Indicator fuse pops when ignition on - hazards ok

Help!

My indicator fuse pops as soon as I turn the ignition on but the little green dash light glows dimly.  When I flick the indicator stick the green dash light glows brightly and constantly.

I have checked that the hazards work (with a fresh fuse and prior to switching on ignition).  I notice that the light on the hazard switch doesn't work but I can't remember if it did prior to this problem.

I did change the tail light bulb (lhs) at weekend but I checked that everything was ok afterwards.

Back to hand signals.

Any suggestions please!!

Penzance Pirate

 :?

1986 Cabriolet

You have a short-circuit - some part of the positive feed for the indicators between the fuse and the switch is touching the car body, or some other part that is earthed.

Must be here as the hazards work without the ignition, and the fuse blows when you turn on the ignition, not when you move the indicator stalk.

You need to use a multimeter (resistance bit) and the Haynes manual (or similar) to find the wires in question, and examine them.

The bulb in the hazard switch is probably unrelated, but is easy to change anyway (not part of the switch, like the other switches above it).

Thanks Type 17.  I'll take a look at the weekend.

Why would that suddenly happen?

Could the wires that run from the fuse panel have been accidently kicked by someone with fidgety feet.  Or is it that the isulating has just got tired and cracked?

Penzance Pirate

PenzancePirate said

Thanks Type 17.  I'll take a look at the weekend.

Why would that suddenly happen?

Could the wires that run from the fuse panel have been accidently kicked by someone with fidgety feet.  Or is it that the isulating has just got tired and cracked?

Penzance Pirate

Difficult to say, could be anything:
loom kicked
wiring worn off metal part of car
connector at fusebox end damaged
Connector at stalk-switch end damaged
fault within stalk-switch
something else entirely

Good luck, let us know what you do find…

I had the same thing... found it was where 2 wires were touching on my rear lights when i fitted them! ops:

Well folks, its transpires that the stalk switch had disintegrated - so ok now!

Thanks everyone