Mako72

Last year before leaving for the Power Tour, I had problems with my turn signals not working. I replaced the original OEM blue turn signal flasher (located behind the passenger dash on my '72) with a NAPA 552 which is supposed to be correct for my year. The turn signals then started working again. However there was no clicking sound as they flashed but at least I had turn signals for my road trip. Today thinking the flasher unit from last year was bad, replaced it with another NAPA 552 only to get the same results. I have turn signals but no clicking sound as they flash. My question is: Isn't the clicking sound also supposed to come from the thermal flasher unit itself as well? Here's a pic of the original blue thermal flasher and the NAPA 552. Thanks

Shark Racer

Yes, the flasher should be making the clicking noise...

augiedoggy

Do both the solid state relays and the original ones make the clicking noise? Is it possible you bought one of the newer solid state electric relays? That's what I bought since they are much more reliable and honestly I never paid much attention to how much noise it makes. I believe the clicking was originally a side effect of the metal contact "clicking" as it actuated from the heat.

Mako72

Thanks for the replies:

[QUOTE=Yes, the flasher should be making the clicking noise...]

Good, as this is what I thought also. Just wanted to verify there wasn't another item that made the noise.


I wondered the same thing but the NAPA 552 is labeled as being thermal. To be sure, I just took one of them apart and they appear to be thermal and not solid state (see pic below). So I would assume they would make the clicking sound as did the original OEM one. I may have ended up with 2 defective flashers?

Anyone have any experience with replacing the turn signal flashers with another brand?

7T1vette

Well.... They're likely made in China.... by the 'lowest bidder'...

It could be a design problem; or it could be just a manufacturing goof, that allows some to 'click' and others to not click. You could test that out by hooking up that flasher with a 9 volt battery and a spare blub (while you have it apart) to see how the mechanism actuates and determine why it won't click. You may even be able to "tweak" it into submission so that it will provide you with an audible signal that the flasher is working.

Shark Racer

I have one of the heavy duty turn signal flashers and it's VERY quiet. You've checked with the motor and radio off to verify there's no noise?

noonie

I replace them with an "electro mechanical" flasher.
Around 10 bucks, but well worth it.
Besides hearing it, the biggest advantage is that if any bulbs burn out, then it still flashes the same rate AND the burnt out bulb just doesn't work, all the others still work properly. With thermal oem flashers, the all the bulbs can act funky and make it hard to find the bad bulb. It still works properly with only one bulb working.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...fier=6413_0_0_

Mako72

Quote: Well.... They're likely made in China.... by the 'lowest bidder'...Quote

I agree, and they're both stamped Made in China. I'll try the 9V deal and see what happens.

Quote: I have one of the heavy duty turn signal flashers and it's VERY quiet. You've checked with the motor and radio off to verify there's no noise? Quote

I pulled the passenger side panel, put the turn signal on and felt both NAPA units. You could feel them both doing their mechanical thing to flash the turn signals but no sound. I remember being able to hear the original OEM thermal flasher.

Quote: I replace them with an "electro mechanical" flasher.
Around 10 bucks, but well worth it.
Besides hearing it, the biggest advantage is that if any bulbs burn out, then it still flashes the same rate AND the burnt out bulb just doesn't work, all the others still work properly. With thermal oem flashers, the all the bulbs can act funky and make it hard to find the bad bulb. It still works properly with only one bulb working. Quote

I will try one of these electro-mech units. Hopefully they will make the clicking noise when the turn signals are engaged. I think the NAPA units are designed to work the flashers but make no noise. At 3 dollars apiece, that would be asking too much.....

augiedoggy

Funny story about the c3 flasher.... It was one of the reasons I got the car so cheap...the guy said the flasher hadn't worked in a year despite him changing the flasher twice... I quickly realised he was changing the hazard flasher on the drivers side and the turn signal flasher looked original.... between that and the radio shack siren wired up with a lamp cord and doorbell switch because he lost the metal ring in the horn button I could tell the PO wasn't very handy.

Shark Racer

That's what I'm using; it's been in my car for over 10 years and works great.

Mako72

Good to hear that this one makes an audible noise as it flashes.

mrmagrath

So why do my indicators flash really fast with no sound for a few seconds, before slowing down and clicking in an appropriate way?

Shark Racer

Sounds like you might have a bad connection or dying bulb somewhere. (at least the really fast part)

70LQ4

Is the flasher solidly mounted in the bracket , or just hanging by the wires ? It must be mounted in the bracket for it to click properly. Stan.

Belgian1979vette

Even my Original doesn't click. Additionally to that, the light on my dash works for the right turn signals but not for the lefts ...

7T1vette

{Burnt out bulb in the dash...}

mrmagrath

Ah, that makes sense. Found I have a rear marker bulb out.

Belgian1979vette

Stupid me... but it's going to be a damn hassle to take the cluster out again.

Shark Racer

You don't have to take the entire cluster out to replace those bulbs, just the lens and bezel.

UNLESS the socket is bad... that's what happened to the left T/S in my 78. Good luck! Test the bulb with a 9V or other source while you have it out. If it lights up, you have a bad socket.

When I pick up new sockets from the store I bring a 9v with me, I've had multiple "new" sockets test bad...

ezobens

If the flasher isn't in it's holder, you won't hear it (especially with the engine running) since the holder is used as a 'sounding board' to make the click more audible.

Now my question is:
If the flasher is functioning normally otherwise, who cares if you can hear it click? I always found it a bit annoying personally..