Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:58:29 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Turn signals
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on thing to always try when turn signals act weird,
is to cycle the 4 way flasher switch a few times ..
the turn signal electrons go through that switch ..
sometimes flipping it a few times off and on will make things happy again.
it's also a good test to just try the 4 way flashers..
you should of course get 4 bright, steady bulbs flashing.
some common mistakes I see ..
wiring in a new socket, make a mistake on the wiring of the 3 wires .
wrong type bulb...can't tell you how many times I've seen that ..but it's a
LOT.
Someone might have even put a wrong bulb in the back..
and you are seeing a problem in the front ..
I see that a lot, I would check all bulbs for correct type, and
installation.
grounds ..
ground connections are often dodgy on old vanagons ..
grounds must be good.
try substituting your own temporary ground wire , see if that makes a
difference.
you can have wires plugged right onto a front turn signal socket, and just
because the two pieces of metal are touching, does not mean there's good
contact there.
I have seen that a lot too..
two conductors in obvious physical, even firm, contact, ..but not a proper
connection.
I treat a lot of spots with WD-40 .........not especially kosher for
electrical contacts, but sure works for me.
I use a lot of electrical contact cleaner,
and dielectric grease too.
try substituting a 12 volt test light for a turn signal bulb ..
see if that makes it flash properly.
basically, 'substitute and bypass' until you have it fixed.
I've never even had to think about the flasher itself on a vanagon.
on a 20 year old vanagon ..
I find literally hundreds of electrical connection spots to make happy
again. throughout the whole van.
typical for example..
on the early type fuses, the ceramic thing ..
I see where the ends of them are corroded, and that fuse box has never been
cleaned or treated or serviced in any way in the entire life of the vanagon.
a huge amount of what I do on vanagons is all about correcting for and
overcoming Corrosion.
On the whole van, but very much so in the electrical system.
really, I don't think anyone actually 'services' the electrical system .
they just fix it when it breaks, and that's a horrible way to take care of a
vanagon..
because all the things that haven't broken yet are unserviced ....and on
their way to breaking..
If properly serviced/treated/treated for corrosion etc..
then they won't break, or not as likely to.
that's my wisdom offering. 'treat corrosion throughout the entire
electrical system on old vanagons.'
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary K Creasy" <mkcdc@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 2:27 PM
Subject: Turn signals
> Since this topic is on everyones mind. I am having a degrading turn
> signal
> situation. Right signal started blinking fast. All lamps are working but
> the front is super bright compared to all others. ( Seem to remember when
> the resistance is high, this is the effect ??? ).
> Replaced the socket with one of Ken Wilfords recent finds and still the
> same. Now the left started fast blinking
and all lamps are functioning.
> Let the wisdom flow...
>
> Dave Creasy
> '85 Westy, blinkin' like crazy
> '93 EVMV our Pick-up truck :)
> '98 Beetle, daughter's first one