Turn Signal Lights ON but not Flashing

[MAX]

Hey Guys,

I'm confused about my turn signal lights. The front and rear turn signal lights (both left and right) will illuminate when I actuate the turn signal lever but they won't flash.....the left pair when the lever is down and the right pair when it is up....

However, all will flash as normal when I activate the hazard warning switch.

So I would think this proves the wiring to be OK.

I have replaced the turn signal flasher.

I have also removed the turn signal switch and cleaned it several times with contact cleaner. Prior to this cleaning effort the turn right hand turn signal lights wouldn't even come on..

So.....I'm guessing that I may have some corroded wiring connector someplace. I'm getting enough current to illuminate the lights but not enough to heat up the bi-metalic strip in the flasher. Does anyone know how much current draw it takes to cause the flasher to heat up enough to flex and break the contact......??

By the Way, I have a 1973 240Z.

Many thanks

[EScanlon]

The Hazard Flasher and the Turn Signal Flasher are two separate flashers. From your post it seems you're aware of that.

However, WHICH flasher did you replace? The one at the passenger's kick panel, or the one on the driver's side close to the pedals? (This is presuming that your 73 has the Bus on the Passenger Kick Panel, and not the earlier bundle of wiring there.)

Simple check, replace the OTHER flasher unit and see if that fixes the problem.

2¢

E

[MAX]

Thanks for your reply Escanlon.....

I replaced the flasher on the driver's side near the pedals.

I'm sure that is the one that controls the turn signal lights.

I removed the flasher unit and put my VOM (ammeter) between the green and white wire. My Digital VOM is fused at 2 amps and it the fuse blew out ....so I would assume that two turn signal bulbs (front and back) draw more than 2 amps. But this does not seem to be enough to activate the flasher....

And by the way.....my Z has a bundle of wire above the kick panel on the passenger side....To tell you the truth, I'm not sure where the hazard flasher is on that side......

[EScanlon]

Green and White ARE the two wires to the Turn Signal Flasher. That settles that.

The Hazard has a Blue/White and Green with a white band on the end by the connector (if the 73 schematic I'm looking at applies properly to your car). And if memory serves should be mounted on the kick panel.

With the Turn Signal Switch in the center off position, check for voltage between the two wires going to the T/S Flasher. If you do show a voltage, it shows that you have a short to ground between the flasher and the turn signal switch. The turn signal switch basically switches grounds to select which circuit to activate.

Give the Hazard Switch a check also, as the Hazard Sw receives all of the wiring for the turn signals and the stop circuit through it as well.

Hope this helps.

Enrique

[Maddos]

I know it's not directly related to topic but has the hazard relay have a history of going "bad"? ie when switch on hazards relay clicks very fast (all indicators work correctly). I've pulled mine apart and they have a large electrolytic capacitor 1000u Farad 16 volt. As a tech I know that these have a habit of "drying out" the electrolyte and then killing the time constant set up by the associated resistor and coil. But anyway my question is has anyone had this problem before and fixed by just replacing capacitor? Or are replacement hazard flasher relays common and cheap and therefore not worth the trouble of fixing. Just another note, I pulled the flasher relay from my parts car and seems to display same symptoms ( was hooking up to external power supply to ensure car wiring wasn't causing fault as seemed like a coincidence).

[MAX]

Thanks for your help Escanlon.

Well, I got the turn signal lights working today. I got tired of messing around with those thermal type flasher units so I went over to Checker Auto Parts store and got an electronic flasher module. It is a model EL12 and made by Tridon Stant, a Tricor company. It has two terminals in the same exact configuration as the OEM one and it connects directly to the connector with the Green and White wires. However, there is no bracket on it to attach it as with the OEM one. So I just took an old flasher can and removed the junk inside and fitted the new one into the top rim of the old can. It seems to fit pretty snuggly.

But anyway, the good news is......IT WORKS like a champ.

And by the way, Escanlon, I measured the voltage betwen each of the wires attached to the old OEM T/S flasher and ground and it was close to 12 volts. On my Z it appears that the white wire from the flasher connects to a green wire on the turn signal switch itself. Thus, the T/S switch switches 12 volts to the various lights when the lever is activated......

Thanks again

[Maddos]

Just to clear up my thoery on relay repair, don't bother. Got two new caps to replace and didn't help any. Found an electronic flasher like Max was talking aboutfloating around in my parts car. Now all good. One less thing for roadworthy:classic: