Flasher relay, Hi all. My van was pretty modified in the USA before I got it. I think I’ve just fried my flasher relay u it but the one I have has five terminal but only 4 attached. Any advice on which replacement to get? Thanks.
Normally the actual flasher relay is a 3 terminal relay plugged in below the fuse box. That looks like something else, a generic automotive normally open relay, especially the way the 12 volt power is applied through hacky connectors. Basically in normal use with the flasher relay plugged in below the fuse box, one terminal "+" has 12 volts provided through the hazard flasher switch. When you pull for hazards it goes straight to unswitched 12v, otherwise its through the ignition switch for indicators. The other terminal "49a" goes back to the hazard flasher switch, and is routed to whichever set of indicator lamps need to flash : both sides if you pull out the hazard switch, or connected via the indicator stalk. The third terminal "31" is ground. If the indicators have stopped working, first port of call is the hazard flasher switch. These fall apart. Also check the fuse for indicators, and if the hazard flashers still work the flasher relay is still OK.
Thanks, The indicators come on with the stalk turned but just don’t flash or when pulling the hazard warning. The wiring is a real mess of spaghetti under the dash so I’m at a loss where to investigate this. Anyone know any good electrical vw savvy people near Chester?
You can do it. Just relax about it. The wiring is logical. I have to admit I don't have a head for wires but we all have something we find we're good at..this isn't it. However, wiring is binary, on or off, on fire or not. If I can work through stuff, you can. They do say the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time
It is logical. An electrician will cost you a lot of money to apply simple logic. Next question - when you turn off the ignition , do the indicators stop working - they should, as with the hazard switch in, there should be a circuit from the ignition switch through the fuse box. This is a useful schematic : from the Samba.com : The flasher relay is J2. The ignition switch is D. The hazard switch is E3. The dashboard blinkers are K5 The M5,M6, M7, M8 are the external indicator bulbs. K6 is the bulb in the knob of the hazard switch. So if it indicates with the hazard switch pushed in, there is a circuit from 15 to + on the hazard switch. which goes to + on the relay. The contacts on the hazard switch are shown in the "switch in" position. When you pull the switch out , it connects the power from 30 to + , and separately shorts out the indicator switch connections between 49a, R and L. Which powers the relay, and connects it to both sets of lamps regardless of where the indicator stalk switch E2 is pushed.
Thanks, Unfortunately the ignition is not connected and has been replaced by a starter switch. It’s a mystery how the whole thing is wired. I have a battery cut off switch as if I don’t have this the battery drains and I haven’t found the source of the drain
If you're up for it, you need to get a wiring diagram for your year of bus, then one step at a time remove all that bodgy wiring and put it back where it should be. One step at a time. What's in the fuse box position where the flasher relay should go?
Thanks, Just to explain. I’m not very mechanically minded but willing to have a go. I have the wiring diagram but I need some pictures of what it should look like. Lines on a page look very different to wires dangling in a mess at the back of my dash. Is anyone willing to post some photographs of the wiring in their van? Thanks
Have a look at some of the earlier diagrams, the wiring probably 98% identical and laid out in a van shape.
Wheres that from Steve. Could do with a better definition copy for printing A4, laminating and sticking on my wall!!
yep thats where im going. Found samba ones. definition is very good on the one im looking at! ... Thankyou!
This style is also useful because it shows the likely place where wires will be but obscures the functions of each circuit. Under the dash of even a tidily wired stock example there are many fairly loosely bundled coloured wires with occasional use of sleeving , guided around by bits of bent metal and connections to switches. In other words even when its 100% stock all you can do is trace colours and match with the schematic in the chaos. In any case, tracing wires is done by colour and diameter, then using something like the automotive tester I have that puts a current limited ( thermal trip) voltage on a wire if you push a switch , or grounds it through the same thermal trip.. and you can see what turns on, or you can touch a connection with it to see if it has 12 volts on it. As for the OP it sounds like starting the search around where the ignition switch should be, and maybe fitting a new switch. Its been hotwired to run with just the start button .. so you have to turn off the isolator to stop it ?
Thanks. The bus is away at the moment having a wheel bearing done but from memory there is one cylindrical thing and another metallic unit. What looks like a relay is in my attached picture at the beginning of the thread. Does that look like a relay? I've ordered a 12 Volt indicator relay VW beetle and type 2 Bay (4 Pin) from Just Kampers and was planning on attaching the wires in the same configuration to see if that works. I'm hoping this doesn't blow the system. Currently all indicators and lights work appropriately. The indicators are on but don't flash. The same for the hazard. If I pull it on all indicator lights come on but don't flash. Many thanks
It is a relay. Our concern was that the original may still be there, plugged into the fusebox, and that someone had bodged an extra one on!
It's slowly dawning on me that a lot of bodging has been going on with this thing! I've been slowly sorting it out and smartening up / replacing bodged areas. The electrics have me stumped though. It's like a living being constantly striving attention! Great fun though!
Fun’s one way of describing it The vans attract bodgers like a magnet, especially the wiring. As above, get a good coloured wiring diagram and investigate anything that doesn’t look original - nice vinyl cable with brass crimps. Anything with red or blue insulated crimps on is worth investigating…
