Turn signal flasher going nuts

[Porter]

I think my flasher is going psycho. When I turn my blinker on going right, after it should shut off - it still blinks, and no amount of jiggling the signal arm fixes it. In fact, when I stopped at the stoplight and shut off the the Disco, it still didn't shut off. It finally did when I restarted. Has anyone else had this problem, do you think replacing the flasher will fix it?

 

[PHARAOHDISCO]

I do not know really what it's called, but it's shock sensor mounted inside the engine compartment at the back, just right to engine beside the auto transmission dipstick. It is supposed to actuate the flashers as a warning signal whenever the vehicle goes out of control such as a roll over or if the vehicle hits a heavy pothole or a bump. What I understood is whenever it is actuated it is supposed to cut the power supply to the fuel pump as a precaution in case of an accident. It happened to me once when I hit a deep trench at high speed, but it did not cut off the fuel pump. To reset it you either turn off the ignition and restart the engine or depress the switch located inside the engine compartment.

 

[discodriveradam]

It's called the inertia switch, I believe.

EDIT: But I doubt that is your problem. Usually when the inertia switch activates, fuel is cut off, and BOTH blinkers are on. You say that no amount of jiggling will make it go off; does that mean that the arm won't come back down to its "neutral" position, or that the blinker stays on after the arm is back in its "neutral position?

 

[gardrover]

I had a similar thing to me, i hit a huge (2-3ft) pavement shift at a construction site at around 25mph, both blinkers stayed on until i restarted the car, but the fuel pump did not shut off.
Could this problem be related to switch stalk itself?, i have heard that they stick sometimes

 

[alexefrank]

yea pretty much every time i hit a big bump or water for some reason the flashers are going off... i think my little shock detector boy it a tad too sensitive... happens

 

[Porter]

Yea, I think both blinkers are going off. I've never acually gotten out of the Disco to check and see if both blinkers are on. Interestingly, I've hit harder stuff before and its never done this before. If in fact the blinkers can go off without the fuel pump cutting off it may be the problem. For those who's flashers go off without the fuel pump cut off, does the door locks open up? I'll try to lock my doors from now on while I'm driving and see if they pop up when the flashers go off.

 

[mainerova]

maine pot holes

I hit a pot hole today and only the left side blinkers were going off, I had to shut the car off and they continued to blink until the car was turned back on. Not sure if the fuel was shut off, I drove off with no problems, thought it was funny.

 

[parthog]

That's a different mode. The inertia switch in mine sometimes trips when I get a little air, the flashers go and the doors unlock, central locking is disabled for something like 30seconds. Shut off and restart is the cure, or keeping all of my wheels on the sand.

I believe that the fuel-pump inertia switch is less sensitive as are the airbag accelerometers (hate to have those pop when I catch air).

- Jeff

 

[mkronmal]

Its the flashing lights switch for off road mode..

On the rear passanger door there is an inertia switch which will activate your hazard lights for enhanced visibility while off road Once engaged, you need to reboot your Rover.

From the Owners Manual (Page 17)

"Door locking cut-off switch
An inertia switch, operational only with the
starter switch in position ?II?, prevents the
doors from centrally locking (or if the doors
are locked, will unlock them) in the event of an
accident or sudden impact.

When the inertia switch operates, the central
door locking is inhibited and hazards flash for
a minimum of 30 seconds or until the system
is reset by turning the starter switch on and
off, twice."

I've thought seriously about taping the damn thing several times.