Weird indicator flash? (new one...honest!!)

Ive fitted Led indicators to my 00 curvey.....i know ...i know i've done a search and read through countless posts but please bare with me this is different.

After fitting arrow LED indicators and the universal type LED relay off E-bay, the indicators dont work at all when the engine is not running, and when running the indicators seem to be faint at low revs/idle and bright when at high revs and although they flash at the original speed they flicker fast on each flash i.e. flicker,flicker;flicker, normal gap, flicker flicker flicker, normal gap etc, if you know what i mean!

Any Ideas fellas???? duff relay maybe????

For ref, the indicators work normally But very fast without the relay and work with the engine off ie on ignition. The relay had two wires and where wired to the corrasponding wires going to the original relay i.e. G (+) and F (-) according to Haynes manual.

My bet is that the relay contains a/some resistor(s).

That would explain the lack of function when the engine is off (the circuit is below threshold for the indicators to illuminate). It would also explain why they're fainter with the engine on (increased voltage, but being reduced by the relay/resistor).

Get a multi-meter out & stick it on the relay connections to verify resistance - if it's JUST a relay, there should be no resistance (for the closed circuit part) and infinite resistance (for the open part) - nothing in between those values.

Cheers Baph! that makes sense,I will give that a go. Either way do you think it would be worth getting another relay either without resistors or just another type?
I wonder why they put resistors in there as well? that was the whole idea of getting a relay so there would be no need for hot resistors!!

if you replace normal bulbs with led ones u generally have to buy a new relay, shops that sell led lights usually have the relays in packs as they never work at the correct flash rate on the normal circuits, shudnt b too dear for a new relay think tey usually about £20

Originally Posted by svscratcha

Cheers Baph! that makes sense,I will give that a go. Either way do you think it would be worth getting another relay either without resistors or just another type?
I wonder why they put resistors in there as well? that was the whole idea of getting a relay so there would be no need for hot resistors!!

For the cost of the relay, I'd just buy another one (known to work OK), rather than mess with a DMM.

I reckon the resistors are in there to act as a timing mechanisim when combined with a capacitor (or a few). Other types use higher voltage to do the same job (and mainly use D-flops).

TBH, if this is the cause, it's the first one I've heard of, but it's the only thing I can think of to explain why they don't work with the engine off, if the wiring isn't any different to the stock setup.

Originally Posted by Ceebl

if you replace normal bulbs with led ones u generally have to buy a new relay, shops that sell led lights usually have the relays in packs as they never work at the correct flash rate on the normal circuits, shudnt b too dear for a new relay think tey usually about £20

Hi mate, thanks for reply , but I have allready got an LED relay fitted that I bought at the same time as the indi's as I know they flash fast on the stock one. I was really just wondering if it is the relay that is at fault or if there could be another reason for the way they are working weird!

So you now have two indicator "relays" in your circuit? Is that the way the second relay is supposed to be used? Might be worth double checking the instructions.

It won't have load resitors in there, for a start you couldn't physically fit them in a relay sized component. It will have some sort timing/oscillator/multivibrator circuit though.

Originally Posted by Philbo

So you now have two indicator "relays" in your circuit? Is that the way the second relay is supposed to be used? Might be worth double checking the instructions.

I read it as though the OP had replaced the original relay. I don't think having two relays would have the reported effect anyhow.

Originally Posted by Philbo

So you now have two indicator "relays" in your circuit? Is that the way the second relay is supposed to be used? Might be worth double checking the instructions.

hi Philbo, no I dont have two indicator relays, however the original one is still there as it has other functions besides the indicators ie side stand cut off switch etc but the +ve and -ve wires going to the indicator relay part of the original relay are disconnected and now connected to the new LED relay so in effect the original relay does not do anything.

correct again Baph!!