Re: Electrical Fault

["Tim Hancock" <timhancock@domain.elided>]

David Ross Asks

<I'm having a problem with my car that should be trivial, but is resisting my
analysis (and might keep the car from passing inspection).  My left turn
signal indicator has recently been flashing at a much faster rate - a symptom
I usually associate with a
blown bulb, but all the bulbs test good (and prove themselves so when I swap
them with their right-side
counterparts).  Moreover, in the front assembly the *wrong bulb* is flashing:
instead of the indicator lamp, the stop
lamp bulb is flashing.  I can't find anything obviously wrong with the lamp
assembly/bucket (though of course ....>

What you have are the classic symptoms of an earth fault (a ground fault to US
types). Check out all the earth/ground leads on your car and make sure they
are sound and grounding to good quality metal.If you cannot sort it out an
auto electrician soon will. I was once taught a 'mantra' by a BSA trained
mechanic which went "98% of all electrical faults are earthing /grounding
faults".  This was pre electronics mind you, but it still holds good when the
wrong lights come on or look dim. Assuming your ground points are not corroded
away they are not that difficult to put right in the majority of cases

Tim Hancock  164TS Lusso  Boston UK

--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided