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Triumph TR6 - Turn Signals 74

Thanks to all of your advice . My 74 tR6 is running like a new car, my electric overdrive is working plus every , Light,gauge,blower,radio. No more misfires. So I go to take a drive today and now my turn signals do not work. Everything on that fuse works. The flasher and switch are all pretty new. Can anybody give me a sensable break down on how to trouble shoot this problem. I am afraid of what I will find hooked to what under the dash. PLEASE HELP car is cleaned waxed and I want it all working . JOHN
John

John,

If neither side works then try a new flasher.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

The turn signal/hazard system in my '74 stumped me for awhile until I figured out the DPO had stuck a turn signal flasher in the hazard flasher spot. Power for both systems runs from the fuse through the hazard flasher (on the left inner fender) to the hazard switch. When it is pushed in, a connection in the switch sends 12 volts to the turn signal flasher (up in the passenger footwell) then back to the middle contact of the turn signal stalk switch. Try tracing the power along that route.
The turn signal flasher could not pass enough current to operate all 4 blinkers, so the hazards blinked so fast you couldntt tell they were working. Is the power getting through the hazard flasher and the hazard switch OK, and do the hazard flashers work normally? Good luck!

Jeff
CF13816U
Jeff

John,

Did you operate your hazard switch just before your problem with the turn signals? About 90% of the time, the turn signals won't work after you've used the hazard switch. Jeff is almost right in his description of the power flow to the turn signals. Power for them does come through the hazard switch.

The hazards are powered by a purple wire from the fuse box, and the turn signals are powered by a green wire from the fuse box. The green wire travels through the hazard switch on the way to the turn signal switch. The hazard switch, not being operated often, does not "self-clean" the contacts, so they become dirty and corroded. When you operate the hazard switch, the "green wire" circuit is opened, and then reclosed when you turn off the hazard switch. Unfortunately, the green wire contacts don't make good contact then if they are dirty, and power from the green wire is interrupted.

Locate your TS flasher (under the dash - not the one under the hood, that's the hazard flasher). You'll find a light green with grey stripe wire on one side and a light green with brown stripe on the other. Remove the light green/grey wire from the flasher and connect that terminal (B) on the flasher directly to the battery with a jumper wire (fused if you can), and try your turn signals. If they work now, the trouble is in your hazard circuit. If not, the trouble is in your turn signal circuit. I'll bet it's the hazard switch. If it is, try turning it on and off rapidly about 50 times (for the self cleaning action) and see if that doesn't help. Otherwise, you'll have to take it out and clean the contacts.

Go to http://www.britishv8.org/techhome.htm and download the schematic for your car. You'll find the schematics there both more accurate and easier to read than those you find in the manuals.
Dan Masters

Hey you guys did it again. Just went to my car pushed and pulled hazzard switch about 30 times, Turn signal is now working. The four way flashet now is the only thing electrical that is not working and never did. Since my car is working 100% except for that. I will leave that job for one day when I have no life. Thanks again for saving me many hours of sweat( in Florida) and pulling out my hair. JOH
jf

John and Dan
I had exactly the same thing happen to me this summer. I have a habit of testing/checking lights before a drive while the engine warms up. Did turns then 4 ways. On the drive no turns. Knowing the turns run through the hazzard switch I flicked on and off several times the hazzard switch...voila turn signals again.. goota love those clear hooters

Next time it is 4 ways before the turn test.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Is their an Autozone, Advance Auto, etc. generic replacement for the 2-spade Lucas hazard flasher located above the left wheel arch? I bumped mine and the metal cover came off, breaking the inner workings.

Thanks.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Rick
I would put money on that yes you can get from your named stores. Will definitely not look original and will either be clear or have seen light blue in colo(u)r. Do not go for heavy duty flasher as they are designed for vehicles with a trailer hitch.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick O,

Type 552, about a $1.50. It's in a round can, so it may not fit the stock holder. You can also buy "solid state" flashers for $5 - $10, but there is no real need for doing so. If you need a 3-pin flasher, get a type 550. Caution, though: Many of the type 550s being sold today are incorrectly made. If you get one of these, the hazard warning lght will be on all the time, and will blink OFF when the hazards lights blink ON. Tridon is the only brand I know for sure that works as it should. These run around $4 for a 550. (I bought over 50 flashers recently - got some strange looks from the clerks!) I have found that most of the solid state 3-pin flashers work correctly.

Rick C,

The heavy duty type is not a problem for the hazard flasher, only for the turn signals. The difference being not in the load rating but in the functionality. The "heavy duty" turn signal flashers sold in auto stores are not turn signal flashers, but are hazard flashers. The difference? Turn signal flashers, at least as used in older cars like ours, are designed to stop flashing if one bulb is burned out. This is to give you warning that a bulb has gone. Hazard fashers are designed to operate no matter how many bulbs are still working - 1 to 4. If you need the hazards, you need however many bulbs you have working.

As far as I know, there are no generic "turn signal" flashers available in the auto stores, only hazard flashers sold as "heavy duty" turn signal flashers.
Dan Masters

Thanks Dan and Rick. A Type 552 it will be.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

We're not supposed to have trailer hitches on our cars? How else will we two trailers?

I had to install one just to haul the goose food.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

Dan and Rick O
OOPS! I was thinking Turn signal not Hazzard flasher as this thread was about turn signal....me apologizes. My thinking was that we have at one time or another seen a car with the turn signals flashing in "fast forward" mode. A flasher (HD) used in place of a turn signal flasher when a vehicle was NOT pulling a trailer. But then I have not seen this on cars lately so this problem is probably antique...like me.

Rick O, I do beleive the rectangle flashers are available or am I thinking turn signal again.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

This thread was discussed between 09/11/2003 and 11/11/2003

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