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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Indicator Buzzer

A quick Saturday evening project I thought I would share...

The self cancel on my indicators is a bit duff and there have been a few instances where I have forgotten to make sure they are cancelled. Then today I almost got taken out by an old dear in a Daewoo (sorry to her!) who thought I was turning but I just hadn't cancelled my signal. Oops!

So I dug out my electronics kit and rustled up a simple indicator buzzer.

The buzzer was rated at five volts, so there is a 5v regulator to step down the voltage.

Now when I indicate I sound like a lorry reversing! Will see tomorrow how loud/annoying it is out on the road.

Cheers,
Malcolm


Malcolm Le Chevalier

Wiring diagram, very simple.


Malcolm Le Chevalier

Under the dash. Will attach it more securly in the morning, rather than have it dangling.

I have "modern" flasher relays too.

Malcolm


Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malcolm

Is that not going to be buzzing all the time that the ignition is on?
Dave O'Neill 2

Why not fix the self canceling?
Or is that a stupid question?
Onno K

The self cancel sometimes works, and sometimes it doesn't. I have had it apart and the plastic arms that work the cancel are a bit tired and don't spring back as far as they used to so their contact with the canceller is a bit hit and miss.

It works as intended Dave. Only buzzes when indicator lights are on.

Malc
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Not as interesting as a project, but l just replaced the flasher unit with a buzzing one. Looks like a relay, flashes and beeps.
GuyW

<<It works as intended Dave. Only buzzes when indicator lights are on.>>

Is that because it's an electronic flasher unit? I would have thought with the original type, you would have 12v on the output all the time, until it switched. I don't know how the electronic ones work.
Dave O'Neill 2

Maplins do a 12v buzzer very cheaply. I wired one on the Frog which doesn't have the luxury of self cancelling indicators.
Graeme Williams

Mine only cancels when turning left. Should the one cancelling clip on the column cancel both ways or have I got one missing?
Peter Ottewell

I put one on a midget I had, and pretty soon after took it off again as it drove me nuts!
Mike Howlett

Right...

Dave: It did work... well, it worked when tested last night and this morning as I got the car out of the garage. It worked until the end of the street... Then it started buzzing at a low level all the time, unless you put the indicators on, it would work properly. i.e. loud buzz, silent, loud buzz, silent. Then indicator off, back to quiet buzz. Eh?! Back to the drawing board...

Graeme/Mike: I only used 5 volt stuff as it was bits I had in my electronics box. But also (generally) 5v buzzers are quieter than 12v ones, so might be less intrusive.

Peter: There is a seperate prong for cancelling left and right. Mine works better one way than the other, but both badly. I think the prongs tire and lose their spring, therefore don't make contact with the canceller properly.

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malcolm, try your circuit with a standard flasher unit. I've had issues with a mk1 Mini indicator stalk and a electronic flasher unit....the indicator warning bulb was always flashing, never happened with a standard flasher unit.
J White

Turns out I may have had a desperate issue anyway. Indicators packed up completely. Went trouble shooting... had 12 volts at hazard switch, continuity through the switch, continuity to the indicator relay. Plug the hazard switch back in and no voltage at indicator relay. Eh?!?

Turns out hazard switch loom plug is a bit past it and the switch wasn't connecting properly to the loom.

Bodge repaired by stuffing some tin foil into the loom plug :-D anyone got any better ideas for repair? I didn't think you can get new loom plugs can you?

Dunno if this issue is related to the odd behaviour of my buzzer or not and/or if it is just coincidence this has happened now.

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Do you have the hazard switch with round pins or spades/lucars?

I guess you could get a plug/socket off an old loom and join it to your loom, if necessary.
Dave O'Neill 2

My 'cancellers' are suffering from plastic fatigue too, sometimes cancelling but not always. Bought a cheap buzzer from ebay for about £3, worked but far too loud - it can be heard for miles so it's been removed and won't be fitted unless I can find a way of reducing the racket.
Jeremy Tickle

I reduced the volume on the one I had by sticking a foam pad over the speaker grill.
Graeme Williams

Yes, it is easy to experiment with ways of damping the sound of a buzzer using different materials.

I also wired in a switch as when the roof is in position I can hear the indicator/flasher unit reasonably well, but when the roof is down it is harder to hear so I switch the buzzer on.
JB Anderson

I located mine on the bulkhead under the bonnet [ie next to the standard flasher unit]. A piece of gaffer tape over part of the buzzer will more it quieter.

Doug Plumb

Graeme, nice idea!
Doug - mine too was in the same place as yours - so gaffer tape or foam or both!
Jeremy Tickle

Hi guys,


Had the non cancelling flasher problem on my 1500 as well.


Fixed it by outting a weakish elastic band between the plastic cancelling arm things, they get weak over the years.


Bit of a bodge, but it works!


Regards Steve
SR Smith 1

Interesting solution Steve - simple and effective! I'm going to give it a try, thanks.
Jeremy Tickle

Finaly fixed mine yesterday with the loombands that my grandaughter left at our house
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

The loombands might not deteriorate like rubber bands do. Rubber bands seem to perish in a month or two nowadays.
Graeme Williams

I use the ones the postman drops on our drive, seem to last months.


Anyway it's hardly a major job to drop off the shroud and slip another on!
SR Smith 1

Another case of poor modern rubber parts again.
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

This thread was discussed between 23/04/2016 and 01/05/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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