Turn signal flasher relay question.

[Scottjeffrey]

I have had my green blinker dash light on forever. Put in a new one today and it's fixed but not cheap. taking my old one apart again, I can find nothing wrong with it. While connected contact points moves as it should (dash light pulses when turn signal is on). Just wondering what might be wrong with it? all connections seem good. Thanks for your thoughts - Scott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Son of Marty]

Are you using standard bulbs or led's?

[Mike Self]

The following presupposes you have all incandescent bulbs in both outside and inside sockets...

 

If you look carefully at the flasher relay, there are actually two sets of points (or on some, three contact points--two fixed ones and a movable one in the middle.

 

When activated, the outside lights should flash in opposition to the dash light--i.e. outside lights on; inside light off, then the opposite.  If they're all going on simultaneously, there's something wrong with either the flasher or the wiring. 

 

With flasher relay connected and dangling down so you can see it, and the cover off, select a left or right turn signal and observe the center relay point (the movable one).  It should oscillate back and forth between the two fixed points, illuminating the outside, then the inside lights.  If the movable point isn't making good contact with either of the fixed points, either the inside or outside light isn't gonna work.  

 

One more thing....with the ignition off, turn on your emergency flashers and see if inside and outside lights function properly...

 

Let us know whatcha find...

 

mike

[Scottjeffrey]

1 hour ago, Son of Marty said:

Are you using standard bulbs or led's?

Standard bulbs. Thank you!

 

[Scottjeffrey]

2 minutes ago, Mike Self said:

The following presupposes you have all incandescent bulbs in both outside and inside sockets...

 

If you look carefully at the flasher relay, there are actually two sets of points (or on some, three contact points--two fixed ones and a movable one in the middle.

 

When activated, the outside lights should flash in opposition to the dash light--i.e. outside lights on; inside light off, then the opposite.  If they're all going on simultaneously, there's something wrong with either the flasher or the wiring. 

 

With flasher relay connected and dangling down so you can see it, and the cover off, select a left or right turn signal and observe the center relay point (the movable one).  It should oscillate back and forth between the two fixed points, illuminating the outside, then the inside lights.  If the movable point isn't making good contact with either of the fixed points, either the inside or outside light isn't gonna work.  

 

One more thing....with the ignition off, turn on your emergency flashers and see if inside and outside lights function properly...

 

Let us know whatcha find...

 

mike

Thanks, Mike. You know I read your posts on the subject as well as watching the video which looked different from mine. I am embarrassed to say that (inspecting my old one which has the problem of the dash blinker light staying on) I only see one set of contact points, rather than two or three. 

[M4202]

check the grounds on the bulb and the ground on the flasher .  also check connection ends they maybe bad . 

[M4202]

Also do a resistance test on the wires from the bulb wire to the end that connects to the end at the flasher . 

 

if the ohm test ( resistance ) is abnormally high . its grounding out some where and causing a issue . 

[John76]

Scott,

The capacitor is probably bad (dried up).

I replaced the capacitor in my seatbelt relay with one I found at RadioShack (remember them??).

Very expensive? NO, less than 25 CENTS !

Same capacitor applies to your turn signal relay. This makes the dash light charge and discharge (blink). Just look at the microfarads number on your relay and try to match as closely as you can.

 

 

[visionaut]

48 minutes ago, Scottjeffrey said:

I only see one set of contact points, rather than two or three.

Scott - I see 2 coils. A big one on the right, connected to your circled points (which have 2 contacts), but a wire also leads off to that second smaller coil (highlighted in blue) on the left. Perhaps there’s a smaller, less obvious second set of points connected to the little coil, or the dual contacts on your circled points provide the dash blink alternating with the marker lights?

 

Take a pic looking at the smaller coil from the side…

 

Did you clean both contacts on your circled points?

 

Edited April 11 by visionaut
Duh, add pic..

[Scottjeffrey]

14 minutes ago, visionaut said:

Scott - I see 2 coils. A big one on the right, connected to your circled points (which have 2 contacts), but a wire also leads off to that second smaller coil (highlighted in blue) on the left. Perhaps there’s a smaller, less obvious second set of points connected to the little coil, or the dual contacts on your circled points provide the dash blink alternating with the marker lights?

 

Take a pic looking at the smaller coil from the side…

 

Did you clean both contacts on your circled points?

 

I actually only cleaned one side of the moving arm's points. Looking forward to cleaning other side and trying it. I will search for a second set of points off the little coil. Thank you!

[bergie33]

Scott, I see two fixed points (see them circled in blue in the pic below), with the movable pivot in between.  This should move back and forth as Mike described, making contact with each fixed point. 

[Scottjeffrey]

1 hour ago, bergie33 said:

Scott, I see two fixed points (see them circled in blue in the pic below), with the movable pivot in between.  This should move back and forth as Mike described, making contact with each fixed point. 

Hi Karl and than you. Do you mean circled in blue in the pic ABOVE?

 

[bergie33]

1 minute ago, Scottjeffrey said:

Hi Karl and than you. Do you mean circled in blue in the pic ABOVE?

 

No, dummy me forgot to attach the pic

 

 

[Scottjeffrey]

13 hours ago, bergie33 said:

No, dummy me forgot to attach the pic

 

 

Thank you!!!