78 ignition relay???

[grantf]

having a hell of a time getting my turn signals to work, after about 2 hours of exploring I found no power to the flashers on the fuse panel (both sides of the fuse). so I jumped a wire from the pos on the battery to the back of the fuse panel and bingo they worked. so I follow the line from the fuse panel and I believe it connects to the ignition relay, does this sound correct?

if it's a bad relay, there seems no place to buy them, the catalogs I've seen only have them for zx's:ermm:

[grantf]

has anyone seen the relay I mentioned on a 78???

also having a problem with my head lamps not working (the same jumping method mentioned above worked).

[sblake01]

The turn signals are tied in to the ignition relay but the headlights aren't. There's a fusible link that feeds them. There are other things in both circuits that could cause them not to work. Do you have an FSM? If not, download one here and look in Section BE (Body Electrical) section.

[Kiwi ZX+Zed]

I am also having trouble with the same relay.

Mine buzzes in the ACC position,at the same time the rev counter spikes to 2g,and my power windows dont work while the key is in that position.

For a new relay from japan is around $120 (nz) about $80 US id say.

It almost sounds like the lights buzzer when I turn the key to the ACC position,but once the car is running,everything seems fine...its got me stumped.??

[grantf]

The turn signals are tied in to the ignition relay but the headlights aren't. There's a fusible link that feeds them. There are other things in both circuits that could cause them not to work. Do you have an FSM? If not, download one here and look in Section BE (Body Electrical) section.

yes I have the 78 fsm, I printed both circuits (lights and signals) and have them on hand during diagnoses.I would not post a question to this board before looking things over myself, I was hoping for others with more experience to perhaps point out a common solution. So another question is the ignition relay testable? and is it available?

[grantf]

sorry I know this might be vague but what is the possibility of the combination switch being the nature of the problem?

[sblake01]

I didn't make any assumptions. I simply asked if you had a FSM and gave you a source in the event that you didn't. Common solution to what? The ignition relay isn't common to both circuits and you're talking about two problems. The combination switch could be at fault since it controls both but you'd have to test it. Any relay can be tested if you know it's setup, i.e. where the ground, input, and output are. There are tests in the FSM for the fuel system related relays but I've not seen one for the ignition relay and haven't had cause to look for one because, quite frankly, in all my years of dealing with these cars, I've not had one go bad. I do have a couple of serviceable spares which I tested by plugging them into the car but I not sure if that's the cause of your problems. And to Kiwi ZX+Zed; try opening up that relay and spraying it with contact spray, something like DeOxit or LPS, that buzzing will likely disappear.

[grantf]

I understand that the relay in no way is incorporated into the head light circuit. as my car is 60 miles away and I need to get these working before i drive it home I plan on temporarily wiring the lights turn signals and wipers to switches and bypassing the combo switch. As I need to remove the dash board in order to repair or replace it, it would then be a good time to systematically go through the wiring, it has been severely butchered by the previous owner. I think I know how to test the relay.

Edited October 1, 2008 by grantf

[Kiwi ZX+Zed]

and your findings are??

[grantf]

finally got the headlights and running lights working, it was corroded contacts in the combination switch! now ont to the turn signals.