Over the last few weeks my car has developed a worrying issue. Sometimes the LHS indicator fails to work. The stalk will click into place, i just won’t have any indication from it.

The right hand side seems to work fine, that doesn’t miss a beat. The left hand side though occasionally (when it occurs it will keep occurring for the duration of the journey) just doesn’t respond.

The quickest way of fixing it is to use the right hand indicators then flick over to the left hand to indicate as required.

It also seems to occur most when it’s raining outside. Though i can’t find any indications of water ingress.

Has anyone ever heard of this problem before?

There have been reports of faulty / worn / dirty contacts inside the stalk.

Also the indicators on the Octavia don't use a traditional relay like on older cars; the timing of the flashing is all electronic so it may also be a problem with the car's CANBUS system.

The same CANBUS system may have logged a fault so it may be worth finding a friendly member close to you with VCDS (software that reads the fault codes) or your local dealer who could read the fault with their diagnostic equipment.

If there are no faults it’ll be a case of trial and error. I’d start by removing the stalk (not easy as I believe it requires the steering wheel / airbag to be removed) and cleaning the contacts.

If you don't get anywhere, something to try might be some switch cleaner where the indicator switch will be, assuming you can get it into the stalk.

Get some contact cleaner and squirt down the gap around the stalk where it enters the column, job done.

Its where the copper shims off the contacts and shorts creating the clicking noise. Had it on the Bora before xmas.

Many thanks guys, sounds like it could be the contacts! I have bought some solution so will try it out when it arrives.

I am also sure it only occurs when it is raining outside. It certainly seems to make it worse!?