Front driver's side Indicator problem - help ?

[ajsl]

My car has recently started having a problem with the front driver's side indicator light. At first I thought it was a blown bulb (so I've ordered some spares), but today it started working again.. Hmm.

When the outside indicator isn't working the dash indicator light flashes about twice as fast as normal (i.e. what you'd expect if a bulb had blown), also the hazard lights and alarm arming flashes don't work either (on the front driver's side that is).

Everything works as normal now though..

Any ideas?

After looking around on the forums etc, I was thinking it might be the hazard/indicator relay but the fact that it's intermittent, localised to that one corner, and that all activity (indicator, hazard, alarm arming flash) stops seems to point to it being something else?

Lastly, what's the best way to change the bulb? I looks a pain in the ass to get to the fitting. Do I take the whole front light assembly out?

Any tips here would be much appreciated!

Cheers.

[S4PJH]

Hi

I had the same problem with mine, same side too! I took it to the dealers as I couldn’t figure how to get the headlamp out. It turned out to be the bulb holder the contacts were loose on the bulb. So they re-adjusted them and charged me a £10. Not too bad I thought and less hassle. I later seen somewhere on the internet that there is a screw that’s at the bottom of the light assembly which you access through a hole in the top of the wing as well as the two top ones to remove the headlamp. Not too sure as I took the easy option

[UKS4APR1]

Depends which model you've got. Facelift (later) S4's have one piece headlight assy. but earlier models have a seperate indicator unit which comes out on it's own (easy).

[Nige_RS4]

You can get access to the indicator on the drivers side without having to remove the headlight and/or sidelight. Remove the trunking to the airbox and you can 'just' get your hand in there. Turn the connector through 90 degress and it will pop our c/w bulb. Try cleaning the contacts and re-inserting it.

[ajsl]

Thanks all. I'll try that Nige.

I've got a mid year 2000 facelift S4 BTW.

[Dippy]

That'll just be a connection problem. I've had the same issue. Try to get your fingers into it and wiggle the connection - hopefully that might be enough to keep it working for now.

[ajsl]

I had a go at getting to the indicator yesterday... and in summary completely failed to get close to the damn thing.

There's no way I'm going to be able to get in via the engine bay even with the air box out of the way. It looks like it might perhaps be possible to go in via the wheel arch by taking the liner out, but I'm not sure on that. The easiest thing looks to be to take the headlight out.. Any tips on how to do that?

[Nige_RS4]

I had a go at getting to the indicator yesterday... and in summary completely failed to get close to the damn thing.

It is possible, I've changed my indicators on the drivers side just before xmas - I upgraded to silver bulbs - it is very tight, but possible.

[ajsl]

Given the tiny clearance, I'd need to bribe a small child to try as there's no way my hand is getting in there.

Any thoughts on taking the headlight out?

[Dippy]

Taking the unit out (single unit for facelift) is relatively easy, although I'd recommend having a magnetic drive extension for the 'recessed' bolt, otherwise it can be too easy to lose it! Getting the unit out requires a bit of wiggling to get it out of the bracket. Also make some temporary marks so that you can put it back in the same position.

[ajsl]

Dippy, thanks. Where is the recessed bolt, I had a look yesterday and it wasn't immediately obvious Though I figured it couldn't be too hard considering the amount of lights that get stolen in the US!

(As an aside it's times like this that I seriously consider getting a Bently CD, I just wish they had a paper copy, or a non DRM version!)

[Dippy]

Look for a hole near the wing - you'll need a torch.

[Blue_Thunder]

I'm also having a nightmare trying to change my passenger side front indicator bulb on my pre-facelift S4. Can anyone explain the best way to get at this one? I can see there appears to be a tiny bit of play on the seperate indicator unit, ie: you can slide it forward and back a tiny bit. Is there some kind of accessible clip to allow the whole unit to just pull out, or am I just as well off pulling the entire healdight assembly forward? The only recessed bolt I can see through a hole in the wing is a little white plastic screw. Surely this can't be what i'm looking for?

[MCB]

I'm also having a nightmare trying to change my passenger side front indicator bulb on my pre-facelift S4. Can anyone explain the best way to get at this one? I can see there appears to be a tiny bit of play on the seperate indicator unit, ie: you can slide it forward and back a tiny bit. Is there some kind of accessible clip to allow the whole unit to just pull out, or am I just as well off pulling the entire healdight assembly forward? The only recessed bolt I can see through a hole in the wing is a little white plastic screw. Surely this can't be what i'm looking for?

Removal of Corner Lamp

• Using a screwdriver, unlock the clip holding the corner light in place. This can be done using the screwdriver, the plastic, hinged clip can be removed by inserting the screwdriver through the access hole inside the hood lip, located just behind the corner lamp.
  
  After the hinged locking tab is opened, the plastic retaining tab can be depressed using the screwdriver.
  
  While holding this tab down, gently slide the corner lamp forward. The lamp should be fairly easy to remove, if there is a lot of resistance, the locking tab is not fully depressed. The lamp will now be hanging from the connected wires.
  
  If the corner lamp is being replaced, remove the lamp from the connecting wires by gently turning the harness inside the lamp.

Content courtesy of AW Tech section, always a good place to look.

[Blue_Thunder]

Thanks for that. Had a go when I got home early from work and it's a piece of p. For those as technically challenged as I am, here's a photo showing the 'clip'. Basically you need to turn the white phillips screw head 90 degrees, then you can push the whole thing down with a screwdriver.
The indicator unit then slides out, easy enough to push the whole thing from where the back touches the outer wing.