Headlight Flasher issue

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
Message
Author
Jim Beam
356 Fan
Posts: 405
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Headlight Flasher issue

#1 Post by Jim Beam »

Hi All. Hope everyone had a safe 4th driving their 356 cars. My car is a 1963B Coupe (T6) base. Since I bought it in 1973, the headlight flasher has never worked. I have just flashed oncoming cars by pulling out the headlight switch and pushing the switch back in to off position quickly. Not very sophisticated but has worked for the past 45+ years. I now have some time on my hands, am looking for some projects and the headlight flasher fix comes to mind. All other light features work, i.e. high/low beams, directional signals, etc. Any suggestions on how to trouble-shoot this issue?
Appreciated. Jim
1963B (T6) Coupe
1987 3.2 Carrera
1985 FJ60 Landcruiser
1993 Miata

User avatar
Mike Wilson
Classifieds Monitor
Posts: 11490
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
Location: SW Los Angeles

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

Do the high beams work?

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Dick Weiss
356 Fan
Posts: 4181
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 am

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#3 Post by Dick Weiss »

Jim,

Most likely the contacts in the stalk switch are dirty or burned; You'll have to remove the switch from the steering column to check its operation w/a meter and possibly clean the contacts, or spray 'em w/a cleaner
as its difficult to disassemble for access. It's been a long long long time since I worked on one.
Careful to note the wiring harness colors 1-@-a-time to check for corrosion in/on the bullet connectors.

Dick

Dick Weiss
356 Fan
Posts: 4181
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 am

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#4 Post by Dick Weiss »

OH--There's a relay (?) involved, too.

Jim Beam
356 Fan
Posts: 405
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#5 Post by Jim Beam »

Mike: Yes the high beams work with activation of the lever on the steering column. All other functions work, i.e. turn signals, high and low beam headlights, etc. The only thing lacking is the headlight flasher function. Thanks. Jim
1963B (T6) Coupe
1987 3.2 Carrera
1985 FJ60 Landcruiser
1993 Miata

Jim Beam
356 Fan
Posts: 405
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#6 Post by Jim Beam »

Dick: Thanks for your response. I think you are right-on and my problem is with the contacts in steering wheel unit electrics. However, getting into that is beyond my pay grade. So, I'll probably just continue as I have been doing these past many years and use the headlight switch to flash a 'Hello' to oncoming 356ers. Jim
1963B (T6) Coupe
1987 3.2 Carrera
1985 FJ60 Landcruiser
1993 Miata

User avatar
Mike Wilson
Classifieds Monitor
Posts: 11490
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
Location: SW Los Angeles

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#7 Post by Mike Wilson »

At the least you can squirt electronic cleaner into the switch.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Eric Lenius
356 Fan
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:12 pm
Tag: More is More
Location: Port Orchard, WA

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#8 Post by Eric Lenius »

Jim,

I am not sure the T-6 has a headlight flash function. I don't recall anything in the stock electrical system to accomplish this.

Eric L.

User avatar
Mike Wilson
Classifieds Monitor
Posts: 11490
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
Location: SW Los Angeles

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#9 Post by Mike Wilson »

My '63 T-6 has the flash function activated by pulling back on the turn signal lever. Pushing it forward activates the high beams.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Eric Lenius
356 Fan
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:12 pm
Tag: More is More
Location: Port Orchard, WA

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#10 Post by Eric Lenius »

Aahh! so, momentary actuation when pulling.

User avatar
Mike Wilson
Classifieds Monitor
Posts: 11490
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
Location: SW Los Angeles

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#11 Post by Mike Wilson »

Correct, Eric.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Hugo Karasawa
356 Fan
Posts: 720
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2016 10:40 pm
Location: Texas

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#12 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

Jim,
Have you checked the headlight relay?
It is the one that controls the headlight flash.
356 T6 relays.jpg
356 T6 relays.jpg (144.04 KiB) Viewed 1378 times

User avatar
Mike Wilson
Classifieds Monitor
Posts: 11490
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
Location: SW Los Angeles

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#13 Post by Mike Wilson »

Good point, Hugo. Jim: have someone activate the flash while you listen to see if the relay clicks.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Jim Beam
356 Fan
Posts: 405
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#14 Post by Jim Beam »

I checked my car again today. Engine running at idle, headlights on, push forward on the turn signal lever and the brights come on; pull back and the brights go off; pull further back toward the diver and nothing - no flash. I think I will check the flash relay as noted.
1963B (T6) Coupe
1987 3.2 Carrera
1985 FJ60 Landcruiser
1993 Miata

Jim Beam
356 Fan
Posts: 405
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Re: Headlight Flasher issue

#15 Post by Jim Beam »

Also, where to source a new flasher relay?
1963B (T6) Coupe
1987 3.2 Carrera
1985 FJ60 Landcruiser
1993 Miata

Post Reply