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[swiss]

Hi, apologies if this has been covered before, I couldn't find the issue from the search function.

My main beams have developed a flickering issue. When I have my lights on of an evening, the main beams will flicker as if on a hair trigger. About 90% of the time this happens when the indicator stalk has self-cancelled, but it can also be brought on by bumping over Southampton's excuses-for-roads. The indicator 'method' can usually be avoided by manually re-setting the stalk position (but not always).

Once on - sometimes solid, sometimes flickering - the beams cannot always be cancelled easily, requiring much swearing and jiggling of the stalk, confusing the drivers in front of me and upsetting the local constabulary.

The stalk has been replaced (with a scrappy job, not a new part), no change to the problem. I can't see any lose connections in the steering column. Can anyone suggest what I might look at next?

And while I'm here, can anyone please suggest which Haynes manual would be appropriate for a '97 2.5TD?

Many thanks peeps

[Broomies Mate]

A chattering Relay?

[swiss]

I wondered about the relay, since AFAIK it's the only other component with mechanical bits other than the stalk.

May I ask where the offending relay might be located?

[Proz]

Anyone near you with a known good stalk instead of a scrappy job 

[swiss]

No-one that I know...

How about this or this?

[Proz]

Personally i would buy new and from Vx ... i just got the very same stalk for around £40

[Broomies Mate]

Where in the world are you Swiss?  If you are local to me (Bristol) you can pop round and grab a known good stalk!

[swiss]

Southampton, I appreciate the offer but I doubt I'd get wifely permission for a trip like that

[Broomies Mate]

Southampton, I appreciate the offer but I doubt I'd get wifely permission for a trip like that

Add some more info to your profile.  You never know, there may be a member local to you who has a stalk they want a couple of pints for. 

[Kneepad]

And while I'm here, can anyone please suggest which Haynes manual would be appropriate for a '97 2.5TD?

There is none for the diesel Omega. The petrol one will give you most of what you need.
There is also a link on here somewhere for a PDF which will give you the maual for the BMW engine. If I can find it I'll post it for you.

[Kneepad]

http://images.omegaowners.com/documents/25TD/M51D25_Engine.pdf   

[swiss]

Right yes, I have the PDF from doing the water pump last year... thanks for the tip mind, and I'll see about picking up a Haynes from ebay... only things like wiring and trim that I'm worried about, the generic stuff.

[albitz]

Definetly the stalk. Its quite a common issue. Iirc I got one from ebay which was fine. Although I seem to remember some people having issues with pattern stalks. Might be best to buy genuine, or if money is tight, contact one of the breakers on here for a known good one.

[swiss]

Right, so it's spent the day at an auto sparky's shop and the stalk has been condemned. This is a good thing since, having been through two replacement stalks with no improvement, the wife decided my initial assessment of a bad stalk was wrong - wrong to the point that she did the "I told you so" dance.

Interestingly, the sparky also condemned the headlight switch. I didn't have any complaints about that one, yes it was kinda loose when it should perhaps have been nice and clicky, but it certainly worked.

Now, my mechanic is researching spares. In the mean time I've seen stalks ('tis the cruise control flavour I need) on Ebay for ~£23 or so. These are not, apparently, GM parts but do carry 12 month warranties. Can anyone comment on the suitability of these parts?

Many thanks for your advice thus far!