Flasher unit problem

[American Dream]

Hi All,

I've got a little problem with the Indicators on the RV.

I wonder if anyone's got any ideas?

The indicators, just recently, have been flashing really fast when turning both Left and Right.

I have checked all the wiring/earth's etc.

When I operate the Hazards, all 4 units flash at the correct speed and are bright.

New Light units have, over the past year,been fitted Front and Rear and terminals clean ok.Been ok until the other day when it just started doing this.:Sad:

Thought it may be the voltage regulator but they do this whether the engine is running or switched off.oh:

Any ideas gratefully received.:thumb:

 

[dazzer]

Im assuming you have checked that you dont have any bulbs blown???

If a bulb pops in our Jeep they flash really quickly

 

[American Dream]

Im assuming you have checked that you dont have any bulbs blown???

If a bulb pops in our Jeep they flash really quickly

Hiya Dazzer,

All the bulbs flash at correct speed when on Hazard, and Left and right flash, albeit really fast when indicator stalk used..The lamps on the instrument cluster also light up.

I'll check further. Cheers.:thumb:I'm hoping it isn't a problem with the indicator stalk/switch itself.

 

[madbluemad]

I agree with dazzer, thats a classic sign that you have a bulb out.

Jim

 

[American Dream]

I agree with dazzer, thats a classic sign that you have a bulb out.

Jim

Would that apply to both sides though?

I have no repeaters fitted and there's only the Front, rear light units and the instrument panel lights.All work ok.

Forgot to mention I have a towbar / Socket fitted.Could it be something to do with that?

It has the usual cover over it.It did rain quite hard the other day.

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[madbluemad]

No it shoudnt do.

I was reading about it on yahoo earlier. Its to do with an increase in current.

If you have one bulb down it speeds up the other blinker. Its happened to me.

Is there a way to isolate your tow hitch and then try them

Jim

 

[madbluemad]

No it shouldnt.

I was reading about it on yahoo earlier.

Its to do with the extra current load when one bulb goes down. Its happened to me.

Can you isolate your tow hitch and try them again.

Jim

 

[Geo]

Steve have you fitted any LeD replacment bulbs to the indicators if so they dont draw enough current, and can cause your problem
as can a failing relay or bad earth
you say you have a tow bar socket, plug in a light board and see if the extra bulb slows thing down
Geo

 

[American Dream]

Steve have you fitted any LeD replacment bulbs to the indicators if so they dont draw enough current, and can cause your problem
as can a failing relay or bad earth
you say you have a tow bar socket, plug in a light board and see if the extra bulb slows thing down
Geo

Hi Geo,

No LEDs fitted to the indicators or the Indicator instrument panel.They are still normal filament type.

Good idea regarding the tow socket.:thumb:It'll test the wiring's still ok as well.

I'll have a look tonight.:thumb:

Cheers.

 

[American Dream]

Steve have you fitted any LeD replacment bulbs to the indicators if so they dont draw enough current, and can cause your problem
as can a failing relay or bad earth
you say you have a tow bar socket, plug in a light board and see if the extra bulb slows thing down
Geo

Hi Geo,

Well I tried the Bike rack on the back with the lights connected up and they still flash fast in normal (indicator) mode but ok on hazards....oh:

I have found flasher units on ebay that might do the job if it proves to be the unit.

What's getting me is they work normally in hazard mode.oh:

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[ruffingitsmoothly]

Hi Steve found this after a search on Google don't know if it will help!


I get this on mine from time to time. Turns out there's a water leak letting drops of water into the socket for the rear lights and causing a short. Once it dries out, it all works fine. When the rain stops after a wet period, I usually spray some electronic cleaner in there which evaporates the water real fast...

Might be something else on yours though.

Regards Pat

 

[American Dream]

Hi Steve found this after a search on Google don't know if it will help!


I get this on mine from time to time. Turns out there's a water leak letting drops of water into the socket for the rear lights and causing a short. Once it dries out, it all works fine. When the rain stops after a wet period, I usually spray some electronic cleaner in there which evaporates the water real fast...

Might be something else on yours though.

Regards Pat

Cheers Pat.I'll take a look inside the units.It did Pee down the other day.

The units are new and were sealed to the body with silicon to hopefully stop this happening.

Worth a look.:thumb:

 

[pappajohn]

sounds to me like a failing flasher unit Steve.

could be it has a seperate hazard unit so will work ok on hazards only.

john.

 

[American Dream]

sounds to me like a failing flasher unit Steve.

could be it has a seperate hazard unit so will work ok on hazards only.

john.

Makes sense John.I'll delve further into the circuit diagram.

Hopefully I can get another reasonably quickly.:thumb:

Does anyone know if there's a maximum flash rate specified in the MOT/Law for indicators?

They currently work and flash but VERY fast.

 

[Geo]

Makes sense John.I'll delve further into the circuit diagram.

Hopefully I can get another reasonably quickly.:thumb:

Does anyone know if there's a maximum flash rate specified in the MOT/Law for indicators?

They currently work and flash but VERY fast.

Regs req between 60 and 120 flash's per min
or 6 and 12 per 6 second interval its easyer to time:thumb:
Engine may be run if a slow flash rate is found, before applying fail criteria

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[American Dream]

Regs req between 60 and 120 flash's per min
or 6 and 12 per 6 second interval its easyer to time:thumb:
Engine may be run if a slow flash rate is found, before applying fail criteria

Cheers Geo.I'll dig into the wiring diagrams again tonight.:thumb:

 

[euro]

I had this before on my car and it turned out to be the flasher unit.

Same symptoms exactly.

Maybe hazards work OK as they need to flash all 4 bulbs so there is no spare current around to make them flash fast.. dunno but its my guess anyway.

 

[American Dream]

I had this before on my car and it turned out to be the flasher unit.

Same symptoms exactly.

Maybe hazards work OK as they need to flash all 4 bulbs so there is no spare current around to make them flash fast.. dunno but its my guess anyway.

Cheers.Certainly seems like it's the unit then.Better get one ordered up.:thumb:

Thanks for the info.

 

[johnsandywhite]

Cheers.Certainly seems like it's the unit then.Better get one ordered up.:thumb:

Thanks for the info.

Or you could try hitting it with an Hammer.

 

[American Dream]

Or you could try hitting it with an Hammer.

Is THAT your best solution JSW.Back on form I see.:thumb:

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[American Dream]

sounds to me like a failing flasher unit Steve.

could be it has a seperate hazard unit so will work ok on hazards only.

john.

Wel...I took a look at the wiring diagrams and yes...there are seperate flasher units for the indicators and the hazards and there's a possibility they are identical.

So tonight I'm going to have a look, and if they are, swap them over to prove it.

Many thanks all.:thumb:

 

[Road Runner]

Yerr and it a bit hard doing hand signal from the RV although people still use hand signal (buy not the polite ones) a Kenny Everett large hand might help

My bus sometime flashes fast but then when start to check goes back to normal. Very frustrating on such large vehicles hope you get it sorted so can tell me problem

 

[American Dream]

Yerr and it a bit hard doing hand signal from the RV although people still use hand signal (buy not the polite ones) a Kenny Everett large hand might help

My bus sometime flashes fast but then when start to check goes back to normal. Very frustrating on such large vehicles hope you get it sorted so can tell me problem

Hi John,

I've been using the "big hand" from the MotorhomeFUN checklist and poking it out of the window.On right turns it's quickly passed across the rig to my daughter in the suicide seat.

Seriously though, I had a bit of time this morning after studying the wiring diagrams last night, and was able to locate the 2 flasher units.They are identical, so I swapped them over.

Now both the Hazards and indicator flash at the correct speed.

They are the only electrical connections I didn't think to check as they are tucked away in the wiring loom.

I might swap them back again but I'm convinced now the problem is sorted or at least located.:thumb:

 

[pappajohn]

nice to know its sorted steve. :thumb:
sounds like it could have been a poor connection to the unit.:Angry:

if you do swap 'em back, if its not to hard to get to, plug it in a couple of times to 'clean' the contact area.

just gotta sort mine know. switched hazards on with toad attached and blew the fuse after a minute or so but it is running 8 lights, 4 repeaters and 2 lots of dash lights. around 190w......16amperes

john.

 

[American Dream]

B+++y Heck John.

190watts.What alternator you got on there?

With all lights on It must be struggling.Sounds just the reason to fit LED lights on some of them.

I'm hoping it was just a poor connection.I used wire wool on the contacts just to clean them.:thumb:

Cheers.:thumb:

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[pappajohn]

think you're confusing watts and amps.
190w is around 16amps

if i run with everything on(all lights on van but no toad) it is around

200watts....head lights/tail lights/markers and dash lights. 17amps

90watts......brake and indicators intermitantly ......8amps

total 24amps

add the toad lights

60watts.....front and rear side lights and dash lights..... 5amps

90watts.....brake and indicators intermitantly............8amps

total 38amps...........alternator churns out around 80amps at full load.

sounds a lot but its nowt really.

john.

 

[American Dream]

Yes You're right John.......

Crazily busy day yesterday.oh: 200watts with all lights on is ok as you say.:thumb:

So chuffed it doesn't involve more work at the moment.Rather be moving forward with the work on it than rectifying obscure faults.

 

[pappajohn]

nice to know its sorted steve. :thumb:
sounds like it could have been a poor connection to the unit.:Angry:

if you do swap 'em back, if its not to hard to get to, plug it in a couple of times to 'clean' the contact area.

just gotta sort mine know. switched hazards on with toad attached and blew the fuse after a minute or so but it is running 8 lights, 4 repeaters and 2 lots of dash lights. around 190w......16amperes

john.

had a look today and yep...the fuse had blown.
its a 15a fuse so i might have to up it to 20a and take a chance on the wiring otherwise it means fitting a relay for the toad hazards.

 

[American Dream]

had a look today and yep...the fuse had blown.
its a 15a fuse so i might have to up it to 20a and take a chance on the wiring otherwise it means fitting a relay for the toad hazards.

Good luck John.

Just keep an eye on the wiring.:thumb:

20 amps .....that's 240 watt @ 12v dc.

Seriously I'd think about replacing some of the lights with led's to lighten the load.

 

[pappajohn]

Good luck John.

Just keep an eye on the wiring.:thumb:

20 amps .....that's 240 watt @ 12v dc.

Seriously I'd think about replacing some of the lights with led's to lighten the load.

unless anyone does replacement bulbs i cant warrant the expense of new LED lights for the ammount of time its used.:Sad:

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