Turn signals won't work
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Turn signals won't work
Reason I'm on here is because I'm 16, and I'm buying my dad's 78. Turn signals won't work. He changed the blinker box a couple years ago, so it can't be that. They did work, but blinked slower and slower till they just turn on and don't blink. Think it might be the fuze. Any yall got ideas?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 651
Likes: 452
From: Napa, CA
A fuse wouldn’t cause what you’re experiencing. The relay (blinker box) is the likely culprit. I know you said your dad replaced it recently, but as the old expression goes, they don’t make em like they used to.
Ken
Ken
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
I agree--replace the flasher. They're cheap.
Sorry if this is painfully obvious but have you checked the bulbs? That flasher works by the heat of resistance. Thermal contacts heat and separate (turning off the lamps) then cool and connect (turning on the lamps). As bulbs burn out the flashing rate gets slower and slower because less current (and thus less heat) is in the flasher. If all the bulbs are burned out then, of course, you have no blinkers
I know they're popular but when replacing the blinker lamps do NOT use LEDs! They draw FAR less current than incandescent bulbs and will never blink--you have to either include resistors at each lamp or use a special electronic flasher module PLUS they won't be street legal because the fixtures are DOT approved ONLY for incandescent lamps. Modern cars with LED lamps have fixtures designed for LEDs. They are significantly different because incandescent lamps are nearly omnidirectional while LED lamps are nearly unidirectional.
Sorry if this is painfully obvious but have you checked the bulbs? That flasher works by the heat of resistance. Thermal contacts heat and separate (turning off the lamps) then cool and connect (turning on the lamps). As bulbs burn out the flashing rate gets slower and slower because less current (and thus less heat) is in the flasher. If all the bulbs are burned out then, of course, you have no blinkers
I know they're popular but when replacing the blinker lamps do NOT use LEDs! They draw FAR less current than incandescent bulbs and will never blink--you have to either include resistors at each lamp or use a special electronic flasher module PLUS they won't be street legal because the fixtures are DOT approved ONLY for incandescent lamps. Modern cars with LED lamps have fixtures designed for LEDs. They are significantly different because incandescent lamps are nearly omnidirectional while LED lamps are nearly unidirectional.
Last edited by SwampeastMike; Sep 21, 2019 at 05:47 PM. Reason: stupid mistake regarding uni- vs. omni-
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 486
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
My turn signals don't blink either if I have the emergency flasher button pushed in...soon as I pull it out they work. You may want to check that on your car. Previous owner installed an adjustable tilt steering wheel assembly and I suspect something might be miswired in there or I have a ground or open wire somewhere else in the system. Time to pull out the schematic and see where the circuit goes.
Redvette2
Redvette2
