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Turn Signal issue. Need some help.

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John O'Brien

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Hi All:
I'm looking forward to watching and posting on this forum. I Have a '61 A-H Bugeye Sprite (Lucy), and a '65 A-H BJ8 (Madelyn) My BJ8 is an early Phase 2 model, meaning I have single marker lights front and rear, but I have left and right signal indicators on the dash fascia. I'm having problems sorting a wiring issue. When I turn either left or right signal on, both dash indicator lights flash, and they flash on when the exterior light is off, and off when the exterior lights are on. I have been studying the very excellent articles in Healey Marque by Bill Young, but they don's seem to address this configuration. ideas on how to proceed, or test to find the problem will be appreciated. I just replaced a faulty flasher unit, but the problem persists.
looking forward to collective wisdom.
John O'Brien
 
First, welcome to the forum, John. FOr your specific Sprite question, I woud encourage you to post the details of your problem/question in our "Sprigets" forum. I'm sure if you do you will get lots of help!

Basil
 
Hopefully Basil won't mind too much if I throw my 2 pence worth in here. I'm a Triumph guy, don't hang out on Healey forums, so I won't see your question there.

But, I'm fairly good at electrical circuits; and I think I know what your problem is. The problem is that the flashers being sold today do not work the same as the original one did; and while in most cases the difference (having the indicator light when the signals are dark) would not matter; it does matter with the original wiring for your car.

Ray (RAC68) conveniently posted a nice diagram that shows the original configuration on the left, and a fix on the right:
attachment.php

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf...ladder-logic&p=1094241&viewfull=1#post1094241

On the left, both dash indicator bulbs are fed from a single terminal on the flasher (P) that originally only went hot when the turn signals were lit. In order to get the two bulb effect (only one dash bulb lights at a time), they ran the ground for each bulb to the turn signal circuit for the other side.

Thus, for example, the left turn indicator would not light when the right turn signals were on, because both sides of the left indicator bulb would be hot at the same time. But the right turn indicator would get grounded through the dark left turn signal, and it would come on.

But, your flasher makes terminal P hot only when the turn signal output (terminal L) is not hot. Since both front turn signals are not powered at that moment, both dash indicators light.

The cure is to either source another flasher that does work "right" (I believe a Tridon EL13 will do), or else change your wiring so it will work with either type of flasher, as Ray showed on the right.

PS, Welcome to the asylum!

PPS, if your FLAPS (Friendly Local Auto Parts Store) doesn't have an EL13, you can get one from RockAuto
https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/tridon+/+novita,EL13,flasher,10139
 
Thanks Randall. I did not check at my FLAPS. I just ordered from Vicky Brit. and I am hoping they send me on that works correctly.
John
 
You have a lot more faith in VB than I do!!
 
I received it yesterday, and you were right to be skeptical. The one they sent me also alternates energizing the L tab and the P tab. I am going to check my FLAPS today. I have several to choose from, so I hope one of them carries the EL13 you mentioned. Wish me luck.
John
 
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