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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:10 am Post subject: new blinker relay, new oddity, now new issues!!!! |
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So I'm doing a "driveabout" in the camper the last few days, logging over 1500 miles in 4 days, idea was to spend no more than 25% of my time on interstates, and eat at no franchise restaurants. Great fun!!
The Vanagon performed flawlessly, well almost. Somewhere in Texas, I lost a bumper end, I thnk to a tire tread. And then, somewhere near New Orleans, my turn signals stopped working. Hey, no problem, $12.95 later at an auto parts store I've got a new blinker relay, and I have turn signals again. What's new is, the indicator light in my dash works differently now. I'm talking about the little green light in the center idiot light stack of my instrument cluster.
Before, it just flashed brightly when the turn signals flashed, that's it. Otherwise, it was dark.
Now it flashes brightly with turn signals, same as before, but now it glows dimly all the time the ignition is on.
Anyone seen this before? Is this a problem, or is this how it's supposed to work? _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.
Last edited by hiram6 on Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:33 am Post subject: |
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Is the replacement round , as i replaced mine in my westy with the same end results,gonna leave for now and see if works ok otherwise. |
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm, the one that failed was round, and was a NAPA brand. The replacement is square, and came from Advance Auto. _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:33 am Post subject: |
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Perhaps the made in Bombay turn signal flasher you picked up at Advanced Auto has a sticking contact--not opening up / turning off all the way.
Stick another flasher in the Van and see what happens. _________________ T.K. |
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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Terry Kay wrote: |
Perhaps the made in Bombay turn signal flasher you picked up at Advanced Auto has a sticking contact--not opening up / turning off all the way.
Stick another flasher in the Van and see what happens. |
I will try another flasher, as i do suspect the new one is defective. Just a few hours ago, i noticed a new symptom, a faint buzzing, yep, it's the new flasher relay.
The other part of your answer I must contradict--New flasher made by Tridon Stant, manufactured in Springfield TN, in other words made right here in the USA. Yep, we can make crap here too.
Old flasher was manufactured by Echlin for NAPA, labeled on the bottom of the flasher as "made in Mexico" Until it gave up the ghost after who knows how many miles it worked perfectly. _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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HD Signal Stat is my flasher of choice.
Electronic HD flasher's are another excellent choice. _________________ T.K. |
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Latest update on this, and a new set of problems.
I sourced a "heavy duty flasher" relay from NAPA exactly like the one that had been working for years, put it in the correct slot, and hit the emergency flasher button to test it. Parking lights came on but no flash. Then POP, I blew the turn signal fuse, which is a new symptom. Replaced the fuse, testing the theory that it was just a weak fuse, immediately blew as soon as I hit the hazard button. Repeated tis test again using a new fuse, and the turn signal instead of the hazard button, and pooped the fuse again. So, it seems I have a short somewhere. Any advice on where to start looking first? I hate tracking down electrical problems!!!! _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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mr_vanagon Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005 Posts: 589 Location: Southern Illinois (GO SALUKIS)
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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Start by looking for crud in the front turn signal bulb holders. I've found trouble there in the past. Then check the rear bulb holders. _________________ '68 Autostick Bug Mom bought new
'89 Tintop Vanagon Dad bought new |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Then check out the front turn signal bulbs.
One of the turn signal filament's could have dropped onto the light circuit filament, and is shorting---OR make sure you have a dual filament bulb in the front bulb holder socket.
A single filament bulb in this location will blow fuses no matter what you do.
Just had a customer do this---
He orders a set of rear bright bulbs, sticks the back bulbs in the front bulb holder's --and bang, bang, bang.
Check the front bulbs out first, it's a simple discovery motion. _________________ T.K. |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Just started driving my syncro again and my left blinker not working then blew fuse,rt ok. Checked light housing and half full of water and a ugly bulb holder. Drilled a 1/16 hole in lowest part to drain any future seepage on both front signal assys, now to get a new bulb holder. |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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It could very well be the bulb holder too--
Something is shorting out in the TS/parking lamp circuit,, and it's just gonna be a process of elimination to locate it.
The front turn signal boots are a water holding area--
I goop the boots up with di-electric grease prior to shoving them onto the back end of the sockets.
This seems to ward off any moisture from getting in there.
If you need new sockets I have them, as well as one real nice used one--perfect. _________________ T.K. |
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