The flasher relay is located near the steering column on a right-hand-drive car. Remove the panel above the pedals to access the relay. This is the list of possible observed faults with the indicator or hazard flasher:
- Flashing speed changes
- Unusual ‘crackling’ sound from the flasher relay when the indicator or hazard is on. Indicators do not light up.
- Hazard only lights up one side of the car; indicator stalk use cause the globes on all sides to start flashing.
- No sound from the flasher when the hazard is switched on.
Troubleshooting
Activate the hazard switch to check.
Flashing speed changes
When there is a blown indicator globe, the flash rate speeds up.
Replacement with an incandescent-type globe is required as the original flasher relay is load sensitive. This means the low current draw of the LED does not match what the (original) flasher relay expects. There are LED-globe compatible flasher relays for sale if desired.
‘Crackling’ sound from the flasher relay; indicators not lit
Remove the console and check that the electric plug to the hazard switch is fully seated.
Hazard only lights up indicators on one side of the car
Same as above – the electrical plug to the hazard switch is partially inserted.
No sound from the flasher relay
These are the possible reasons:
- Fuse is blown or fuse terminals are corroded. This fault will be in conjunction with other globes that share the same fuse. Spin the fuse around its mount if the fuse link looks OK.
- The electrical plug to the hazard switch is loose.
- The flasher relay has failed. This will be the most likely cause for the problem.
Removing the console to access the switches
To save removal and assembly time, only proceed if you know the flasher relay is working.
The removal of the cover panel around the gear selector lever needs the following:
- Phillips screwdriver
- ‘Stubby’ Phillips screwdriver. A short Phillips screwdriver bit for an electric drill may also be used.
- Remove the ashtray from its mount by fully swinging it open.
- Remove the two screws at the rear of the ashtray mount.
- Remove the ashtray mount by pulling out the right hand side first. The electrical plug for the cigarette lighter is plugged to the left hand of the mount. The console plastic will flex little to allow the ashtray mount to be removed.
- Unplug the electrical lead to the cigarette lighter.
- Look down the front of the cover panel around the gear selector lever and you will see two screws holding down the panel. Remove them using the stubby screwdriver.
- The cover has to be slid 10mm rearward to allow a pin/projection on the rear end of the cover to come away from the centre console. That will allow the cover to be lifted and the electric plugs can then be reached.
Press the hazard switch. If there is still no sound the flasher relay is faulty.
Replacing the flasher relay
Remove the panel under the steering wheel and locate the flasher relay.
The original BOSCH 335 200 007 ‘electronic hazard-warn/turn-signal flasher’ is no longer available. However, the good news is that other brand flashers can be substituted as long as it has the three electric connectors labelled 31-49-49a.
Please check the code for the electric connectors before purchasing the replacement because there are other 3-pin flasher units that have different labels (e.g. L-P-X).
The three connectors on the flasher relay
The ‘31’ is the negative line.
The ‘49’ is the positive and powered on when either the hazard switch is pushed in or the indicator enabled.
The ‘49a’ is the positive to the indicator globes; it provides power-on-flash.
The relay plug
Identify the 31-49-49a female on the relay plug. The replacement brand shown in the picture has the same flash rate and a similar click sound to the original Bosch relay.
You need to make up three sets of wires with a male bullet connector and a female spade connector at each end. If you cannot hear the indicator click because it is muffled by the panel, you now have the option to relocate the indicator relay by using longer wires.
Plug the workaround cable on the replacement relay to its corresponding pin on the relay plug as shown in the diagram.
Replace the panel after confirming the hazards work.
In my case, the fault was due to the electrical plug for the hazard switch was only partially plugged in and it came away over time. I now have a spare relay in the boot.
Chai
