Headlight Flasher issue

[Mike Wilson]

With the headlights off, pulling the turn signal lever back flashes the high beams. I have the same feature on my Tacoma and Honda CRV. Pretty much standard on all vehicles now.

In my B drivers manual, the function of the turn signal switch, aka Combination switch, is explained on page 40.

Mike

[Geoff Fleming]

Harlan,
You could be correct, however, since a 12 volt conversion was made, it would have been easy and, ( in 1986), inexpensive to have used a relay from a 912 or 911 rather than eliminate it completely, no?
Jim,
I'm sure you can find a Joe Leoni relay unit. It is very well designed and is an easy fit. I may have a useable relay for you if you can't find one elsewhere.

[Eric Lenius]

Mike,

Wow, that is a lot going on without a flasher relay added like on the earlier cars. You have the switch on the stalk bypassing the headlight switch and apparently actuating the high beams on the light relay simultaneously. I had no idea my car would do that. I don't recall noticing that even being possible on the schematic. I'll review it tonight! Cool feature!

[Mike Wilson]

The flash function was on all models A though C.

Mike

[Greg Bryan]

The relay on the T5 and T6 acts only as a logic device - it does not reduce current through the flash switch or the light switch. The relay switches which beam will flash based on whether the parking lights are on. When the parking lights are on, the relay coil is energized and switches the output from high to low beam. My understanding is that back in the day in Germany, it was customary for people drive in town at night with their headlights off and only parking lights on. If the driver flashed the headlights with the parking lights on, the low beams flashed so as not to dazzle the oncoming driver with high beams.
The power for the flash is separate from the headlight power, coming through a large red wire from terminal #30 on the light switch. When the stalk is pulled back, the flash contacts in the combo switch energize the white/red (or red/white in some cases) wire going to the light control relay, and depending on the position of the light switch, either high or low beams illuminate.
Edited once

[Mike Wilson]

Thanks, Greg.

Mike

[Greg Bryan]

The flash function was on all models A though C.

Mike

Mike is right - before the T5, both high and low flashed together

[Eric Lenius]

perfect! I was scratching my head a bit last night trying to get the logic of the relay being pulled in when the light switch was in the park position. So, brights during the day, low beams at night (assuming you have your parking lights only on). Cool.

[Mike Wilson]

Kudos to Greg, our resident electrical guru.

Mike

[Norm Miller]

FWIW, the 6 volt relay works fine on a 12 volt system.
It has for several years and 30k miles.
Horn relay also OK.

[Eric Lenius]

The relay durability makes sense. It is only pulled in when you have the parking lights on so most people would not have it on at all. If you drive around a lot with parking lights, you might run into a problem with the 6V coil.

Eric L.