Flasher Relay Location

[Porsche_monkey]

1974 911 - Is the flasher relay in the dash behind the tach? Sounds like it is, but before I tear it apart....

[acapella8]

I have a 78 and it can be reached by reacing back under front hood, to left of blower hardware etc. Not too hard to reach. Mine was an old Hella (looked like OEM part) brownish/dark red.

[arcsine]

I had better success pulling the oil pressure gauge to replace mine.

[bigchillcar]

behind the far left gauge (fuel)..pull it out..i've replaced mine in my '74.
ryan

[Porsche_monkey]

I'll get it out and follow up with a request to confirm that I have the right part no.

[randywebb]

It's the square one - good luck.

For the Porsche electrical system you should always ask yourself "What is the stupidest possible way to desifn this?" You will then know what they did.

Remember: Excellence was Expected but NOT Always Achieved.

[Driver Ed]

Here's a possible repair tip for you if you find that the relay is the problem. On my '82 SC, I had a problem with the turn signals (they would only operate intermittently) and I eventually traced it to the relay. Since I didn't have anything to lose, I actually disassembled the relay itself. On mine, once I removed the relay cover, I could see that there was not just a simple electromechanical relay but some 80's vintage electronics in there as well. Looking it over with an eye loupe, I noticed that where the four pins from the bottom attach to the small circuit board inside the relay the solder joints were cracked. I touched up those solder joints, and viola! Everything has been working perfectly ever since. It's an extremely cheap fix if you are already adpet at soldering and have a soldering iron.

[Porsche_monkey]

"It's an extremely cheap fix if you are already adpet at soldering and have a soldering iron."

Sounds like me. Take anything apart, and fix it at no cost. I should have it disassembled by tomorrow.

[Porsche_monkey]

Well randyweb had it right. The hole is big enough for your hand, or you can look in to see what's going on. But not both.

So, the flasher is out. It is round and has three terminals -31, 49a, and +49. Part No. SBG 335 12V 2 x 21W.

It also has a stud on the top of the relay that look suspiciously like it should be connected to ground.

Anyone know if this is the correct part no. and if a ground is required?

[randywebb]

round? sure you got the right one? it was square on my '73.5

pull 2 gauges - look thru one w/ flashlight and reach thru the other while cursing the Porsche engineers

[Porsche_monkey]

Relays from Pelican:

Hazard Flasher/Blinker Relay, 911 (1974-84)
B-618-303-11
(OEM: 914-618-303-11) $38.45


3-Spade Flasher Relay, 911 (1985-89)
111-953-227A $10.20

I wonder if someone stuck a 1985-89 blinker relay in my car ....my relay looks more like a $10.20 than $38.45....hmmm

[Porsche_monkey]

Does anyone remember how many spade connections theirs had? Mine has three, the drawing for my car (and the connector) have four. I'm 99% sure someone stuck a cheap POS in there...

[Driver Ed]

Mine has four.

[Porsche_monkey]

I found a used Hella four pin locally from 74 911. I've got afeeling my turn signal woes will end shortly. Thanks for the help so far.

[Porsche_monkey]

Well this was a long and involved solution to several problems but I have it pretty much repaired.

Problem #1 - wrong flasher relay - bought a used Hella

Problem #2 - used flasher relay had a cracked circuit board, required several solder repairs

Problem #3 - I put 10W bulbs in my front parking lights. The spec is a 21W, when you don't draw enough current only one half of the flasher circuit works, so you get both indicator bulbs illuminated in the dash, but externally everything works correctly.

Problem #4 - One return spring on the signal mechanism had slipped of resulting in the 'self-cancelling' feature (think of an 80 year old Buick driver) being inoperative. I re-hooked it onto the switch body and it works again.

Now my turn signals work right (and left). I'll post the solution, I know some other guys had similar issues.

PS Could the relay be in a more stupid location?

[randywebb]

"Could the relay be in a more stupid location?"

- We're lucky those morons didn't put it underneath the car...

[Driver Ed]

Glad you worked it out, PBH! When there are multiple reasons for the problem, it's often more difficult to solve. Sounds like you're now an expert!

P.S. A Fiat-owning friend once had the turn signal relay locate him. He was driving along, and some electrical fault under the dash started melting things. Molten plastic/insulation/copper started dripping down onto his bare legs.

Moral: shorts and shorts don't mix.

[Porsche_monkey]

Driver Ed - yea, a Fiat having a breakdown/fire. Another rare event in automotive history. Of course my local Porche wrecker has three Boxters that burned up on their own.

Randywebb - not only the flasher relay is stupid, but the cable won't pull through into an open area to get both hands on the socket. Why won't it pull out? There's another relay (the round style) attached to the dash connected to the same harness. I'm making extension cables and moving the flasher relay to the fuse box.

[Gretz]

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

Problem #3 - I put 10W bulbs in my front parking lights. The spec is a 21W, when you don't draw enough current only one half of the flasher circuit works, so you get both indicator bulbs illuminated in the dash, but externally everything works correctly.

Sorry to revive a super old thread. My front and rear left turn signals work fine, but neither front nor rear right signals work. When I switch the left blinkers on (the ones that work) the dash turn signal indicators do not illuminate at all, but when I switch the right blinkers on (non-working), both dash turn signal indicators flash at the same time. Should that tell me something? Maybe I should try replacing all bulbs on the car with ones are know are the correct wattage and working?

[Tea Tray]

I would suggest pulling all the lenses on all four corners, pull the bulbs (verify wattage), clean the bulb bases and bulb sockets. Make sure the “washer” with the contacts inside the socket moves freely. I clean the bits using scotch-brite. Also check the ground connections.
Short answer? Grounds and dirty connections...