalk in the "flash" position and drive the 1-2km home like that - high-beaming oncoming traffic and with no indicators!

When I got home, fiddling with the hazzard switch, headlight switch and indicators eventually restored everything to normal again.

I'm suspecting the problem is with the indicator/dip switch, but I would be interested to find out if any other AW11 owners have had similar issues and what the solution was.

Thanks,
Brett.

[domma_aw11]

Maybe the indicator stalk it kaput?? Same thing happen to my old r31, i know its a different car, but the same thing hapen, except i had no lights tho.. So mayb replace the stalk and see were ur at?? Check i fuse, wen my fuse went on the adub, i had nothing, so check all ur under dashboard fuses... I hope this helps mate, and good luck!!

Dom

[wiso]

I used to have an issue with my old one and this one were occasionally the headlights just switch of as do my gauge lights. in both cars it was fixed by tightening the pins on the back of the headlight switch also taping the wires tight and putting some pressure on them. bad connection there. used to just tap the side of the gauge surround when the lights dropped out and they would come on again.

pretty annoying driving along hiway at 100km then all of a sudden you have no lights to you franticly start hitting the dash to get them back on.

never had an indicator problem though

[wiso]

sorry I should also mention my old one also had an issue with the hi beam switch, some times I would flick it and the lights would just cut out altogether. I pull the stalk appart right down to the ball bearings, and shoved bits of plastic in various areas to increase the contact. don't ask me exact, its been too many years.

[Harreh]

I had a very similar issue, check your headlight switch and if that turns up nothing go udner the dash, above the pedals. There is a huge white junction box held in by 2 10mm bolts. I'll wager you a beer that there is an earth there that is burnt out.

Everything in that cluster all earths through there. Also check your parkers, you'll likely find you have none

[bnicho]

Updating this thread for the benefit of those who may find it in the future.

I replaced the indicator/lo/hi stalk with a second-hand one and it made no difference.

I then started investigating the loom. I found the thick white wire with black trace coming from the stalk into the dash loom had snagged or pulled on something and was partially broken. Only a few strands were holding. According to the wiring diagram this was an earth so I temporarily earthed the wire. Voila, normal service of all lights was restored.

To fix it properly I soldered a new length of wire in and also added an extra wire going to an eye terminal. The join was covered in heat-shrink and the wires cable-tied clear of obstructions. The eye terminal is screwed to the steering column ensuring a good earth. Everything has worked perfectly for a few weeks, so I am certain I have solved the issue.

Cheers,