led flasher cause fire?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
led flasher cause fire?
Im assuming the led flasher are the culprit. I put in 2 of them, one under the passenger side dash and one in the fuse box which I grounded to a metal point. When I switched the ignition I saw a spark behind the gauge panel. Luckily I had the dash opened up and saw it right away and put it out, there was some damage to the two wires that go to the fuel gauge.
Prior to installing the relays I looked at all the wiring behind the dash and it looked totally fine.
The only change I made was the 2 relays, but could this cause an overload to the circuit?
Prior to installing the relays I looked at all the wiring behind the dash and it looked totally fine.
The only change I made was the 2 relays, but could this cause an overload to the circuit?
Last edited by titanle; Jul 28, 2018 at 07:35 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 729
Likes: 118
From: Kelowna British Columbia
What year car? Sounds like you changed the turn signal and emergency flashers. If they were the same in kind ie relay coils and flasher contacts as original it wouldn't cause an overload. If everything was OK prior to installation then you have the wrong flashers. If you had trouble before you started it could be a short was there.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Its a 68. I didn't experience this issue before. I installed LED bulbs for all the exterior but got the random long flash issue so I put LED compatible flashers in and thats when the problem occurred. When I had the old flashers it was fine as in there was no fire. The flashers 2 plug look identical to the factory ones, except the one for the hazards in the fuse box has a grounding cable which I grounded to a bare screw.
These are the ones I bought:
These are the ones I bought:
Last edited by titanle; Jul 28, 2018 at 09:31 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 729
Likes: 118
From: Kelowna British Columbia
I think the turn signal flasher should have been a TF552. not the one you bought. If you buy these flashers from a corvette shop ie Zip or Corvette Central I believe you will get the right ones or go to NAPA and bring your old flasher numbers and get replacements
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,878
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
LEDs are a great addition to these old Corvettes- IF you buy the quality stuff- I'd recommend going to superbriteled as they have the good stuff- not just some random junk from China.
LED's pull a lot less current- on average about 75% LESS, put out a lot less heat and not to mention brighter- which helps you being noticed more when somebody is paying more attention to their phone than driving.
The old wiring can certainly handle less current- the fixtures don't mind less heat and the LED's plug right in.
You took the dash apart and noticed the fuel gauge wires torched?
The circuit for the fuel gauge -pink wire- powers the directionals. Sound like the problem was the flasher(s)- can't open the link- But look for a "solid state" type flasher.
Richard
LED's pull a lot less current- on average about 75% LESS, put out a lot less heat and not to mention brighter- which helps you being noticed more when somebody is paying more attention to their phone than driving.
The old wiring can certainly handle less current- the fixtures don't mind less heat and the LED's plug right in.
You took the dash apart and noticed the fuel gauge wires torched?
The circuit for the fuel gauge -pink wire- powers the directionals. Sound like the problem was the flasher(s)- can't open the link- But look for a "solid state" type flasher.
Richard
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,518
From: Virginia
To both of the previous points, I believe there may be an issue with the side marker lights on some cars. The circuit may have been designed to function with current flow in both directions, something and LED cannot do. Perhaps that is related to your short.
Otherwise, LEDs everywhere! Superbrightleds are a good source.
Otherwise, LEDs everywhere! Superbrightleds are a good source.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
Did you purchase a flasher similar to this?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-FLASHER...item33ebc96971
Not sure about 68, but my 79 required the polarity reversing adapter - otherwise your ground wire may have provided a direct short?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-FLASHER...item33ebc96971
Not sure about 68, but my 79 required the polarity reversing adapter - otherwise your ground wire may have provided a direct short?
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
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sounds more like you shorted out the flasher to me.,
you cannot just randomly pick a metal point on a corvette and assume it is ground.
you cannot just randomly pick a metal point on a corvette and assume it is ground.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,878
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
