Turn signal flasher

The turn signal flasher crapped out on my 70 CJ5. I was surprised to find that it's a 3 prong unit. I got a #550 from NAPA, but it flashes really fast-obviously the resistance is wrong. My FSM lists a #144 flasher, which doesn't seem to correspond to any modern numbers. Does anybody know the correct part number?

 

It's the load that determines the flashing rate on the mechanical flashers. If you add more load in parallel (ie trailer lights), the bi-metal in the flasher heats up faster and cycles faster. LED lights have the opposite problem - too little load, and the relay won't cycle.

You could try a flasher that's "heavy duty" - meant for trailer towing, or an electronic flasher.

<edit> RockAuto only lists a 2-prong flasher for that app. Though you can find plenty of different 3-prong flashers on the 'net if you search.

 

This may be useful: http://www.telstar-electronics.com/FlashAlert Manual.pdf

 

Your local auto parts store should have a three prong "Electronic" flasher that will fix this problem quite easily and cheaply. The three terminals are L (Load), X (+12v), and P (dash indicator) ... as far as my limited experience with these goes, they generally are always the same positions on the flashers, but it doesn't hurt to make sure the one you grab matches the old unit.

These electronic flashers use an IC555 digital timer and don't rely on the circuit load to make the timing. I've not needed one on my jeep so far, but they've worked wonderfully on everything else I've ever tried them with. You're probably looking to spend an extra $4 more than the bi-metal flasher unit, but these should be available locally just about anywhere.

The only down-side is that the cheaper units don't change the blink timing if you have a bulb burn out, so you have to check your blinkers every once in a while to make sure everything is still working as intended.

 

^I tried this suggestion & got an electronic flasher (NAPA EL13), and the turn signals work great, but the indicator light on the turn signal switch doesn't work! Aargh! I hat it when stupid little stuff gets frustrating...

 

You may need to double check the wiring in case the prongs connect to different locations than on your stock unit. Make sure that your +12V in line goes to the terminal marked with either X or + ... The main power out to the lights goes to the terminal marked L, and the P terminal connects to the pilot indicator light... I wouldn't think its likely, but i guess it could be that your P and L are crossed... Either that, or you may not have a good ground on the pilot ... Was this working as expected with the previous relay?

 

Yep AFAIK it was all stock-judging by the appearance of the original flasher is think it was the original one from 1970. Nothing's been changed in the 13 years I've owned it, and the lights always worked fine till recently...

 

Looks like you're not the first person to run into this problem... Check out this thread..

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?7611-turn-signal-flasher-psrt-number

Seems it might be worth re-grounding, or at least double checking the ground from the pilot indicator light... Looks like it may be a common problem.