Relay clicking when pressing the brake pedal

[childofthewind]

Good evening! The adventures continue...

So, after much researching and googling and not finding much, I come to you.

What would create a hazard light relay clicking sound when I press the brake pedal? It doesn't happen all of the time but more recently, as of late. And just today I thought to take off the fuse panel cover and try to feel where the clicking is coming from and sure enough it's coming from the turn signal/emergency flasher relay.

WHY?? And does it even matter??! My brake lights/turn signal/emergency flashers all seem to work just fine.

THANKS!
_________________
1987.5 wolfsburg hardtop; 2.1

“As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote." - Melville

[0to60in6min]

do you have cruise control?

[dhaavers]

WAGOTD*: Worn brake switch wiring shorting across worn hazard switch wiring...???

*(Wild @ss Guess Of The Day)

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[childofthewind]

[dhaavers]

^^^ Just for starters/giggles, pull the instrument cover & check closely for any
loose/worn wiring leading to/from the hazard switch & brake pressure switches
(below brake fluid reservoir, left side of master cylinder).

Might also need to look from below down to fuse panel...last resort pull the dash...???

Certainly not speaking as a guru here, just an idea to start the investigation...

- Dave

OTOH, I suppose it could also be a short in wiring to brake lights/rear turn signals...???
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[jmranger]

[Chainsaw]

Some relays are just noisy/get noisy. If its a new issue they relay could be giving its death rattle.

Beyond that Im new to van specific wiring so I dont know which relay runs the brake lights.
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89 Westy. 2wd. Manual.

[atomatom]

there is no relay for the brake lights. heck, vw didn't even put relays in for the headlights (and you should).

i second the suspicion of dodgy grounds. clean the star cluster above the fuse block. it isn't easy to get to though. :/

from https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=490745

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84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada.

[djkeev]

The brake lights don't utilize a relay. But the bulbs share ground wires with the turn signals......the turn signals do use a relay for flashing and 4way.
When a ground gets corroded, loose or dirty, electricity will seek a path to ground in often unconventional ways.

Not only clean the ground trees above the fuse panel but open the engine cover and look below / to the right of the ignition coil on the left side.
There are several grounds screwed to the body here. Some of these grounds are for the rear lighting.

Know this, when VW's have ground issues, really unexplainable and head scratching symptons occur.
As a direct result of battling these strange symptons for decades, I've kearned to just go clean the grounds or get a meter and trace the bad ground.

Dave
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[bluebus86]

[pablum]

Since usually it is myself, I always suspect the mechanic/observer:

There are switches (two) on the brake; could you be hearing those and misconstruing the source?
_________________
The wise man learns from history, the fool from experience.
-
I see [a cat] in the street and i aim for the pest with my car. -- bluebus86

[childofthewind]

[djkeev]

[tencentlife]

You're not crazy, Luka, my '86 has done this for years and it's exactly as you described, when you push the brake pedal the flasher relay chatters erratically, but it only happens from time to time. The sound is without a doubt the flasher relay, you can feel it chatter (when you can catch it in the act), and it goes away if the relay is removed, comes right back when it's put back.

I studied the skiz but couldn't come up with a theory. There is no back-fed power because all circuits from the flasher relay to the turn signals are open, in fact in two separate places, within the turn signal stalk switch and within the emergency flasher switch. There's simply no way for current directed to the brake light bulbs to back-feed to the flasher because there is only a circuit when the turn signal switch or the emergency flasher switch are closed.

It's the strangest thing.
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.

[jmranger]

Oops... Seems that I was misleading... again. Sorry.

In case it's of interest, documentation of the flasher relay exists:
http://www.netlink.net/mp/volks/htm/3-term.htm
http://www.netlink.net/mp/volks/htm/signals.htm

[dschaftlein]

I'm having the same problem and can't seem to find a solution.

I have an 88 vanagon and this is what I've noticed:

-Flasher relay clicks when brake is applied and brake lights light are lit (i can feel the turn signal relay clicking)

-the relay does not click if I have the headlights on. but still clicks when running lights are on.

I've cleaned ground trees behind fuse panel and grounds in engine bay.

did anyone find a solution to the issue?

Danny

[dougass]

Automatic? Wiggle the shifter, if the neutral safety switch is out of alignment, it could cause clicking. I know it's not a perfect fit to your description, but worth a shot.

**Bonus Security Feature**
Mis-align the neutral safety switch just slightly so that the car will not start without a little pressure on the gear selector. I stumbled on this out of neglect and I dont care to bring it back to proper adjustment!
_________________
'91 GL - 2.1 automatic named Klaus for weekend adventures.

#klausvan & @thisisklausvan

[IdahoDoug]

I've got the same issue. It's often a buzz and not just a click. I pulled the cover off while driving one day and put my hand down in the dash on various components. I'll have to check my notes, but I believe I fixed this with a new relay. Don't quote me yet.
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[dschaftlein]

[dschaftlein]

Changed out the relay, and problem solved!