turn signal issue

[brackie1]

I have read thru most of post regarding turn signal but no one had my issue so I am seeking some advise. I replaced my bulb type turn signals with LED signals. The old signals worked fine the new LED signals work reasonably well when the engine is running when I turn the headlamps on they either don't work or blink very slow also the blinker indicator on the dash no longer works but worked fine before. when re-building the car I put female to male connectors on the turn signal wires to make it easier to change signal lites if I wanted to. so installing the new LED lite it was just a plug and play issue. Does anyone have any thoughts?


Gene
North Carolina

[toplessexpat]

Put a ground resistor across the turn signal, and replace the flasher with an electronic one (if you haven't already).

[brackie1]

thanks for the quick reply. how do you put a resistor across the connectors and where would I get one? Also who among our suppliers would carry a electronic flasher?

Gene

[toplessexpat]

AR has the electronic flasher for sure, and I suspect all our vendors likely do. It's good to get the right one from them rather than trying to work it out at your local parts store!

As for the resistors, these should work:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DCULNXS/re ... xwbNXKVTE2

What you're doing here is replicating the resistance of the old incandescent lamp which the circuitry was designed for.

The resistor goes in PARALLEL to the LED, not in serial, and increases the overall load. Note; these things can get a little warm, so be careful where you mount them.

If you put LED sidelight bulbs in then they are unlikely to need a resistor, it should only be those lights that depend upon load to trigger something else (i.e. Turn signals).

If you're changing to LED bulbs, take care on color frequencies too. Many LED "white" bulbs are actually a little "blue". This is fine for white lenses, and out of the showroom turn signals. 30 year old lenses (rear turn signals especially) have bleached out somewhat, meaning the light has a marked green tinge. Solution? Either a new lens or an amber led. On the front signals - you can get a switchback bulb that is white for sidelights, and amber for turn signals. I use these with a clear lens.

Hope this is helpful

Andy

[brackie1]

Thanks Andy, I have never worked with LED so I was uncertain what to do to make them work properly. what I am doing is putting amber lenses flush mounted round 3" lights for my blinkers. I have changed my '78 to look like a '70 with '70's front and rear bumpers and have mounted the round LED turn signals above the front bumper just under the headlights. I just never liked the tubular bumpers on the '78's and new, but really liked the earlier model look.


Gene

[brackie1]

[imp] [/img]

Here's what it looks like.

Gene

[toplessexpat]

Got it - kinda looks like a 124 Coupe A.

Are you putting side lights in the turn signal too (i.e. Using the 1157 or whatever bulb as was stock?)

[brackie1]

the side lights do blink but not LED.


GENE

[toplessexpat]

By side lights I mean parking lights....?

Oh - T10 LED bulbs fit the markers nicely

[DieselSpider]

A standard flasher works because it has a bimetallic heat strip inside it that bends and turns the lights off when it gets hot however LED's draw so little current that the heat strip many times does not have enough of an electrical load on it to heat up and cycle.

Get the electronic flasher which uses a timer circuit instead of heat and nix the resistor that you have to locate where heat won't damage anything.

[toplessexpat]

Diesel - not true. Some flashers are still going to have an issue. The resistor fixes it - especially if you're running LEDs all round. On a turn signal - they don't heat up enough to worry. Mount them to metal and all is well.

[brackie1]

So, the front turn signals lites are sealed flushed mounted LED'S. I am not running LED'S anywhere else. I really didn't want LED'S but that was all that I could find that was round and flush mounted. I ordered the electronic flasher from AR and resistors for the LED blinkers. my question is will the electronic flasher have any adverse affect on the non-LED'S.


GENE

[toplessexpat]

None at all.

In fact - If only front LEDs, don't worry about the resistors for now. Save them for when you replace the rear bulbs in a couple of years time and remember this conversation......

[brackie1]

Thanks Andy, I really appreciate your help. hey what set soflfiat off. LOL.

Gene

[toplessexpat]

No worries....

... and he just needs a hug!