LED conversion, 1971 Scamp

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newbie del

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Hi to all. I am in the process of converting all bulbs to LED, but have encountered a problem which does not make any sense.
Headlights, No problem
Back-up Lights, No problem
Signal Lights, PROBLEM. Started by installing an Electronic Flasher, Grote 44810. Then installed 2 rear (1157) LED red bulbs, all OK, then Installed 2 front (1157) LED amber bulbs. Now all 4 flash whichever direction I switch to.
I switched bulbs from socket to socket with same results.
Then I replaced the 2 front LED's with the old incandescent and everything works the way it should. There is NO reason for this issue that I can see. I also have a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal and have replaced every bulb in the car with LED's without this problem. I have used the same manufacture's bulbs in the Scamp.
What's going on?

Del S
 
Are you sure you replaced the turn signal flasher unit?

Typically there are two on a bodies. One for turn signals and one for emergency flashers. AND you might need to replace both to have everything work correctly
 
Does your dash have one indicator light or seperate left and right indicators?
On my '64 with one indicator the signal would bleed back through the single lamp on the printed circuit board. I had to use 2 small bulbs stuffed into the hole where the original indicator light assembly installed.
 
Thanks Fellows. At my age you remember ever time you crawl under the dash, it hurts. I replaced the Signal Light Flasher with an electronic flasher made for a combo LED/Incandescent or all one or the other. I did not replace the Hazard Flasher. I hurt already just thinking about crawling in there again. I have cleaned every socket, checked all the wiring and made sure the ground is good.

On the '71 there are 2 flasher indicator lights, both flash as do the signal lights. I will check wiring and the Hazard Flasher next time under.

Any and all comments appreciated!

Del S
 
OOPS! forgot to mention; with 2 signal indictor lights in the dash there is no ground wire on the flasher. Where there is only one indicator light like on my '56 the flasher needs to be grounded.

Del S
 
None of the answers I read above (or might have missed something) address the symptom----"all 4 flash"

THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO KNOW is what are we working on? Year/ make model?

You may have a problem in the hazard flasher switch or "left it engaged."

You may have a bad/ wrong bulb in spite of "what you think" or

One or more of the bulbs may not be properly indexing in the socket AND INTERCONNECTING the two contacts in the socket, thus interconnecting the tail and signal circuits

The last possibility is the standard answer---one or more of your sockets may not be grounding, OR the LED's may not "for some reason" be actually grounding in the shell of the socket(s)

What I'd try.......replace the LEDs one at a time with regular bulbs, perhaps 1 then both rear, then put the LEDs back in if that shows no symptom, and then maybe 1, then both fronts, and maybe 1 front and 1 rear, etc

Another thing you might do is get some alligator jumper leads and check all the LEDs to make certain they actually operate correctly. If you are unaware, 1 of the contacts to the shell is the "weaker" tail or park light, and the remaining contact to the shell is the brighter signal / stop light. With an incandescant lamp, you can LOOK and see which filament is working. Not sure how'd you do that with an LED

NEVER assume something is "good" even if you bought it new
 
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The only thing that comes to mind as common to both turn signal sides is the turn signal switch in the steering column. Remove both front LED bulbs. Install only 1 normal bulb. Check for voltage at the other socket with a digital VOM. I'm thinking the voltage is there with normal bulbs, but not the current. Since LEDs don't require very much current to light up, that low-current is sufficient to light up the LEDs, but not normal bulbs. The solution would be to find the cross-drain at the column switch (maybe new switch, maybe just clean up the old one???).
 
Hell you don't need to be older for it to hurt, I'm in my 20s and I hate doing it so much I pulled the bench.
I made this to help with under the dash access.

Creeper1.jpg


Creeper2.jpg
 
Hi people, I have been off the program for a few days but will examine every suggestion posted and when I find the answer I will let you know. Any more suggestions appreciated.

Del S
 
I have also done a led conversesion on my truck and the turn signal works like before same speed to i think it dipends in how the realy is routed even if i disconect all lamps it flaches whid the same speed

20210916_154557.jpg
 
Hi to all. I am in the process of converting all bulbs to LED, but have encountered a problem which does not make any sense.
Headlights, No problem
Back-up Lights, No problem
Signal Lights, PROBLEM. Started by installing an Electronic Flasher, Grote 44810. Then installed 2 rear (1157) LED red bulbs, all OK, then Installed 2 front (1157) LED amber bulbs. Now all 4 flash whichever direction I switch to.
I switched bulbs from socket to socket with same results.
Then I replaced the 2 front LED's with the old incandescent and everything works the way it should. There is NO reason for this issue that I can see. I also have a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal and have replaced every bulb in the car with LED's without this problem. I have used the same manufacture's bulbs in the Scamp.
What's going on?

Del S

Hi Del. What LED H/L's did you get?
 
Hi 65Val, I have not done headlights as yet. What is in there are a Bosch Lens with a Halogen bulb. Crappy Lens and crappy colour! I intend to change to the same as I have in my 56 Dodge Custom Royal. Hella Lens, #00239503, Vision Plus, 178mm. These come with a Halogen bulb which I replaced with an Aukee H4/9003/6000k per bulb/60W from Amazon.ca. I love the colour and the brightness. My friend calls them "Retna Burning". I got a heck of a deal on the Hella's but you may not like the cost. I looked a set of lights (not a replaceable bulb) at CBS Truck parts that look pretty good. They have a Amber light integrated in the lens which can be used for turn signal or running light's, your choice.
Del S, Kamloops
 
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