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Directional Signal Monitor Light


Mark D

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Got a question for the crowd as I just cant seem to figure out what's going on.  I've got what I think is an oem signal package in the car.  Mounted next to the temp control is a monitor light for the diectional signals.  The wire that feeds the bulb comes from the third leg of the blinker relay.  The light is well grounded and I've confirmed the bulb works. I've also tried three different relays to see if that was the reason the monitor was not illuminating when the blinker is activated.  A walk around the car proved all four corners are working as they should when activated.  BTW, There is no aftermarket four-way flasher device installed on the car. 

 

Photos attached of my signal device and relay.  Appreciate any pointers the crowd can offer. - Mark

 

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When you say relay are you talking about the flasher unit? Are you buying new ones? I have had horrible luck with new ones burning out the side that supplies the indicator. I finally started grabbing old ones at the junkyard and have been running one of those in the plymouth most of the summer. Check for power at all 3 spots of the plug. If you have power there and the light bulb lights up when you put power to that I would think its still the flasher.

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I stand corrected, flasher unit is the correct term. Yes, three brand new units, all wont get the indicator to light. Original that came with the car was a tung-sol, then I bought a supposed nos (ancient packaging), then a newer 9$ eBay version. All have given the same results. Not quite following your diagnosis directions. I assume one leg is power in, the other is switched out, and the last a echo leg? I'm a bit baffled with how this thing ought to work.

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Was wondering if the "power in" was attached to the correct leg.  That may affect how the flasher responds to being activated.  Diagram would tell you that or someone here with a similar unit may be able to provide it.

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For what it's worth, I relied almost exclusively on this webpage when I built my turn signal apparatus (because I wanted my parking lights to flash as turn signals without back-feeding to the brake lights, and I was too cheap to buy a fancy wiring kit):

 

http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/turn_signal_relay/turnsignalrelay.htm

 

It explains how the relays work and also illustrates the correct terminations on the flasher unit, in a way that even a civil engineer can understand.

 

i too have had some bad luck with "modern" 6V flasher units.  My old turn signal system used only one flasher, but fortunately I had salvaged that one and it's still doing well.

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Your picture shows that there are only three wires into the turn signal switch.  If the flasher is on the upstream (battery) side of the turn signal switch where it's always "hot".  The battery connects to the "X" terminal so that's always "hot".  The "L" terminal would then feed the wire up to the turn signal lever and on to the signal lights, and the "P" terminal is for the indicator light.

 

If the flasher is on the downstream (signal) side of the turn signal lever, then you'd have two different flashers, one right and one left.  The switch would feed power to the "X" terminal, "L" would feed to the exterior lights, and "P" would be for the left and right indicator lights (or have two wires running to one light).

 

If you jumper a wire from the battery to the wire feeding the light, does it light up?

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Flasher is upstream of the signal switch, X terminal is in deed fed from the hot terminal on the ignition switch. L feeds downstream to the Signal switch leg. P illuminates when a hot lead is fed to the terminal. Sitting in the garage at the moment, pulled the signal device to check the terminals are all contacting.

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Have you hooked a voltage meter up to the "P" terminal in lieu of the indicator bulb?  Or hooked the "P" lead directly to the "X" lead instead?  I'm starting to wonder if there might be an issue with the indicator lead or socket.

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Here's an old wiring diagram for a 7 wire unit.........I basically used this.   I have two pilot lights below the dash that I tapped

into the system at the flasher.  One for left and one for right.  They work OK.  Wish I had drawn a diagram when I wired

the thing up.  Is your unit a 7 wire or a 3 wire like original??  

 

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Another item..........turn signals and brake lights.  Don't know if it will help, but worth a shot........

 

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Maybe you could have just linked to the web site where you took that screen shot. . .  http://www.ply33.com/Repair/turnsignal

 

(Sorry I'm being grouchy about it. . .)

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So last night I replaced the socket where the blinker plugs in. X got the juice, L got the signal switch, still nothing on P. reversed X and L, same function no issues.... Still nothing on P. So I tried Greg's suggestion, and added a leg to the L lead. It got my monitor lit to blink, but the crazy thing is that it stays lit when the signals are not used. Go figure...

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Based on what I'm hearing so far, it still sounds like the flasher unit itself is the source of the malfunction, that for some reason the "P" terminal is internally disconnected somehow.

The monitor light sounds like it's not drawing enough power to cause the unit to flash.

You're not using LED's on this system, are you?

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  • 3 weeks later...

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