front turning signals don't blink

[applewew]

Hello,

The front turning signals on my 85 tercel don't blink. They do turn on when I turn on the high beam, but they never blink when I'm using the turning signals or emergency lights.

Any hints?

[dlb]

your front turn signals only come on when you turn on the high beams, and they are on constantly then? do they come on at all when you flick the turn signal switch or hazard switch? do the rear turn signals blink like they should? did this problem just start?

first i would check fuses, then i would check the blinker relay, then i would check for corroded grounds.

make sure you're looking at the lights down below the bumper and not the running lights to the outside of the headlights.

[Petros]

the turn signal lights are the ones under the bumper, not the ones next to the head lights, those are just marking lights and should come on with the head lights.

It could be the blinker relay for the turn signal indicators. this is a standard part common to many cars, you might find yours under the dash, removed it and go to a wrecking yard and try and match it (or for a test, borrow one from another car and swap it out). That would be an inexpensive test to swap the signal relay. Otherwise you might actually use the FSM to do a system test, just follow the directions.

[applewew]

This makes sense, Im feeling stupid

Turns out there are holes where the turning lights should be.

Ill let you guys know how this works out

[mikey]

I'm laughing because I'm not the only one. When I bought my first old Tercel I must have spent half an hour before I realized that the turn signals were under the bumper. Here's where I can beat you all...three years later I bought my second old Tercel, and I did it again. Out of sight, out of mind!

[c_j]

Turns out there are holes where the turning lights should be.

I smashed out those turn signal lights on my first terc on rocks and the like, so I ended up changing the wiring. If I remember correctly I had 5 or 7 relays under the hood, so I must have used a relay or two for that or maybe I used a 4-pack of diodes.

Anyhow. I made the front side markers and front running lights work the same - running plus signal. Let me draw up some crappy diagram...

please stand by....
... ... ...
So, I guess I must have used 3 relays:

signal_and_running_lights.JPG

(yes, thank you for any compliments on my skills with MS Paint - someone please redraw this for me - or I might if I get to a better computer)

This may affect your signal flasher speed (might blink fast like with LED lights, so I can offer up a solution for that or just get a LED flasher and that *should* work).

The methodology here is like a three way switch setup for lights in your house where you have two switches (relays in our case) controlling one light. We have kind of a hybrid of that here because we have 3 switches (relays) controlling 2 lights (two sides of the car, but actually 4 lights).

Most confusing enough for ya?

[dlb]

you're no picasso but that is an excellent guide. there has been some past interest from members on the forum on doing this so i'm sure some peeps will find that extremely useful.

[ARCHINSTL]

c_j...
How about duplicating your diagram post and putting it into the Repair Guides section?
I am one of those that dlb mentioned.
Tom M.

[applewew]

That's very useful info, thanks a lot for the diagram