Turn signal woes

[wdb]

1995 Caterham with only 4 indicator lights, 2 front and 2 rear. All bulbs are functioning. When I turn on the turn signal the lights flash very quickly; when I turn on the 4-way flashers the blink rate is normal. In my long ago past a fast blink was caused by too low a load on the flasher relay, such as when a bulb goes out. That's not the case here. Perhaps what I need to know is what the correct flasher relay is for the car. Or perhaps look into a more modern relay that controls the speed electronically rather than based on load. Or perhaps someone has run into this and can tell me "just do x!"

[IamScotticus]

Options...

https://www.pgmsussex.com/product-page/indicators

 

https://blinkstop.co.uk/shop/blinkstop

 

https://www.carlingtech.com/switches

 

 

 

[IamScotticus]

From a Jan 1996 build manual

 

 

Locate the relay and tap it 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:35 AM by IamScotticus

[wdb]

That last picture is the only thing resembling a wiring diagram in my owner's manual. I think that may be due the car being specced with no engine; the wiring diagrams appear to be engine-specific. I sourced a Ford engine diagram, which helped me figure out why the high beams and low beams were working backwards. Also verified the turn signal wiring for the front lights. The wiring to the front lights on this car is a bit of a mess, a lot of amateur electrical work. Reading the relevant pages in the assembly manual doesn't help much; they read more like suggestions.

Edited yesterday at 01:21 PM by wdb

[wdb]

13 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

Options...

https://www.pgmsussex.com/product-page/indicators

 

https://blinkstop.co.uk/shop/blinkstop

 

https://www.carlingtech.com/switches

 

 

 

 

It's tempting to go to a self-cancelling arrangement, I must admit. But I don't think it would solve the fast flash. I am going to double check the front wiring once more but I suspect what might eventually happen is some kind of electronic flasher such as this:

 

https://www.superbrightleds.com/fl2-red-led-bulb-electronic-flasher-2-pin-red-american-flasher-and-bracket

[Vovchandr]

I think your original post had the right idea, replace the flasher with one made to work with low resistance like LED's. That's what I had to do for mine as all my lights on the car are LED now. 

 

Mine came from "JUST ADD LIGHTNESS" but they should be pretty standard units

 

 

LED Flasher Unit Relay MKII - Just Add Lightness

[David Hansen]

I did this and I ordered the "incorrect" one the first time.  The pinout on each one might be different.  For my Westfield this is the one I purchased.

 

 

There is an alternate version here

 

 

Notice the difference beween the + and th - on each one.

 

Neither was expensive and the best part that after I installed my very (very!) bright LED bulbs I could adjust the rate of the flash.

 

Also note - from previous experience get red LED bulbs for red lens, yellow for yellow etc and the colors really pop.  If you put in a white LED behind the red lens it will obviously work but not have the same color depth and since the cost is exactly the same why not do it right.

 

On sale today!

 

 

[wdb]

4 hours ago, David Hansen said:

 

 

 

 

"About dodges three times" LOL! Reminds me of the translation in the original Datsun 240Z owner's manual; "Beware deep puddles, for therein resides the Skid Demon."

[David Hansen]

I have personally met a skid demon or two along the way.  I too had a 240Z but I never came across that warning, I will log that one in my memory bank.