Headlamp flashers - how are they supposed to work?

[riczito]

Hi all,

I've just received my 1968 Amazon 121, and I've been excitedly checking everything out. It's a new car to me, and it's been fun discovering stuff. However, I've stumbled on something which I'm not sure is working quite properly?

I do understand that the footswitch is used in conjunction with the dashboard switch, to go to and from main-beam to high-beam. That seems to work fine.

However, I think something is wrong with the indicator stalk flash functionality... With the lights off, when I pull the stalk towards me as if to flash my lights, the main-beams come on, but when I let go of the stalk they stay on. If I pull it again, the high-beams come on as well. When I let go, I'm back to main-beams only. But they never completely turn off! In order to turn them off, I have to pull the dashboard light switch out and push it all the way in again.

It doesn't feel like this is how it's supposed to work. Is there a wrong wiring connection or a faulty switch somewhere? Can anyone help me figure this issue out?

Thanks!
Ric

[Rustinmotion]

On mine you can select side lights or head lights from the dash switch in headlamp mode you can toggle between high and low beam with the foot switch and pulling back on the indicator holds the high beam on until you let go of the switch

[Ron Kwas]

Ric;

The 122 was only fitted with the Footswitch from the factory (and in countries other than the USA, the "Relay for Headlight Signaling", where Lights and signaling operates the manner RIM has described)...I expect a PO has removed the Footswitch and retrofitted the Bistable Relay, and what you are seeing is a normal side-effect this retrofit. Simply activate the Stalk a second time to toggle the BR back (and turn OFF the Lo Beams).

See also: https://www.sw-em.com/Headlight_Note...Bistable_Relay

Cheers

Edit: added USA version info

[142 Guy]

Ron K's excellent website has the wiring diagrams for the Amazon. If you look at this wiring diagram it shows the flash to pass wiring which consists of the momentary contact switch on the steering column and the 'Relay For Headlight Signalling' which connects to the high beam.

https://sw-em.com/Wiring_Diagrams_an...Wiring_Diagram

Based upon the wiring diagram it should be pull the switch and the high beams come on and the high beams go off when you release the switch. Pretty much as Rustinmotion describes. If the column switch is sticking then the high beams would stay on; but, that does not sound like your problem. I am thinking that perhaps a previous owner got creative with wiring and might have installed a latching relay as used on the mid production 140 (which did not have the foot switch) and slightly botched the installation.

As per the factory wiring diagram the column switch should have no ability to operate the low beams and according to the wiring diagram the high beam flash is enabled 100% of the time. Time for some wire tracing and component inspection.