Hazard light switch malfunction

[notsofast]

The hazard light switch on my M49 has recently started acting like this:  I push it in, the hazard lights flash. I press it again and release it, but the lights continue flashing.  I push it in again, and now the lights stop flashing. Then I press it again to release it and get back to the start.
Another abnormality is that when I push the switch in, it feels like it stays pushed in too far, and I sometimes have to press it more than once to get it to release.
Simple fault to rectify?

[Kieron G]

Quick spray in gap between housing and button on switch with maintenance spray might free it off if it's sticking

[notsofast]

Thanks, I'll give that a go. Does maintenance spray mean something specific for electrics (e.g. like this: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine...21335.html ), or just something general like WD-40?

[Kieron G]

Just wd40 or similar I would try

[notsofast]

WD40 has made it easier to get the switch/button to release, though the other behaviour is unchanged - i.e. the on/off function only operates when pushing the switch in, and it feels like it pushes in too far.  I can't see how to remove the switch/button, but am guessing it might not be an expensive job if I just let the garage look at it when it goes in for its MOT in a couple of months (I'm guessing it's probably an MOT fail anyway)?

[Sol]

WD40 is an oil and insulates contacts, use electrical spray on anything electrical. never WD40. it stops things working if it gets onto the switch contacts.

Back in the day you could spray it into the HT cap to stop arcing, but spray the points and the car was going nowhere.

[notsofast]

Thanks Zion.  I popped into Halfords earlier and picked up some electrical contacts spray. When I got home, I tried the hazard button again and this time it's working normally!  So even though the WD40 was perhaps not the best thing from an electrical contact point of view, it seems to have fixed the sticking switch/button, and cleared up the fault.  In my usual cautious way I only sprayed a small amount of WD40, so hopefully there's not enough in there to creep around inside and find the contacts.

Incidentally, I read in a post you made on another thread that AA members can get 10% off at Halfords (something I hadn't been aware of before, but yes I checked some of my AA blurb and there it was) but at the Halfords till they said they couldn't give a discount if I just show my AA card, they said it only applies if I've downloaded an AA app that shows a barcode - is that true or were they giving me BS?

[Sol]

Yes, you need to download a PDF barcode from the AA app (or your online account), then save it somewhere on your phone where you can access it or print it on paper (I keep mine in Google drive in a folder called AA lol) so that it's quick to get to in the shop, open it while walking round so it's to hand and zoom or turn the phone sideways so they can read it. Most times their scanner can't scan the barcode so they have to read the number by hand.

I enjoy that, as it makes them annoyed. They always ALWAYS give me attitude and push the Halfords version of motoring club, which is absolutely crap, but have to take the AA code.

It knocks 10% off every item on the till just by entering that code as if it were an item itself.

[notsofast]

My phone is an antiquated 'builders phone' and very basic with no internet set up, so I'll have to go down the desktop/print route.  Shame I didn't know about this before - I've been with the AA for over 10 years!

[Sol]

Excellent, so in your online account, find the Halfords 10% discount voucher, it lasts for months then the AA issue you a new one (this lasts for ever as far as I can see) and print it, laminate only the barcode if you can and stick it in your wallet. Or the whole page! I think a new one is generated each year. I've only been with the AA since Jan 22 so never knew about it till then. I've saved a fortune in Halfords.