Help : Hazards don't blink

[jakester888]

I have the Ron Francis wiring harness, Russ Thompson turn signal and using the attached wiring diagram. Inclusive of diodes. My lights are normal 12v auto lights (not LED).

67160

Symptom : When I turn on the hazard switch, all 4 lights stay on and do not blink.

What I have tested:
1) New Flasher : I have swapped out the hazard thermal flasher to a new unit and also tried the turn signal flasher unit. Same result every time.
2) Removed flasher with hazard switch on : Upon removal, all 4 lights turn off as expected. Upon insertion, all 4 lights turn on but do not flash.
3) I removed the aluminum canister cover from a working thermal flasher and inserted the unit. I noted that turning on/off the hazard switch does NOT trigger the thermal switch to move. I manually moved the thermal switch (hot little bugger) to no effect. This means that whether the thermal switch is open or closed, all 4 lights are always on. But when I remove the flasher unit, all 4 lights turn off.
4) I measured the voltage and amperage at the thermal flasher unit at both the turn signal flasher and hazard flasher at the fuse box. Readings for both : 13.5 volts and 12 amps <-- when the switches are on. 0 & 0 when the switches are off. Normal.

So : it's not a bad flasher, the wiring looks right (according to the photo above), turn signals are working & blinking. Flashers flash but do not blink.

What the hell am I doing wrong?

[boat737]

I'm a novice at this, but is the flasher polarity dependent? Can it be inserted the the socket backwards? Probably not.

[CDXXVII]

Are your lamps installed? Flasher will not flash without a load. I do not believe they are polarity sensitive.


I misread your OP. I can not open your diagram on my phone. I'll check it out when I get home.

[CDXXVII]

Which diodes are you using? have you verified that the Russ Thompson unit functions properly?

I wired mine as in your wiring diagram and it works fine.

[jakester888]

Yes, lights are all installed. Turn signals function properly. The diodes were installed correctly. The problem existed both with and without diodes.

Last night I upgraded the flasher to the electronic type (for use with LEDs). Same result... hazard lights function but do not flash. What is confounding is that the hazards light up just fine with the flasher unit plugged in and turn off with the flasher unit removed. But do not blink at all. And whether the flasher unit is open or closed in both cases the hazards are always on. How can this be?

[weendoggy]

You don' t need the two diode's by the SPST switch (4-way).

[boat737]

Since I don't see the hazard flasher on your diagram, I assume it's prior to the SPST toggle switch on the dash. That's what the RF diagram shows

What I do see on the RF diagram, is that the Hazard switch is supposed to be a DPST, not a SPST as in your diagram. If it was a single pole switch, you would need the diodes, but with a double pole switch Weendoggy is correct and the diodes are not needed. The backfeed is taken care of by the double pole switch. So maybe it's something to do with those diodes.

[edwardb]

You don' t need the two diode's by the SPST switch (4-way).

Going to have to disagree with you there. As long as a single pole switch is used for the hazards (as shown in the schematic), the left and right turn signal circuits are always connected and would create havoc for their operation. The diodes prevent that. If the provided FF double pole switch is used (or an equivalent) then the left and right circuits are kept separate except when the hazards are switched on. Which is OK.

To the OP, I would try to isolate the problem by removing the pink hazard wire from the circuit. Connect a light bulb directly to the pink hazard wire and the other side to ground. A regular 1157 type bulb should have enough draw to flash the circuit. If it still doesn't work, the problem is upstream from there and has nothing to do with the hazard/turn signal circuit or switches shown. If it does flash, then the problem is in your circuit. But it would help to know where to look.