Dim rear turn signals

Gotta love that wiring . . .
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by RRoller123 »

I cleaned the socket connections inside, and bent the ground connection tab in a little on each socket to make a better contact, and the lights improved for sure.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
User avatar
JEEPER
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:34 pm
Your car is a: 1979 SPIDER
Location: SANDUSKY OHIO

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by JEEPER »

daved wrote:Good idea, not really sure how well I can measure the flashing voltage with my analog meter.Seems like the voltage pulses faster than the meter can respond. May have to think about getting a digital meter. Did try changing the flasher. Other than that I've just checked connections.
You can get a digital meter at Harbor Freight for 5bucks which is good enough.
daved
Posts: 84
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:36 pm
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 124 spider
Location: Erie Pa

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by daved »

Just replaced the rear bulbs which where rated at 18 watts with bulbs rated at about 27 watts, did help a little. So far this is the only thing I've done which has made any difference at all.
User avatar
blurple124
Posts: 393
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:46 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by blurple124 »

My money is on a bad ground. Most likely at or near the flasher relay. I had dim signals and it was due to a bad ground. The fact that they work with the hazard means that the wiring aft of the driver door is just fine.

I don't know for sure, but I think the three prong flashers have a positive and ground, then a lead the signal to the column switch.
Clean the connections to and from the flasher, and maybe add some dielectric grease if you have any.

12 volts should be plenty to light up your bulbs. You wouldn't have noticed it unless it was below 11.5, I'm guessing.

Check the voltage at the bulbs, then you might know what you are dealing with.
Charlie
1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800 - Antonia
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport
daved
Posts: 84
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:36 pm
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 124 spider
Location: Erie Pa

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by daved »

Did remove the connections to the flasher relay & cleaned them & made sure they were really tight. Also checked that the clamp holding the flasher relay was grounded, not sure how important that would be as the new flasher relays all seem to have a plastic case. A couple things I've noticed:; the interior indicator light for the turn signals doesn't always come on right away, turn signals seem to work the same regardless of the indicator light working or not. Also noticed that the interior indicator light for the 4-way flashers doesn't work either. That light does come on with a jumper wire from ground to the outside of the light. Not sure why it isn't grounded, the emergency brake light next to it works fine. Thinking that I have to remove the upper console to get to the back of that light. Hope that it is possible to actually see that area with the upper console off.
User avatar
blurple124
Posts: 393
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:46 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by blurple124 »

The center dash panel? To get that off, you simply unscrew the rings on the wiper speed and inst. dimmer switches and the whole assembly should fall off of the dash.
Charlie
1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800 - Antonia
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport
User avatar
blurple124
Posts: 393
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:46 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by blurple124 »

The center dash panel? To get that off, you simply unscrew the rings on the wiper speed and inst. dimmer switches and the whole assembly should fall off of the dash.
Charlie
1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800 - Antonia
1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport
daved
Posts: 84
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:36 pm
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 124 spider
Location: Erie Pa

Re: Dim rear turn signals

Post by daved »

Thanks
Post Reply