Not starting, main beam/indicator stalk connection? - Series 3 Petrol

Morning,

I have a 3 year old boy who likes to sit in my 1984 Series 3 petrol and pretend to drive it. This includes flicking switches and yanking the indicator stalk up and down roughly. He has broken the indicator in the past but the stalk is pretty mechanical and easily fixed so when the main beam stopped working last week (when stalk pushed away, but interestingly the flash function when you pull towards you still worked) I wasn't particularly worried and thought I would get around to mending it in time!

On Saturday in bucketing rain I turned into a side road and the engine stopped... this may have been because I used the indicator (which was working fine) and nudged some wiring. Anyway I turned the key and got no dash lights... the engine would turn over but not fire as I presume no spark..

I got out did my usual check the fuses and waggle of all the wires in the engine bay and then remembered the indicator stalk, I took this apart and suddenly I had dash lights and the engine started first time! I couldnt see how the main beam switch was damaged so I put it all back together and drove a few hundred yards and the same thing happened (this time I hadn't touched the indicators or any other electrics) So I took it off the cover for the key/indicator stalk and away it went again. I drove home with fingers crossed and didn't touch any of the electrics.

Anyway, long story, it strikes me as strange that this fault would cause the engine to stop and there to be no spark to start again..

Does anyone have any idea where to start here? I am hopeless with electrics and a multimeter...

It seems as though the switched live from the ignition switch has come loose. It's a right jumble of wires behind the dash and steering shroud so either your son playing with the controls or you wiggling wires may have disconnected a spade clip. It's easy to hot wire the ignition of it happens again, connect a wire fro the live terminal of the battery to the + connection on the coil, the engine will then start but you will only be able to turn it off by disconnecting the wire.

You need to remove the shroud around the ignition switch and look for the loose wire.

Col

Thanks Col, that doesn't sound too complicated even for me then! Is it strange the the engine would turn over still?

Starter is independent of ign circuit, yes they are operted by the same switch but after that they are separate. check for bad earths and bad connections and also a short in the indicator switch. Is possible that a combination of all three could cause it to stop if the stalk shorts but not blow the fuse.

Thanks Rob I will try and trace it. I have ordered a new stalk or starters

Check for wiring bodges while your at it...not unheard of on an old Landy...who do I know!! guess...lol

Hi all I have had a good look around removing the lower fascia and added the new stalk which has sorted the headlight problem. I think that I have also identified the reason why it stopped unexpectedly, I think that the ignition switch has gone. When I jiggle the wires coming out the back the spade connections lift slightly and the dash lights go out. Now I am having real issues trying to find a replacement switch. I have a v late petrol 1984 series 3 with wheel lock. The part number I think is 579085 - Lucas Switch Ignition Petrol Series 3 90/110 up to Vin FA415402 1989 Model Year. and 200TDI (johncraddockltd.co.uk) But it looks like LR039638 - Ignition Switch 90/110 Petrol from FA415403 and All Diesel 1994 on (johncraddockltd.co.uk) ie 5 spades not 7? Can anyone decipher which part I need! Thanks again everyone for your help.

Beware the defender ones may be larger PRC3725 is not suitable ie larger diameter than series version.
I bought this one for my s1972 series 3 from PA Blanchards.
Lucas Switch Ignition Petrol Series 3 90/110 up to Vin FA415402 1989 Model Year & 200TDI 579085 1 £29.50

Blackburn thank you as always for your knowledgeable reply. Just to be clear 579085 is the smaller one, ie the one that I want to get?! Also given there are more spades is it clear which wire goes where? thanks

Yes if your engine is petrol. Mind Craddocks do not have the best reputation for delivery at the moment.Often take your money then notify not in stock.
Blanchards price is actually cheaper
https://pablanchard.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=579085
New switch should have same numbaers as your old one may be more connectors on some points but quite obvious.

Fantastic thank you I will order now

Be aware that some of the modern repro stalks are poor quality.

The plastic mounting bracket that held one I fitted to the column cracked across one of the screw holes. Looking closely at it there was an air bubble in the moulding where it broke. This was too late to be able to return it as a defective item.

Right out of the box I also had to take the horn button apart and slightly modify it to make it work.

Just in case anyone is coming along behind and finds this useful. Blackburn was of course right 579085 is the correct ignition switch and it does have the same numbers as the old one although the old ones were very hard to read. I think I am all sorted now. What a ridiculous number of wires squashed into a tiny space, refitting the shroud and lower fascia is a real fiddle...

Webley1991 said:

Be aware that some of the modern repro stalks are poor quality.

The plastic mounting bracket that held one I fitted to the column cracked across one of the screw holes. Looking closely at it there was an air bubble in the moulding where it broke. This was too late to be able to return it as a defective item.

Right out of the box I also had to take the horn button apart and slightly modify it to make it work.

Click to expand...

Thanks, it is branded First Four and seems ok but I will follow up if breaks!