So.

Another problem for the Octy gurus to look into...

Yesterday, after a few months of trouble-free indication, the clicking will not stop.

This is extremely irritating, as you can imagine.

After cancelling the indicator, the noise will carry on, erratically, for a few seconds. Sometimes it'll not happen, sometimes it's consistent and clicking really fast like when a bulb goes. Lightly pressing the hazard switch seems to cure it until you next have to indicate; but sometimes it doesn't.

Thankfully, the bulbs don't illuminate (on the dashboard or outside the car).

I tried a hazard switch from a '98 vintage Passat, but only the left side indicators worked with the hazards on and when the ignition was on it sounded like the switch was screaming. Promptly removed and went back to 'click click click <long pause> clickclick <pause> click' (etc).

So, my guess is it's either a knackered hazard switch (there was water on connector #3 when I pulled it out..?!!), or a problem with the indicator cancelling at the stalk... any ideas?

Sincerely,

At my wits' end Vlad.

Hi Sam,

I helped a mate fix this before Christmas. We tried replacing the hazard relay but it that case it didn't help. We had to replace the indicator stalk in the end.

I've got a spare hazard switch if you want to try one?

Cheers,

Martin

well actually the most annoying sound in the world is..............

however, on a serious note, its probably the relay gone, part of the switch, try a new one, i also have one somewhere, check all your bulbs first are working too

Martin- willing to try the spare switch if my 'solver' didn't work- dousing the stalk in contact cleaner!

Luca- classic film! I'll look into a new switch!

I was going to say relay but if that's already been tried then a new stalk probably

Mine decided to do this just before Christmas and was totally crazy on the 28th December - I left the car parked outside for a few days as I wasn't at my house. However since then it has been fine since. I posted on here about it and came to the conclusion it can't actually be the relay at fault, and that it is the indicator stalk causing the problem.

Therefore the solution is to fit a new stalk - a good excuse to stick in cruise control too

However the switch cleaner sprayed into the stalk might well fix it - I would do this on mine, but I don't have any switch cleaner (must see if I can blag any at work).

Martin- willing to try the spare switch if my 'solver' didn't work- dousing the stalk in contact cleaner!

Luca- classic film! I'll look into a new switch!

if fitting cruise best company i found in the london area was hazy dayz, if you are in the midlands/north awesome were doing an offer for a while for 125 fitted

think there is a member on here called stu who lives kind of south west who fits cruise mbames, it really is worth doing!!!

I am happy to fit it myself..... Just need to the stalk to really p me off first....

I have vagcom so I can enable it, just need to see if I have a suitable spline drive to get the steering wheel off (and hope it does not blow up in my face!)

the physical fit, certainly cabin side, is easy, just disconnect battery and leave overnight to be safe, spline drive if you dont have can be bought from halfords, i have an old one i use on aircooled vehicle that fits.

make sure your wheel is centred, when undoing the spline, oh and the airbag removal requires a flat blade, prising into a clip inside the back of the airbag, you have to turn wheel each way to get to either hole.

Stalks need disconnecting carefully then pulling off the shaft, the harder part is the wiring into the ecu, as is fiddly and the little wiring clips can be pain to get right, ask bowders, or check out how to's, am sure he has done a guide. The vag enabling bit is the easy bit.

Of course, being an L&Kist, I kind of already have cruise... but it was a good idea...

Small update- a shedload of contact cleaner in the stalk housing has seemed to help so far. Simply sprayed it on in normal position, then indicators up and down, then with full beam nudged forward so it's really got in there. Will have to see what happens now!

Of course, being an L&Kist, I kind of already have cruise... but it was a good idea...

lmao....whatever!!!

Of course, being an L&Kist, I kind of already have cruise... but it was a good idea...

Well in that case it just means you have to to buy a more expensive stalk.

Punishment for having an L&K

Contact cleaner sorted mine straight away

Trying to stay on-topic; where do you actually spray the contact cleaner? I have a problem with my cruise control which most often manifests as a failure to "resume" properly. Sometimes doesn't work, sometimes actually disengages cruise control completely.

I have *just* sprayed mine, and I went for the base of the stalk (without removing any of the steering column plastic. I went for max forward/backward/up/down travel and then gave it a good wiggle about.

The biggest concern I just had (never spotted this before) was: open door, spray some in, push indicator down and then *beep*. Returned stalk back to normal position and the noise stopped. Put key in ignition and turned it on, indicators worked fine and then no beep. Removed key, still no beep. I am wondering if the car normally makes a noise if you enable an indicator without turning the ignition on - maybe something to do with parking lights?

For the CC resume, as that is actually at the end of the stalk I would guess you might need to spray there rather than at the base.

i think mine used to beep if you turned indicator on when ignition was off, something to do with parking lights as you say