Blinker problem

[Cartzo]

I have had my front turn signals off for a while because I have a tube bumper and lack the right parts to attach them. Because of that my turn signals blink rapidly. I also just did a big 3 upgrade about 2 weeks ago. I upgraded neg - chassis, neg - engine block, and pos - starter with 0 gauge wire.

Today I was driving and when I used my turn signal my hazards would flash. No matter left or right, it would engage my hazards and would blink slowly. Every once in a while it would stop and be normal or it would fade in and out from slow hazards to fast turn signal. When I got home I shut off my yota and turned on the signals and my battery gauge would bounce up and down with each click/blink of the signal as well as my brake light that is constantly on would get bright and dim.

I read here:
Parking brake light constantly on - YotaTech Forums

on post #10 that a failing alternator can cause your brake light to stay on all the time like mine does. Like he says, it is constantly on, but when I pull the e-brake it gets brighter and dimmer when I let it off.

Has anyone had this problem?

 

[fourwd1]

Toyota designed the idiot light system so that with some alternator problems the BRAKE light would come on along with the CHARGE light (it's called diode OR'ing).
You didn't mention that the CHARGE light was coming on at all.

The fact that things dim in unison with the blinker usually indicates a weak alternator, but if this is at idle rpm's it's not that unusual.

The fact that the light gets brighter with the e-brake being on is simply because that path to the bulb does not include the diode used in the diode OR'ing circuit, so there is no voltage drop (ie, the BRAKE bulb gets a little higher voltage, so it's brighter).

 

[Cartzo]

Now that you say that, my charge light isn't always on. Sometimes it will flicker on some times and it will stay on for a while then go back off. That happens rarely.

 

[Cartzo]

Toyota designed the idiot light system so that with some alternator problems the BRAKE light would come on along with the CHARGE light (it's called diode OR'ing).
You didn't mention that the CHARGE light was coming on at all.

The fact that things dim in unison with the blinker usually indicates a weak alternator, but if this is at idle rpm's it's not that unusual.

The fact that the light gets brighter with the e-brake being on is simply because that path to the bulb does not include the diode used in the diode OR'ing circuit, so there is no voltage drop (ie, the BRAKE bulb gets a little higher voltage, so it's brighter).

Would it be best if I just replaced the alternator then?

 

[fourwd1]

I wouldn't jump to that until I had a better handle on the problem.
Start by checking the voltage at the battery w/ engine off.
Then with engine on at idle rpm, then with idle at maybe 2k.
Engine off a good charged batt should be 12.6V, engine running and a good alt it should be absolute minimum of 13.8V.
Then there a few more checks you can do.

 

[Chuckles89]

Before KidV gets to this question, is your blinker fluid low? :brick:

 

[fourwd1]

Obviously he's not low on blinker fluid or they wouldn't be working at all.

 

[Forward Recon]

No joke guys, I have this same turn signal causing Hazards problem. 1992 4runner 3L

Pressure washed the truck the other day and immediately after the signals quit working and left or right causes only 4ways. Then it fixed itself two days later probably by drying out. Then it rained and started again. Then it got worse and the left signal is totally out. Right signal causes 4ways.

Hazards have worked all along.

So naturally something got wet right?

Here's what I've done:

-Checked fuses

-Checked all wiring from all four corners and tracked as far as possible through the vehicle for issues, moisture especially. None.

-Checked bulbs, under bulbs and light internals for moisture. None

-Wired in a trailer converter some time ago. Inspection proved nothing so I cut it out(Actually cut it) completely.

-Replaced Flasher

-I have some spare trucks so I tried another multi function switch(lever setup from behind steering wheel) from one of them. No symptom change.

-Inspected all wiring at fuse box.

Everything is in good shape. This truck is in stunningly good shape for it's year.

Totally run out of ideas

Help!

 

[Forward Recon]

Oh, and I have the same symptom of the charge gauge bouncing when the signal lever is on. 4ways blinking only though.

 

[Dropzone]

When you cut out the trailer converted what did you do to protect the cut wires from grounding out?

 

[Forward Recon]

I cut it free just for the test. Wires touched nothing. But the problem didn't start or change with that test.

 

[giro]

Then it rained and started again. Then it got worse and the left signal is totally out. Right signal causes 4ways.

Do all 4 blinkers flash when it seems that the 4 way blinkers are on? Or is it just 3, or really just 2 plus the dashboard indicator? That might help narrow it down.

I haven't had this problem on my '92, but even though you checked for moisture at the signals I'd probably first look back there again, especially at any seals on them. With a 24 year old vehicle, I'd think the seals are shot and that could let moisture in, causing a short to ground which could then energize the other light or lights through grounds, even though the FSM page 11 of the wiring diagrams has each with a different ground point.

I'd also check the last connectors before the bulbs (FSM page BE-23). That's probably in a place that could get enough rain or spray to matter, and maybe they don't seal as well as they once did.

Sorry....not much help. Let us know what you find.

 

[Forward Recon]

If I punch the hazard button on the dash, all 4 lights flash. If I turn the signal right all 4 lights flash. Until today. Right signal works as it should now. No left signal at all. No response on left signal. Hazards still work as they should. I'm going to dig in to it again this afternoon. I'm feeling pretty aimless with it though...

 

[theking11863]

Oh, and I have the same symptom of the charge gauge bouncing when the signal lever is on. 4ways blinking only though.

I'm pretty sure the bounce is normal. It just means the car is using electricity. It bounces because the turn signal lights are turn on and off. Mine did the exact same thing, car on or off. I also would see the gauge do this when I'd roll my windows up

 

[Ahlem]

Can you plug the front signals back in, just dangling, possibly with a double alligator clip jumper to ground to see what happens? I've found that clean grounds everywhere are a really good idea and contact cleaner and fresh electrical grease never hurts.

 

[Forward Recon]

Solved!!!

So, the water thing really had me going. It turns out water had nothing to do with it, the E-brake lever did. So when I parked and used the E-brake to wash my truck it caused the failure.

The owner before me had done some hokey wiring for some fog lights and routed the wiring harness in to a position where it rested on the E-brake shaft. It wore through the harness cutting the left turn signal wire and exposing the right turn signal wire. So when I toggled the lever it powered both. Until the left turn signal was completely cut, then powering the right signal still caused both, but the left power was cut free, causing nothing.

I would not have figured this out if I didn't track my way to the FSM through this site. I studied the wiring diagrams and noticed a splice point(16) positioned behind the ignition which is where the Hazards and signals become one. The symptoms suggested the problem lay before that splice because the Hazards worked but the left turn signal didn't. Contorting my face in there was hard but revealed the exposed wires. Some careful reattaching and some extra hose as a wire harness shield has me back on the road in perfect condition!

Thanks for the help guys! What a resource this site is.