[deep-six]

Well, the old 89 vitara is not liking me lately, bought it a brand new clutch cable and now it goes and craps the indicator switch.
Priced a new one from Suzuki but to expensive to even mention.
Anyone know of a substitute for this, I looked up Nice products but they don't seem to list one for a Vitara, is it possible to make one from a Sierra work??
I have a problem with mine where it blows the fuse every time I turn the wheel with indicators switched on, seems to work perfectly while sitting still.
I'm gonna pull the covers of the steering column and see if I can find anything obvious but most probably will be nothing glaring at me.
Cheers for any tips on this one.

[shep]

someone on the forum will have a second handy for cheap.

[christover1]

Could be a wire earthing out in the steering wheel area,
if it blows fuses when you turn.
I doubt you need a new unit.
May have too low a rating on the fuse,
it will say on the fuse box cover what it should be.

[deep-six]

Thanks guys

I'm kind of leaning away from the switch being the problem now, its weird. The indicators work OK standing still but as soon as I go for a drive up the road the fuse pops after about 100 metres, doesn't even have to have the indicators working for this to happen.

Does sound like a wire shorting out but a quick check of the loom from the combination switch don't doesn't reveal anything glaringly wrong.

Does anyone know what else is in the same circuit as the indicators, maybe I am barking up the wrong tree??

[deep-six]

Well, just in case someone else has this problem and looking for pointers, looks like the switch was at fault.

I pulled the switch apart, noted there was some wear on the contacts, gave it a clean up and re-assembled it.
Seems to be working OK now but time will tell.

I really do need a new switch because the old one is notchy and spasmodic so this fix is just a stop gap measure.
Now here is a tip for the unwary, if you are like me and pull the screws out of the back of the combination switch because you think it might be a good idea to peer inside........ you may be in for more than you bargained for.

I just spent 2 hours pulling the switch apart and re-assembling it.
it has various spring loaded contacts inside which all fall out of sync once you pull the back cover off.

I lost the detent spring and ball bearing that preloads the headlight switch. It went flying over my shoulder, never to be found again as I was poking inside the switch.

I searched high and low for a replacement spring but could only find one that was slightly too big, I jammed this in there as it was the best I could find, now the headlight switch is very stiff and will probably fail in a short while due to the extra load on the plastic components.

The first time I re-assembled the switch and fitted it back in I was rewarded with my windscreen wipers coming on and staying on, would not turn off.

Pulled the switch apart and fixed that, second attempt the indicator contacts were out of sync and they would not work.
Third attempt getting better, almost everything is working, though the hazard switch will no longer stay depressed and the headlight switch is very stiff.

But at least the indicators are working again so I have had some sort of a win.

All in all a fun afternoon that could have been spent more productively but at least got a result.