Turn signal and hazard lights

[KEA]

I am changing interior components on a '79 Fiat 124 (2000) and have encountered the feared turning signal failure. I took out the original (red) seats, carpets, consoles and panels and am at the stage of installing the new black seats. The old seat belts have been replaced but the old driver's side belt had an electronic connection and the new one did not so I decided to connect the two wires that previously went to the belt (hopefully to keep the seat belt light off). I also replaced the lower and radio consoles and in doing so may have disturbed something (? Hazard switch) because after all of that, I have lost my signal lights and the Hazard light no longer "clicks" in and no longer works. I was thinking to start by disconnecting the seat belt wires to see if that has anything to do with anything then I was thinking to pull the radio console out and try to get up to the Hazard switch to replace it if necessary. All of the fuses are intact (including the two separate 8 amp fuses) and the flasher looks OK from underneath anyway. I have not checked or changed any relay switches yet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
KEA

[RRoller123]

That hazard switch is a very common failure in the system. If it isn't staying in, it probably is the culprit.

[KEA]

Thanks, I will start with the hazard switch and hopefully I will be able to remove and replace it without having to take out the radio console - which I just struggled to get into place.
KEA

[baltobernie]

Users have reported a temporary fix by jamming a wooden toothpick between the hazard lens and bezel to hold the assembly in place. Perhaps this technique will enable you to troubleshoot the problem.

[azruss]

you can service these units yourself. the plastic sections are snap together and can be pryed appart. the contacts can be cleaned. There is a cam follower pin that controls the in-out locking. I found the my pin wasnt straight. So gave it a couple of taps to get it straight and wala! back to a working switch.

[seabeelt]

You didn't say if you removed the wires from the hazard switch when you took the console out. There should be 4 wire connections (at least true on my car) two are for the turn signals and two are for the hazards. The switch disconnects the turn signals when on. If you mix up the wires and connections, nothing works. In my car, gray and yellow wire are for turn signals and connect to the poles that are normally on, red and white wires are for the hazard and connected to the normally off poles of the switch.

[TX82FIAT]

I think the 79 has the platic ring with a purple or puple black wire that comes up and through the middle of the ring to connect. If you look at the plastick ring behind the hazzard switch it can only be put together one way where there is a blank circuit to a blank circuit on the ring connector. Then you only have the center wire coming up through the ring to connect. if the hazzard swicth is put back together with the blank connector spaces on the ring not lining up the entire system will not work. Trust me it is easy to do as you reassemble and don't realize there are blanks. That is assuming the button engages and disengages. The toothpic trick works for a temp fix if it is just the button mechanism broken.

These switches can be serviced as mentioned. just be very very careful as I snapped a platic bits while trying to rebuild it. I have the misfortune of occasionally breaking things in an effort to fix things.. Always interesting.

[KEA]

Thanks again! I did take the hazard switch out and took it apart to clean and repair it. The tiny pin was slightly bent upward so it wasn't catching on the middle notch like it should have been. I bent it down then put it back together and plugged in the central power spade connector then the round plastic connecter. Now the hazard switch works but the hazard lights themselves don't - nor do the signal lights - nothing works now. I will take it apart again and make absolutely sure that the blank plug on the round plastic connector is in the correct place but I think it is. I have been reading wiring diagrams all evening to try and determine whether or not my problem could now be the flasher.
Again, I really appreciate the advice.
KEA

[profcucchi]

To be clear, if the hazard switch (the button?) is not working, then the turn signals are out?

They just turned off this morning while I was driving. I had to remember my bike hand signals!

[seabeelt]

The way the hazard switch works is to normaly engage/connect the turn signal circuit and thus the hazard circuit is not engaged/connected. Conversly, when the hazard switch is turned on and the hazard circuit engaged, the directional circuit is dis-engaged and will not work.
R

[profcucchi]

The way the hazard switch works is to normaly engage/connect the turn signal circuit and thus the hazard circuit is not engaged/connected. Conversly, when the hazard switch is turned on and the hazard circuit engaged, the directional circuit is dis-engaged and will not work.
R

Gotcha. My hazard light was engaged, so my signals were not working.

Thanks.