I have found turn signal flasher units that work with LED turn signals, which I have installed on my bus.
Mine flash, but ever so slowly, so I found these controllers which need a separate ground, but are supposed to work with LEDs, and the price seemed more reasonable than trying to find resistors to put in parallel with my lights(since Radio Shack disappeared).
My problem is, that I looked at the Maintenance manual electrical diagrams, and can't find any indication of it on any of the panels.
It seems like it would be in the panel by the driver's seat, but the diagram does not call it out. The Voltage regulator is located on the first bay wall, but that diagram doesn't show a flasher unit either. And before it is asked, No, I did not pull the cover yet and look for the "round thingy like in my car" yet. I think it was about 95 degrees plus inside the bus, so I was on a generous work-rest cycle so as to avoid heat exhaustion.
All help is greatly appreciated!
Steve Toomey
The flasher relay is in center of dash on front side. If you still have that panel on front right, open it. It is towards the center. It is bigger than the round ones.
Thanks John,
I don't know why 'Da Book' didn't make a reference to it. Maybe I just didn't search for the right term.
Steve
Still having trouble with turn signals. They blink, but VERRRRRRY SLOOOWWWWLLLY.
I don't see anything that even vaguely resembles a flasher unit anywhere under the dash. If any 4905 guys out there could take a picture , I would greatly appreciate it!
I have tried putting another 24VDC bulb in series with my LED turn signal, but even that doesn't seem to help, and it doesnt blink, so I think I have a different problem. Maybe my flasher unit is toast!
Is there an aftermarket 24 VDC electronic unit which I could use to replace this partially working one with?
I had planned on leaving Tuesday for Blytheville, but not sure if I want to risk having partially working turn signals.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Steve Toomey
If my memory is correct, the flasher unit on these is located inside the compartment to the right of the defroster core at the nose of the bus. This is the compartment at the nose of the bus, accessed from inside the bus over the stairs.
There will be two flashers in there - one of them is the flasher for the "Watch Steps" light on the ceiling over the aisle, and the other works the turn signal flashers.
Double check all your bulbs in your turn signal system. If one of them is blown or has a bad connection/ground the entire system goes wonky. There are six lights in the turn signal system - two front, two rear, and one on each side.
Remove the led's and reinstall regular bulbs. If the flasher now works properly, it'll save the cost of a new flasher. If the flasher is actually bad, contact Luke.
Here is one of several 24 volt 24 volt led flashers available.
https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-009492001-24V-Flasher-Unit/dp/B003C4WDHY
Quote from: chessie4905 on September 23, 2019, 04:06:33 AM
Remove the led's and reinstall regular bulbs. If the flasher now works properly, it'll save the cost of a new flasher. If the flasher is actually bad, contact Luke.
Here is one of several 24 volt 24 volt led flashers available.
https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-009492001-24V-Flasher-Unit/dp/B003C4WDHY
What he said. Didn't notice that you were running LEDs in the turn signals. The system is really fussy about having the correct bulbs in place.
Quote from: chessie4905 on September 23, 2019, 04:06:33 AM
Remove the led's and reinstall regular bulbs. If the flasher now works properly, it'll save the cost of a new flasher. If the flasher is actually bad, contact Luke.
Here is one of several 24 volt 24 volt led flashers available.
https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-009492001-24V-Flasher-Unit/dp/B003C4WDHY
Wow this is just the thread I was looking for!!! I figured there might be a problem switching over.
chessie4905: Have you used this flasher?
No, because I havent changed to leds.....yet🤔
OK-- Problem is fixed!!! Woo Hoo!!! Yipee! I can go to the Blytheville Bus Rally!!
To solve the resistence problem, I wired regular old incandescent bulbs in parallel with the LED's and I thought that fixed it( sort of Redneck, but it will do until I can buy the right resistor) It worked perfectly, but then the next time I turned on the signals(either left or right) they wouldn't blink or stayed on forever, but it wasn't consistent.
So I started checking and cleaning grounds. Yes, I cleaned all of them except for the little side ones, and still no change.
I remembered a post where somebody's turn signal switch at the steering wheel went bad, so I started there next.
When I got the connector apart under the dash, I immediately noticed what might be a problem. One of the pins was pushed out of the connector. I continued to check with my meter to see that the switch was working correctly.
Once I "fixed" that pin so it stays in the housing, I put it back together and crossed my fingers!
Turned the power back on and turned on the right blinker and like magic, it blinks perfectly! The left too, and the 4 ways!!
I have had trouble with the turn signals since I owned it, although they never worked as bad as when I added the LEDs. That connector must not have been seated right all these years.
I do still need to find where the relay physically resides, so I can get a spare, but for now all is well!
Steve Toomey
The relay is right behind the center dash panel. Open the dash panel door right by the entrance door steps. There are two flasher relays. A common sized one and a larger one about 1 1/2x2 1/2 x4". The larger one is for turn signals and 4 ways and the other one is for the flashing step sign if yours is still there/ working. The large relay is bolted to the channel.
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The turn signal flasher is a module, not the usual tin can. GM most likely used a "robust" flasher to handle hundreds of hours of turn signal and 4 way flasher use. Many times, these coaches would sit at terminals or other locations with 4 ways on for an hour or more. They needed a unit that would hold up to this use.
If you want to change to an led flasher, some time with the wiring diagrams and a conventuonal socket will be needed
Btw, some of those pictures are sideways to get a good image
Quote from: chessie4905 on September 23, 2019, 05:10:55 PM
The turn signal flasher is a module, not the usual tin can. GM most likely used a "robust" flasher to handle hundreds of hours of turn signal and 4 way flasher use. Many times, these coaches would sit at terminals or other locations with 4 ways on for an hour or more. They needed a unit that would hold up to this use.
If you want to change to an led flasher, some time with the wiring diagrams and a conventuonal socket will be needed
Btw, some of those pictures are sideways to get a good image
Do you know if there is a modern equivalent part for the flasher module? Or, are they still available should someone need one? The part number in my parts book (675551) doesn't appear to be a current part number from what I can see.
I do see heavy duty 24v two-wire flasher units out there, complete with heat sinks and all, but none with the same or similar numbers.
You could call Luke.
Was talking to Luke about something else this morning, and I asked him about the flasher assembly. He has an updated version of the flasher available should anyone need. FYI
John, Thanks for the pictures-that is what I have.
I am "Deep in the Heart of Texas" right now and the turn signals worked about 90% of the time on the trip here from Blytheville. I will be revamping the whole system when I get home, as it drives me nuts to have to fiddle with them to get them working while driving- and constantly check to make sure they are on.
I already have my "Christmas list" ready - so Luke will be getting some more business near the end of the year. That updated flasher unit may be on it.
Quote from: pabusnut on October 07, 2019, 06:08:29 PM
John, Thanks for the pictures-that is what I have.
I am "Deep in the Heart of Texas" right now and the turn signals worked about 90% of the time on the trip here from Blytheville. I will be revamping the whole system when I get home, as it drives me nuts to have to fiddle with them to get them working while driving- and constantly check to make sure they are on.
I already have my "Christmas list" ready - so Luke will be getting some more business near the end of the year. That updated flasher unit may be on it.
What specifically are you fiddling with to make the turn signals work?
You can easily bench test the flasher unit to see if it's working properly. The wiring diagram in the book should show you how it's wired - if you don't have a wiring diagram let me know and I'll post one.
If they are intermittently working, then my guess is you have a lose wire/bad connection/bad ground in the system.
Knowing if the problem is on one side or on both sides will let you know which half of the system you're dealing with. It's a pretty simple setup once you work through the diagram a few times.
Very common to have wiring issues at tailgate lights and wiring. That area gets all the dirt salt and gets corrosion issues in the wiring. Eliminate all crimped butt connectors. Clean, solder, and double shrink wrap all the connections with second shrink a little longer than first one. Especially check all the ground connections to the lamps and where they are attached to the lamps.