Turn Signal Help |
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p66monza
Member Joined: 31 July 2019 Location: PA Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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Posted: 19 Oct. 2021 at 1:15pm |
I finally installed working rear lights and turn signals over the weekend. The Jeep has been converted to 12v and I ran the power to the ignition switch. The issue I'm having is when the key is turned to the on position, but the Jeep is not running the signals work fine. Once I start the Jeep and turn the signals on they just pulse very fast and do not actually blink. The flasher relay makes a grrrr sound instead of clicking.
My question is, do I have a bad flasher relay out of the box, or did I mess up the wiring somewhere. Thanks for any help! Paul |
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Bruce W
Member Joined: 29 July 2005 Location: Northeast Colorado Status: Online Points: 9611 |
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I wouldn’t say you have a bad flasher, I think I’d say you have the wrong flasher. Maybe it’s a six volt flasher? There are more than one version of the twelve volt flasher, depending on how many bulbs they control or what model of bulbs. Seems like I remember a heavy duty twelve volt flasher that covered them all.
BW
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It is NOT a Jeep Willys! It is a Willys jeep.
Happy Trails! Good-bye, Good Luck, and May the Good Lord Take a Likin' to You! We Have Miles to Jeep, Before We Sleep. |
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Ron D
Member Joined: 27 Oct. 2019 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 1403 |
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Works good on 12v battery power. Start the motor and they don't work. I don't see how you could've messed up the wiring. Double check all connections to be certain nothing loose or corroded, including grounds. What could possibly change between the two operating conditions? Are you running a ballast resistor for the coil or not? Do you own a voltmeter?
Edited by Ron D - 19 Oct. 2021 at 6:44pm |
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1951 M38
1951 M100 |
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Oldpappy
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 4816 |
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What else do you have connected to that terminal on the switch?
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If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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oldtime
Member Joined: 12 Sep. 2009 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 4140 |
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Along with extras like heater, radio etc. |
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Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
T98-A Rock Crawler using exclusive factory parts and Approved Special Equipment from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963) Zero aftermarket parts |
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Oldpappy
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 4816 |
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Of course Ken is right, but which terminal was not clear in the original post.
Something changes when the engine is started, which is why I asked the question of what else is on the terminal.
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If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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AKoller
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 19 Sep. 2018 Location: Moundridge Kans Status: Offline Points: 647 |
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Are you running standard bulbs? If you have installed LED bulbs you will have to run a inline resistor to get the flasher to work correctly.
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1950 CJ3A "Thumper"
1966 M151 A1 1942 GPW #70221 |
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p66monza
Member Joined: 31 July 2019 Location: PA Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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I am running a ballast resistor to the coil and have standard dual filament bulbs. I did have them wired to the acc terminal.
Last night I bypassed the ignition and wired them directly to the battery and got the same results. Not running they worked fine. Engine running, they were flashing erratically and pulsing. I also noticed not running the relay made the normal clicking sound. Engine running it made more of a solid buzzing/grinding sound.
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Bruce W
Member Joined: 29 July 2005 Location: Northeast Colorado Status: Online Points: 9611 |
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The flasher is not a relay, but a switch. It has a pair of contact points and a bi-metallic strip. As the strip heats up it opens the points, when it cools, it closes them. More voltage means more heat, faster. When the engine is running and the alternator is working, voltage is higher.
BW
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It is NOT a Jeep Willys! It is a Willys jeep.
Happy Trails! Good-bye, Good Luck, and May the Good Lord Take a Likin' to You! We Have Miles to Jeep, Before We Sleep. |
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Ron D
Member Joined: 27 Oct. 2019 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 1403 |
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I was originally thinking he somehow hooked up power to the little side (maybe 8V) of the ballast resistor and low voltage explains the faulty flashing. But now that he hooked to the battery both with and without the engine running it can't be that. I'm back to thinking defective flasher. A voltmeter would help narrow it down. I'd expect that any quality 12V flasher would operate on straight battery power and/or alternator power (12-14V) equally reliably. Provided everything else is correct and doing it's part. It's hard to troubleshoot electrical stuff from so far away.
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1951 M38
1951 M100 |
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Bob W
Member Sponsor Member x 4 Joined: 08 Aug. 2005 Location: Monticello, NY Status: Offline Points: 1689 |
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I had a similar problem with a flasher designed to be used with LED bulbs. This was on a CJ-3A with a stock 6 volt generator. I think the electrical "noise" of the charging system was causing the issue. An electrolytic capacitor between the power and ground terminals of the flasher solved the problem.
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oldtime
Member Joined: 12 Sep. 2009 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 4140 |
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I suggest you find you a NOS Tung-Sol flasher.
IMHO it’s simply the best flasher you can get. Use a 550 for three prong system or a 552 for two prong system.
Edited by oldtime - 20 Oct. 2021 at 8:34pm |
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Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
T98-A Rock Crawler using exclusive factory parts and Approved Special Equipment from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963) Zero aftermarket parts |
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p66monza
Member Joined: 31 July 2019 Location: PA Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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Thank you all for your help.
It was the flasher. I stopped at NAPA on my way home last night and bought their "heavy duty" flasher. The turn signals now work great. I will keep a lookout for one the NOS Tung-Sol flashers. Thanks again for everyone's help and advise!
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dasvis
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 07 Sep. 2019 Location: Salem, Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1518 |
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I wasted two weeks of my time messing with three different non-working Chinese NAPA 550 flashers until I got smart & ordered a vintage USA made Tung-Sol off of ebay. Works perfectly.
Edited by dasvis - 23 Dec. 2021 at 8:27pm |
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1947 CJ2A #88659 "Rat Patrol"
1953 CJ3A #453-GB1 11266 "Black Beauty" 1964 Thunderbird convertible ..... & one of them moves under it's own power!! |
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