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Hot Rods strange signal/flasher behavior? Signalstat 900

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by error404, Jan 7, 2022.

  1. error404
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 383

    error404
    Member
    from CA

    Not on a hotrod, it's on my 46 Willys Jeep. It uses a (not sure how old?) SIGNALSTAT 900 switch mounted to the column:

    signalstat.png

    It's always works perfectly for the 12+ years I've owned the jeep, except lately I've noticed that when I turn on the driver signal light, it turns on but it does NOT flash on and off. It stays on constant until I put the lever back to the middle position (off). Passenger side flashes just fine.

    When I put the hazards on, both sides flash on and off as they should.

    I've replaced the flasher, and it's still behaving the same.

    Any ideas on how to fix this? I don't even know where to start, since clearly electricity is getting to the bulb, I can't see how it would be a bad wire or a bad connection or whatever.
     
  2. Wanderlust
    Joined: Oct 27, 2019
    Posts: 787

    Wanderlust

    Check the ground path at the fixture
     
    PhilA likes this.
  3. PhilA
    Joined: Sep 6, 2018
    Posts: 2,061

    PhilA
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Hydro Tech

    If the bulbs on the side not flashing aren't pulling enough current due to bad connections, you'll get that happening.

    If you pull one bulb out on the left side and reduce the current draw you should see it so the same thing when switched to that side too.

    Phil
     
    squirrel likes this.
  4. error404
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 383

    error404
    Member
    from CA

    thanks! I'll check the grounds!

    Does it make sense that they flash just fine when the hazards are on? that's what's confusing me!
     

  5. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,941

    squirrel
    Member

    first check that all the bulbs are good. That's the behavior when a bulb burns out, or loses it's ground.
     
    wraymen, lippy and firstinsteele like this.
  6. With signal lights, usually, only TWO bulbs flash at once. When one burns out, the other is not enough resistance to cause flasher to operate. Assuming four ways are using same flasher, even with one bulb burned out there are three still working. You have a bulb burned out.

    Ben
     
    wraymen likes this.
  7. PhilA
    Joined: Sep 6, 2018
    Posts: 2,061

    PhilA
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Hydro Tech

    That circuit has different requirements.

    I tried keeping with bimetallic flasher units but the quality of them is poor these days- that and at extended idle the battery voltage would sag enough that the signals wouldn't blink until I revved the engine (mostly fault of the generator having an issue and my battery being past its sell-by date).
    I put in an electronic flasher designed for LED bulbs (rated 0.02W to 45W range) which switches the filament lights just fine- heck even the telltale in the dash is enough to make it flash- there are no contacts to burn out either.
    On the flip side, this particular type doesn't make any noise when it is on so you do have to remember to cancel it once you don't need the turn signal any more.

    The other disadvantage is if one bulb burns you know about it with a bi-metallic flasher because it does what you describe above; with an electronic one it gives no warning so you need to be more vigilant with your bulb checks.

    Phil
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2022
  8. Like everyone said, check the grounds. Keep in mind this could be a dirty/corroded lamp socket, loose or rusty connection between the lamp assembly and the body mount, or a poor connection on a ground wire if one is used.

    An electronic flasher can 'fix' this, but only masks the problem. As both sides use the same flasher, if one side works it's not a flasher problem.
     
    Boneyard51 and egads like this.
  9. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,440

    Boneyard51
    Member

    Have you gone out and checked the lights on the Jeep? Or just watched the indicator on the turn signal switch?






    Bones
     
  10. error404
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 383

    error404
    Member
    from CA

    from outside the jeep

    I should have some time this weekend to check the grounds.
     
  11. atomicglowman
    Joined: Dec 25, 2021
    Posts: 37

    atomicglowman


    If it does turn out to be the flasher itself....those exact flashers are available everywhere.
     
  12. garyf
    Joined: Aug 11, 2006
    Posts: 283

    garyf
    Member

    A bad signal flasher will in some cases not blink on the side with the longest run of wire to the bulbs from the flasher and blink only on the side with the shortest run from the flasher. Any auto techs taking automotive service excellence (ase) tests this is a question on the test ,that stumps most.
     

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