Quiet Turn Signals (Indicators) Relay Solutions?

[LugNut]

Been searching the site, but not finding a direct answer to solving the nearly silent indicator problem. Way back, in the old, old days, we'd replace the flasher unit with a heavy-duty version meant for trailer-towing.

I do read that the Toyota flasher part is OEM-only. Any solutions for increasing the sound produced? Thanks!

[CTScott]

Just add a pair of loud clicky relays across the turn signal wires.

[LugNut]

Thanks, but it seems like that would take away current from the lights, making them fractionally dimmer/less safe ...

How 'bout the newer years -- do they have louder flasher-relays? If so, maybe Toyota upgraded the part, and possibly a newer year's would fit in the 2007s?

What are you 2009+ owners hearing when you use your turn signals?

[CTScott]

Thanks, but it seems like that would take away current from the lights, making them fractionally dimmer/less safe ...

How 'bout the newer years -- do they have louder flasher-relays? If so, maybe Toyota upgraded the part, and possibly a newer year's would fit in the 2007s?

What are you 2009+ owners hearing when you use your turn signals?

They are all the same for quite a span of years.

You are completely incorrect on the current piece. A relay coil has very high resistance in comparison to a bulb, so the effect of the coil (which would draw less than 100 mA) would be negligible.

[BEEF]

regardless, it is a parallel path. it would cause the circuit to draw more current from the battery not limit the current to the light.

it shouldn't affect the brightness at all.

***edit***

and (as CT said) since the current draw is so low, it won't exceed the fuse carrying capacity either unless you go gonzo and put a dozen of them in.

[LugNut]

"You are completely incorrect on the current piece"

Thanks, but the snippy attitude is totally inappropriate. Grow up, or if unintended, be a bit more careful before hitting enter.

I do see an aftermarket relay on RockAuto.com, but they want nearly $50 and it may not be louder. If this is an issue on many models, it seems that there is a business opportunity for someone to design, have made, and sell louder flasher units!

[ilikerice]

how else are you suppose to say.. "you are completely wrong"????

[BLH]

If you put a relay coil in parallel with the bulbs You do increase the total current. The coils current adds to the bulbs current. Though the coil current is probably so small compared to the bulbs. It would not matter much.

I used a 12 volt sounder on one of my older cars. Connected across the turn signal bulbs.
Scared every mechanic I forgot to tell about it.

[ecc_33]

"You are completely incorrect on the current piece"

Thanks, but the snippy attitude is totally inappropriate. Grow up, or if unintended, be a bit more careful before hitting enter.


Ok nancy boy, Take off your suite and tie and toughin up a bit. That was not offensive in anyway. Not sure how you read that but he was tried and true to the point. He is a toyota mechanic and prob one of the best. I would listen for sure.

[BEEF]

If you put a relay coil in parallel with the bulbs You do increase the total current. The coils current adds to the bulbs current.


that's exactly what I said.

it would cause the circuit to draw more current from the battery

though it seems the OP is upset so I doubt he will take anyones advice. oh well.

[LugNut]

No, definitely do use this forums to obtain advice, but being a mechanic myself from decades ago, I don't do shadetree patchjobs where not necessary. Obviously, this problem needs an engineered fix by Toyota -- it is a safety issue as another person posted in different thread. He had a car pull out in front of him because his blinker was on and he couldn't hear it. Has this problem been reported to Toyota and the NTSB?

[ilikerice]

I dont know about this being a safety issue.. I mean, their is a bright green light blinking in front of you.. at its not like the steering wheel is covering it up like other cars..

Its more driver awareness than safety to me.. even if someones turn signal is on, you never suppose to pull out in front of them unless they are actually going to turn.. Ive been to 4 defensive driving classes for being young and dumb with too many tickets.. I taken that test way too many times.

I do think it could be a TSB though.. for those who complain about the sound of the flasher, they could replace it with a new louder one.. I have never had a problem with my turn signals staying on with out me noticing it within a min.

my 2 cents

[CTScott]

You are not going to find a modern louder one that fits in that package. You can see from the picture below how small the two relays are, that are contained within. In the days of old, you needed a large set of contacts and a hefty spring to switch a 4+ Amp DC load without the contacts occasionally welding together. Modern materials allow far smaller relays to more reliably do the job of yesterday's larger ones. So, if you want a louder click it will need to be done by means of external larger relays or an audio generating circuit.

I don't think you'll ever get an automotive manufacturer or the NTSB to say that a quiet relay is a safety issue, since one must have vision to be allowed to drive.


44477

[LugNut]

Except ... that they did an "interesting" thing and put the instrument cluster in the middle of the car, and not directly in front of the driver. Drivers must look far to the side to gather critical information -- that's a design flaw, IMHO.

So it is a combination of a number of factors -- quiet flasher, poor cluster location, and econo car with a noisier interior than higher-end models that apparently use the same flasher.

This is a potential safety defect. What are (certified or otherwise) technicians and employees of automobile companies and their networks required to do when potential safety defects become apparent?

And what happens when they don't do it?

[CTScott]

I still don't follow your logic in jumping to it being a "safety defect". Failure to turn off flashers, due to not realizing that one left them on is 100% operator error.

[LugNut]

That's an unfortunate opinion. Others, if you also are experiencing this problem, here's where to file a complaint:

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Hopefully Toyota will do the right thing when they are made aware of the problem.

[bobolinko]

Hopefully Toyota will do the right thing when they are made aware of the problem.

Better idea for you...
Buy a f'n hearing aid and a different car so that you can join a different forum, and take your cryin elsewhere. There are only EXPERTS and big boys here. No room for high-nosed cryin a-holes on this forum.

CT Scott has done more for this community than you could ever dream to achieve in your life, so don't go knockin him when you're the stuffed shiXt..

GoodBye and don't let the door hit your butt when you exit. :evil:

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

Better idea for you...
Buy a f'n hearing aid and a different car so that you can join a different forum, and take your cryin elsewhere. There are only EXPERTS and big boys here. No room for high-nosed cryin a-holes on this forum.

CT Scott has done more for this community than you could ever dream to achieve in your life, so don't go knockin him when you're the stuffed shiXt..

GoodBye and don't let the door hit your butt when you exit. :evil:

:laugh: WHOA, good comeback there. i'll bet he goes away now....

[OTA'sTOY]

^ i dont think he heard that
seeing its been 4mos lol
***or maybe he did and now sports some "high tech listening enhancers"***

[Kioshi]

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:: laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

What an a%$&....CTScott is supreme here. Without him a good 50%+ people here would not have cruise control, JDM mods, etc completed.

Maybe he is like the rest of the drivers, too lazy to turn his head when lane changing and whatnot.

[yrsgirl]

this forums so dead, all we got now are these zombie threads... *sigh*

[Yury]

fyi, a turn signal clicker in a 2008 and later Chev Malibu is not a relay, but a digitally produced sound that comes out of your speakers. When your radio is up it drowns it almost completely. If memory serves, people have lost it completely by just swapping aftermarket radios (and not bothering with special adapters and such).
Obviously not considered a safety issue.

PS I would take a relay over this computer emulation any day. It just carries better for some reason. Maybe because the source of the sound is at a physically different location.

[yarisugi]

I love zombie thread.

Connect turn signal relay to horn.

I'd like to take the time to thank you, CTScott, for all the help you've given us.

[cali yaris]

Failure to turn off flashers, due to not realizing that one left them on is 100% operator error.

TRUTH! can I throw my thread necro card now? can I?

[bobolinko]

Minnasan, gommen ne! ragu nutto wa bakkayaro kara!

[Betrivent]

Reading this thread.. guys you really go overboard sometimes. He didn't need to be ganged up on because of his opinion.