Turn signals not working

I don't know much about 328's, but it's always worth a try to just turn on the emergency flasher for a few seconds, then try the turn signals again. Sometimes it's just a "glitch".

 

check to ensure all lamps are good. On my '79, if one filament is broken, it opens the circuit and prevents the signals from working

 

I just went through my left side signal not working. Sprayed some contact cleaner into the switch (without removing it) working it while doing this, and it works like new now. You should try this before doing anything difficult.

 

That most definitely is not the Flasher for the direction indicators -- unfortunately, there is another relay called "relay for flashing" (which leads to confusion), but that's for flashing the (white) front lights when you pull back on the stalk. The Flasher has a larger rectangular outer case (rather than a cube shape) -- what your picture shows is relay similar to a common Bosch ...113 relay (but with a lower current rating).

Item J (behind the passenger footwell) in this 1989 US 328 OM figure is the "flasher for the direction indicators" (note the taller shape):

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Jeff gave a good suggestion -- try your emergency flasher -- it uses the same flasher unit to do the blinking, so, if that works, you know the flasher is OK and the trouble is in the direction indicators wiring/switch/etc.. If the emergency flashers don't work either, then that warrants making some voltage measurements in the relay J socket.

 

Interesting..... my Swiss Market 328 has the turn signal flasher underneath the dash in the steering wheel shaft area.

 

You might want to check to see if there are any loose connections under the steering column. They come off pretty easy. Happened to me once.

Dave

 

What "manual" are you referring to? -- can you post the diagram?

I know of many cases where the later OMs don't get updated correctly -- so anything's possible, and I just noticed that in the non-ABS and ABS 328 wiring diagrams for the relays they show nothing at all in that "J" position (so that seems strange too if you've got something there).

The flasher is shown a three terminal device in the non-ABS and ABS US 328 wiring diagram schematics -- can you please give the terminal numbers shown on that particular relay.
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Sometimes there are extra unused pins on devices, so having 4 tabs doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. Unfortunately, the terminal numbers in the .pdf files of the 328 wiring diagrams I have are just illegible (maybe one is "31"), but if you can post what's shown on that relay (and which ones actually have a mating wire in the socket) perhaps someone with a better copy can see if the terminal numbers match up.

 

Forgot to add that the wire colors at the socket might help identify things -- both ABS and non-ABS 328 US wiring diagrams show the connections to those three used terminals on the Flasher as:

one terminal = one N (black) wire = always ground

one terminal = one M (brown) wire = always +12V when key "on"

one terminal = two BN (white/black) wires = one goes to the turn signal switch center pole and one goes to the hazard switch. When the flasher unit cycles "closed" -- these BN wires are connected to the M wire.

Once you confirm the Flasher location, and if the hazard lights don't work either with the Flasher in place, remove the Flasher and connect a male-to-male jumper wire between the M wire and the BN wire female terminals in the relay socket (simulating a "closed" Flasher). Turn the key "on" and set the turn signal stalk to signal left (hazard lights "off") -- all of the LH turn indicator lamps should come "on". Likewise, set the turn signal stalk to right with key "on", and all of the RH turn indicator lamps should come "on". If you pass this test, you can be pretty sure the the wiring and switch is OK and that the Flasher unit itself is bad. If you don't pass this test, you can't conclude anything about the Flasher and need to find out why. Good Hunting!

 

With those terminal labels I would make the same conclusion -- it's simple relay -- not a flasher. Is the wiring in the socket (either # of contacts, wire colors, etc.) also different than as I described?

 

Someone else chime in if I'm way off-base here, but I'd be careful spraying contact cleaner into your stalk switch. I have heard of other folks doing this and it eventually eats away at the plastic internals of the switch. (Read $$$ for replacement.) If you need to replace, though, Verell does a nice replacement for these switches at a fraction of what it would cost to even find one these stalks...

 

It's a lot easier to find when it's working and making a nice clicking sound so you can track it down. But then..... why would you be looking for it if it's working

 

From the Oct '88 spare parts catalog:

#9 - "Flascher for direction lights"
61111200 - Until car 64125 - Not for US - Behind the footrest
61048000 - From car 64127 - Not for US - Underneath the dashboard
61814700 - US - Beneath the footrest
61651800 - US - Underneath the dash board

It doesn't specify the change point for US models.

Tav 126 itself shows item 9 next to (and taller than) item 42: 62567200 - "Control relay for ABS system - USA and J MY89"

 

I wonder if this was done so it would be easier to hear the clicking of the flasher unit?? I imagine you would not hear much or maybe anything if it were mounted underneath the footrest.

 

I have an early 86 328 Euro, number 916, and the relay is in the passanger foot well. I too had the same issue and after tearing apart the console and finding that the contacts needed to be cleaned inside the hazard flasher I still noticed an intermitant problem. So I traced it to the relay in the foot well and found that the coil was failing and a little kick of the panel, when installed, brings it back to life...interesting.

Where can I buy a new relay from?? Can I go to a local parts place???

 

This is what I'm using: http://superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html (scroll down to Electronic LED Flashers)

It will work with standard incandescent bulbs or LED's. You want relay part # CF13GL-02 for this application.

No yellow box with a horse on it but $12.95 + $5.00 postage works for me

 

Great...THANKS !!!