TOMs & turn signal issue

[Powered By Jay]

This morning I noticed my right turn signal arrow was constantly lit after my first time signaling on the drive. I tried signaling left and right but no changes.The light stayed on even when I pulled over and turned the car off. I walked around the car and my left turn signals around the car were also constantly lit. I then turned on the hazards and they worked and temporarily fixed the problem.

I then continued my drive and was signaling left when suddenly the signaling stopped and the right arrow stayed lit again. I pulled over again and tried the hazard trick but this time it took me about 5 minutes of messing with the hazards and starting and shutting off the engine until if finally worked. At that point I was late to work so I just finished my drive without signaling.

Anyone run into an issue like this? I have the JDM TOM's tail lights and used the relay that was included.

[Fizz]

You could try fitting the factory relay back on, and if the signals flash (albeit very fast) at least you can rule out whether the tail lights are faulty.

If the relay is faulty, get a new TapTurn relay (vendor is on this forum).

[slowstang]

Coincidentally, this exact issue popped up on me two days ago, except it was always my right turn signals staying lit. Turning the car off and unlocking/locking with the key fob always cleared mine up.

It is the flasher relay that is bad, and I picked up a replacement at autozone, it's part number LM449, which gets it back to working right, however it flashes a wee bit faster than normal (but not hyperblink), and it's mechanical (maybe the wrong term?) so you get an extra little clicking when the turn signal is activated.

After a bunch of cross referencing, I decided to order part number 81980-50030 (only available through some online vendors it seems) which I think is the equivalent to what was shipped with the taillights, and should get it back to the way I liked it.

[Boosted]

As stated above its the flasher relay. You can smack it to get it unstuck as a short term fix. I had this with my toms as well, got the tap turn relay and no more issues. It has a lot of abilities built in if you have f1 style flashers, etc.

-Alex

[Inextirpable]

Wow, this exact problem happened to me at the beginning of the week minus the fact that it was with my left turn signals. I did some troubleshooting and figured out it was due to the flasher, I already have a new one on the way. I will update once I install it.

[Apeks]

I had this happen a few months back as well, I took out the relay and noticed that the housing for the relay was cracked. i just ended up ordering a tapturn relay since it got rid of the pause on the first blink

[ScottDRFT]

I had the same issue, just pulled out the relay and reseated everything. It's working fine now.

[slowstang]

An update for those that care: Flasher part number 81980-50030 does seem to be an identical part to the one that was shipped with the tail lights.

I did smack my origanl part around and tried reseating it but it never cleared itself up, so I'm assuming it was defective.

[Tenament05]

-- EDIT solved it.. switchback led installed with polarity reversed. Refer --> http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=20

reporting the same exact issue- right side indicator stays lit and the right side blinker in the back as well.

- Brand new Tap Turn relay (Tom's relay did the same thing)
- Diode Dynamics switchbacks
- Tom's Red JDM lights

Originally Posted by Inextirpable

Wow, this exact problem happened to me at the beginning of the week minus the fact that it was with my left turn signals. I did some troubleshooting and figured out it was due to the flasher, I already have a new one on the way. I will update once I install it.

Did the new relay solve it?

[fx35s]

Originally Posted by Tenament05

+1, reporting the same exact issue- right side indicator stays lit and the right side blinker in the back as well.

- Brand new Tap Turn relay (Tom's relay did the same thing)
- Diode Dynamics switchbacks
- Tom's Red JDM lights




Did the new relay solve it?

Hmm.. that's really interesting.
Could flash relay that came with TOM's and TapTurn both be bad?
Chances look slim but you never know.. but then again that'd suck to wait for a new TapTurn Flash relay if it was indeed the relay's problem.

And how long have you had your TOM's installed and when did the problem occur if you don't mind sharing with us? (I ordered TOM's tailights + tapturn as well and am waiting for those...)

Keep us posted on your finding man!

[Tenament05]

Originally Posted by fx35s

Hmm.. that's really interesting.
Could flash relay that came with TOM's and TapTurn both be bad?
Chances look slim but you never know.. but then again that'd suck to wait for a new TapTurn Flash relay if it was indeed the relay's problem.

And how long have you had your TOM's installed and when did the problem occur if you don't mind sharing with us? (I ordered TOM's tailights + tapturn as well and am waiting for those...)

Keep us posted on your finding man!

confirmed with three different relays- stock, Tom's, and TapTurn, that the problem persists.

Here's a complete description of the problem:

1. With the key off or turned to 'accessory on', in any light mode (auto, DRL, lights on) the right turn signal indicator turns on (dim). However the right turn signal LEDs themselves do not light up with the key off or turned on to 'accessory on'.

2. When I start the vehicle, the rear LEDs light up in every mode (auto, DRL, and lights on). The right turn signal indicator continues to stay lit (dim).


Two additional things I've noticed:

- When I turn the vehicle off, but keep the lights on in any mode, the right turn signal LEDs stay lit, but are BARELY LIT. When I turn the lights off and back on to any mode w/o starting the car again, the turn signal behavior acts as described above in #1.

- When I turn the lights on, I've noticed that the LEFT switchback flickers amber briefly before both turn on white. I just noticed this because my office has a glass door that I'm parked right in front of. This is the first time I've noticed this and am very suspect that the switchbacks may be the culprit. I will report more tonight.

[fx35s]

Originally Posted by Tenament05

confirmed with three different relays- stock, Tom's, and TapTurn, that the problem persists. The turn signal only illuminates when the key is in the 'on' position.

I will take out my switchbacks tomorrow and see if that plays a role.

Does that mean when you have your car on, the problem goes away?
And by Red JDM TOM's, do you have the one that you have to re-pin?

I purchased the TOM's "DOT" version in Red which doesn't require re-pinning. I hope mine will be alright.. and by the way, I have a BRZ.

Thanks and I hope you can find a solution soon!

[scottmcphee]

Following everything said in this thread, and especially with this clue ...

Originally Posted by Tenament05

confirmed with three different relays- stock, Tom's, and TapTurn, that the problem persists. The turn signal only illuminates when the key is in the 'on' position.

I will take out my switchbacks tomorrow and see if that plays a role.

I'll wager the issue will be found and corrected on that side of the car front or rear: something to do with the bulb, how it's seated in the socket, the socket contacts and their wiring, the lens/lamp housing and how that's wired internally, the housing connector and how it's connecting with the car harness, the car harness, or wiring near the harness. Looking for breaks in wiring, loose pins, non-contact of mating surfaces, poor grounding... etc. Of course, you won't be able to spot these things inside an LED bulb... but can happen in there too.

It appears the power for corner marker lamps (on when key is on) is crossing, leaking, or shorting over to the signaling circuit on that side of the car. When this happens, that whole side signaling circuit would light up because it's all connected on the same wire, front, rear and dash indicator. Unplugging the flasher completely would probably not change it...

Your bulb swap idea will rule out bulb issues right away, please get back to us here on progress.

[Tenament05]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

Following everything said this thread, and especially with this clue ...



I'll wager the issue will be found and corrected in that corner of the car.

absolutely love my tapturn, so I'm thankful it's not that.

I recently changed to LED DRLs and switchbacks. Let's hope it is that.