Indicators living their own life

Navaros911 · 05:46 PM

OK, I need some help with this one...

The problem is that the indicators blink at an extremely high pace... additionally I noticed my gauge lights don't seem to light up anymore. These problems may or may not be related. All bulbs are working fine.

This happened after I updated the fan and thus disconnected the alternator. The (copper) ground strap on this alternator was replaced with a non standard model (until my order arrives). This is the strap that runs to the engine case.

But the battery gets charged fine and reads 12.54 volts.

Anybody has an idea what could cause this on my 1977 911?

Help is greatly appreciated...

Navaros911 · 05-28-2005, 12:36 AM

Last night I disconnected the alternator completely and tried the indicators then... same problem...

I have no clue; disconnecting the alternator is the only thing I have done... I didn't touch anything else of the electrics.

Anybody?

Porsche_monkey · 05-28-2005, 06:05 AM

I think this is the typical trailer problem. Increased current from the trailer lights causes the blinker relay to operate faster than normal. So, you're either towing a boat, have a slight short to ground somewhere, or your blinker relay is toast.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

when you updated the fan, did you also change the pulley? i don't recall the details, but i know that when you change from a 5 to an 11-bladed fan there is something else that has to be done related to the pulley i believe. might this be the problem? maybe the fan speed isn't what it should be, causing electrical sysmptoms?

also, when i had a problem a few years ago with 'both of my turn signal indicators flashing at the same time', i replaced the flasher relay and that immediately solved the problem..
ryan

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

Fast blink can be due to bad relay mechanism. Common failure symptom.

John

Navaros911 · 06-02-2005, 04:50 PM

Thanks for the info...

I dosconnected the alternator... used some spray on the connectors... reconnected everything and it works fine now.

I don't know what exactly could have caused this... the battery charged fine.

Navaros911 · 08-14-2005, 03:52 PM

This one is back again... changing the relay this time. If I can only find it online on my side of the atlantic.

Navaros911 · 09-11-2005, 01:55 AM

This problem has been comming and going over the last months... but stayed for three weeks in the end... so it was time to replace something.

So I got a new relay at the car parts store here.

It looked slightly different from the original, but hey, they said it would work.

So back home I installed it in the car and the indicators worked fine... the dashboard lights didn't... both left and right lit up at the same time.

Checking out the relay I noticed it was for a Porsche 924. Called my uncle (car electrics specialist in the late 70's/early 80's. He said the control is not the same on both relays. Two solutions: install the correct relay or start messing with some wires. I chose the first.

On the original relay there was one connector marked "C", on the 924 relay it is marked "C2".

Back to the store: Oh sir, we need to order that one. So a 2-day wait.

But at least I know it was the relay.

RoninLB · 09-11-2005, 03:31 AM

i'm curiously waiting for a happy ending.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Is the clock supposed to light up at night too?

Is there a speacial spay to clean for electrical connections?

I typicaly scrape with a small sharp blade or wire brush.

Porsche_monkey · 09-11-2005, 09:07 AM

Both of my dash indicators light up together. Is this wrong?

Navaros911 · 09-12-2005, 07:36 AM

Kach22i:
My clock lights up at night... I think ;o)
There are contact sprays available in electronic stores (I'm thinking radio shack type stores) that can be used for this.

PBH:
I suspect you have a wrong relay as well... why would Porsche install a separate left and right dash indicator if they both light up at the same time? That would make no sense to me. I know for a fact that with my old relay it was right or left that lit up and not both.

I'll get the relay tomorrow or wednesday over lunch and report back ASAP.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Navaros911
Kach22i:
My clock lights up at night... I think ;o)

I think my clock light just went out, I could of swore it used to light up.

Least of my worries.

RoninLB · 05:43 PM

fwiw, new story.
at around 75k mi one blinker bulb stayed a dull glow. No prob on anything everythink ok. Then at 100k mi I installed a new blinker relay at No more dull glow.

ps: I was refering to the dash blinking bulb.

KobaltBlau · 09-13-2005, 11:53 AM

no blink when it was on the dull glow?

RoninLB · 09-13-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KobaltBlau
no blink when it was on the dull glow?

it blinked ok.. dull glow all the time the engine/key was on.

coldstart · 09-13-2005, 01:42 PM

PBH, I have the same condition. I believe that it is due to one of the blinkers being out.

On my car I need to redo the front assembly as the contact does not line up with the bulb socket and I have to find low wattage bulbs so they will stop burning out (they get extremely hot when in use). Good thing my baby is not my daily driver!

Porsche_monkey · 09-13-2005, 01:45 PM

My bulbs all work...but I get two speeds (fast for left turns, slow for right turns). I think I need to measure the current and see how they differ. Typically when you add a trailer (higher current draw) the flashers go faster, and I am guessing I have mismatched current draws on the left vs right.

RoninLB · 09-13-2005, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PBH

Typically when you add a trailer (higher current draw) the flashers go faster, and I am guessing I have mismatched current draws on the left vs right.

afaik
Current is sent to the relay thru a wire that heats up because it's shorted by the turn signal sw that somehow allow the relay to close mechanically. Then the switched current is now passing to the relay instead of the heated wire. Then in between flashes the wire cools and the relay opens by the wire control.

that control wire is delicate by design and if you have a flasher bulb ng then the wire receives less current and takes longer to heat if it does completely heat, ie: flashing bulb front or rear will stay on and not go out or remaining bulb will cycle slowly. If you add flashing light bulbs then more current to the control wire, ie: more current to the standard factory flasher control wire it'll heat faster, burn out, or always stay hot and not cycle. If it doesn't cycle then chances are the bulbs will stay on all the time.

the point of the circuit is that the current is routed in series to the control wire in the flasher unit, ie: the issues of more flashing bulbs or a bulb ng.

all that said I'm not sure that is the operating circuit of our car's flasher, lol. Hopefully at least part of the above applies in figuring that circuit. Anyway it's not a difficult circuit, only a little different from what we're used the seeing.

I should dig out my old flasher and open it for more entertainment.

btw, don't quote me. thx

Navaros911 · 09:56 AM

Well; here's my update...

The store couldn't get their hands on that type of relay... so I just ordered one from a German online store. They could get it here on monday at a reasonable shipping cost, maybe even friday if I get lucky.

Since it isn't very urgent I can live with this.