How to test a flasher?

[Ed]

Anyone have an idea of how to test a turn signal flasher to see if it's working properly? I just bought a brand new flasher. When I installed it the turn signals stay on and don't flash. I tried testing it like this: first I connected a wire to the negative terminal on a battery, the other end of the wire went to the flasher, from the other terminal on the flasher a wire went to a light bulb then to the positive terminal on the battery. The light just stayed on, no flashing.

[ChrisA]

Hi Ed,

Using a Grote 44530 flasher, I hooked the positive side of a 12 volt battery to one of the leads on a test bulb. The other bulb lead went to the X terminal on the flasher. Then a wire from the L terminal on the flasher goes to the negative side of the battery. The lamp flashed. Hopefully your flasher is marked like mine was. I can only assume this would work for you.

Good luck,

Chris

[First Gen Z]

Plug it into your other car that you know has working flashers.

[loy]

u could plug in the emergency signal harness

[Ed]

Hmmm, I tried the same set-up on Chris' diagram. The light bulb just dims about 50%. It's a brand new flasher but I'm taking it back.

[ZSaint]

I think the Datsun flasher is very simple and inexpensive. I remember having a 82 Honda that needed a flasher. I go into the Honda dealer and ask for a flasher. He returns and I go to pay the bill and the lady says, "$36.90". I say "WHAT? How can a Honda flasher be so much money?" I go back to the parts guy and he tells me it is a computer. A COMPUTER! "I say thank you but no thanks!" I go out to the 'yard' and find one and pay $4 for it. The yards people do not know these things are computers, thank you lord! Let hear it for the old cheap Datsun flasher!

[deadflo]

Has anyone had trouble finding the standard 240 Z flasher? I had to order one from the local Shucks. They say it should be a Beck Arnley part, but the warehouse sent em something else, that did not fit ( prong holes were at right angles, not paralell) There is no listing for one in the MSA catalog.

[MikeW]

They say it should be a Beck Arnley part, but the warehouse sent em something else, that did not fit ( prong holes were at right angles, not paralell)

The lugs on my flasher are at right angles as well but it doesn't matter. It doesn't plug into a socket; there are just two wires with female space connectors that attach to the flasher itself.

[Ed]

What's the difference between a thermal flasher and an electronic flasher?

[loy]

electronic is chip controlled and thermal flasher is where theres a coil in side that heats up then contracts cause it to flash.

[Bambikiller240]

electronic is chip controlled and thermal flasher is where theres a coil in side that heats up then contracts cause it to flash.

Do you know if they are interchangable? or ? ? ? ?

[loy]

I did a little search on google and it says u can switch from thermal to eletronic. Where electronic is compatible with old and new systems as thermal is only for old