XM Indicator switch not working plus smoke (French electrics?)

[Lankytim]

The headlamps seem to work all the time now, but the dashboard (headlamp) warning light doesn't come on! Any ideas on that one?

 

Mine was doing exactly the same, the dash warning lights on startup have packed up too, i.e airbag light e.t.c. It would occasionally work though. I think the whole lot is connected anyway.

 

Today I had a spare 5 mins to investigate.

 

The relay socket was full of that green electrical corrosion gunk so I took it all to bits to clean. After 0.1 seconds the main feed to the headlights earthed against the skinny relay earth and the whole lot went up in flames. FUXXXSAKE!!! always disconnect the battery :(

 

Looks like it just needs a new earth, so not too bad.

[FakeConcern]

Mine was doing exactly the same, the dash warning lights on startup have packed up too, i.e airbag light e.t.c. It would occasionally work though. I think the whole lot is connected anyway.

 

Today I had a spare 5 mins to investigate.

 

The relay socket was full of that green electrical corrosion gunk so I took it all to bits to clean. After 0.1 seconds the main feed to the headlights earthed against the skinny relay earth and the whole lot went up in flames. FUXXXSAKE!!! always disconnect the battery :(

 

Looks like it just needs a new earth, so not too bad.

I clicked "like" but I don't really like it at all! Hope it can be an easy fix for you.

I think all the othet dash warning lights still come on, but not sure & will check tomorrow. By the way which relay is the headlamp one?

[Lankytim]

The dipped headlight relay his under the slam panel behind the drivers headlight.

[FakeConcern]

The dipped headlight relay his under the slam panel behind the drivers headlight.

Sorry to keep asking, but which one?

[Lankytim]

isn't that the passenger headlight?

[FakeConcern]

Yep!!!

OK as you were. I'll have a look tomorrow when I haven't had the best part of a bottle of red. Thanks ever so much for the replies.

 

Meanwhile here are some pics

 

 

[andrew e]

Sorry about the electro-grief LT.About 10 years ago I stripped an XM and kept all the electrics in a plastic bucket - relays, fuse boxes, switches etc. Helpfully* it turned out Mrs E skipped the lot, when I went looking for a relay recently. GRRR. I have howeve got two half seized rear calipers should you (or any XM botherer) never need them.

[FakeConcern]

@ Andrew e, great avatar!

[Lankytim]

Thanks for the offer, the way things are going all my XM is going to need is recovering from the bottom of a quarry.

 

It's easily fixable TBH, just a burnt out earth wire. It's just getting the time to do it in between looking after kids and dodging rain showers. 

 

If I wanted an easy life with no head scratching I'd have bought......... well anything instead.

[andrew e]

@ Andrew e, great avatar!

At the time it came up it was dark, and I was in a foreign country! Oddly enough I got a small fortune for it on eBay. Which was nice.

[FakeConcern]

At the time it came up it was dark, and I was in a foreign country! Oddly enough I got a small fortune for it on eBay. Which was nice.

Oh no! I've done that "like" thing again!

[dollywobbler]

Be aware of the alarm reset trick before disconnecting the battery. I can never remember what that is though.

[Captain Mainwaring]

Just charged the battery & started the XM 1st time in Months, it's running well, but no dipped beam headlamps!

I've looked in the handbook & each dipped beam is on a different fuse so what should I look for next? Hard to believe both bulbs would fail at the same time, but I haven't actually checked them yet as it's now dark. Very annoying as I intended to go to work in it tomorrow!

 

Just use high beam. Problem solved.

Think yourself lucky that works, as it very much didn't in my Volvo 340.

Driving round on full beam gets you flashed at a lot. And called a cunt at least once. 

[FakeConcern]

Today as I picked up daughter no 1 to take her to Gatwick indicator stalk got stuck in centre position, but with indicators going and smoke started to come out of the steering column cowl. Took daughters car to airport so that was ok. When we got back to the XM I managed to wiggle the stalk so the indicators didn't keep going and drive home not using them (jokes about pretending to drive BMW/Audi etc). I've taken the stalk apart & except the detent bullet looks a bit worn I can't see a problem. I've filed the bullet a bit and greased it up, but each time I put it back together it works once then gets stuck again. Anyone know of a fix or have a spare working stalk I can buy?

 

Forgot to say I could see no sign of burnt wiring etc

[chaseracer]

I have several stalks you can choose from, currently in a box in the back of the Blingo.  Which is the other side of town with FPB7.

 

I should get it back tomorrow...

[Lacquer Peel]

I think I have a Xantia indicator stalk if it's the same.

[FakeConcern]

I have several stalks you can choose from, currently in a box in the back of the Blingo.  Which is the other side of town with FPB7.

 

I should get it back tomorrow...

 

 

I think I have a Xantia indicator stalk if it's the same.

Thanks both of you, I'll have another play with the thing tomorrow to see if it wants to work or not, then I'll post a photo of it so I can try to match one up.

[messerschmitt owner]

s1 and s2 light/indicator/horn switches are the same AFAIK - it is the wiper switch that varies between specs of car

[dollywobbler]

Nope. Series 1 stalk doesn't have the light control on it, so Series 2 XM it is. Xantia not the same stalk. 

[FakeConcern]

I have several stalks you can choose from, currently in a box in the back of the Blingo.  Which is the other side of town with FPB7.

 

I should get it back tomorrow...

Mr Chaseracer, I'd like to take you up on your kind offer as I can't get the thing to work. The car is a series 2 and here are a couple of pictures of the offending stalk. If you have one the same how much do you want for it?

[DSdriver]

Wonderfully designed so that you press the horn button when switching off the lights when you arrive home late at night. 

[FakeConcern]

Wonderfully designed so that you press the horn button when switching off the lights when you arrive home late at night. 

I haven't actually done this, but now you've said it, I'll think of it every time!

[chaseracer]

I have just returned from a parental visit.  I'll check the box of switches and report back!

[chaseracer]

And neither of them match - sorry.

[FakeConcern]

And neither of them match - sorry.

Thank you very much for looking.

 

Any one else have one?

[chaseracer]

Are you a member of the XM chatroom on Farcebook?  You'd find one there.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/650703224953834/

 

 

EDIT:  I see that you are... 

[Lankytim]

I got booted off that page for reporting porn.

[beko1987]

Wonderfully designed so that you press the horn button when switching off the lights when you arrive home late at night. 

 

Or beep someone as you flash them in a friendly way... Nearly got a punch for letting someone out, luckily I think he just called me a cunt...

 

ZX has the horn in the same place but it's harder to hit the horn at the same time. Not quite so luckily Eva can now reach it sat in her car seat... The fun we have parked at school waiting to go in...

[jonathan_dyane]

Today as I picked up daughter no 1 to take her to Gatwick indicator stalk got stuck in centre position, but with indicators going and smoke started to come out of the steering column cowl. Took daughters car to airport so that was ok. When we got back to the XM I managed to wiggle the stalk so the indicators didn't keep going and drive home not using them (jokes about pretending to drive BMW/Audi etc). I've taken the stalk apart & except the detent bullet looks a bit worn I can't see a problem. I've filed the bullet a bit and greased it up, but each time I put it back together it works once then gets stuck again. Anyone know of a fix or have a spare working stalk I can buy?

 

Forgot to say I could see no sign of burnt wiring etc

 

The problem usually is that the old grease gets turned conductive as the contacts wear and fill it with metal dust. Removal of all old grease and replacement with new may be a fix...

[FakeConcern]

The problem usually is that the old grease gets turned conductive as the contacts wear and fill it with metal dust. Removal of all old grease and replacement with new may be a fix...

I have cleaned out the switch, the problem now is that its stuck in the middle position (off). For a while, I got it working on turn left only!