'72 Bus Turn Signals and Hazard Lights PROBLEM SOLVED!

[Oregon72]

My turn signals stopped working on the way back from Nehalem last week and I can use some help in diagnosing/fixing this. With the key on, the green indicator light on the dash lights up for the turn signals but just stays lit - doesn't blink and there is nothing lit up at the bulbs. For the hazard lights - The red hazard knob doesn't light up at all and I have nothing at the bulbs.

The parking lights work fine.

Let me know what to check/replace/look for and how. Thanks guys.

[dtrumbo]

Poketh thy head under the dash and see if your hazard light switch is all still in one piece. Many, many threads have started with "my signals don't work" and have happily ended with "I zip-tied my switch back together".

Let us know.

[Amskeptic]

Poketh thy head under the dash and see if your hazard light switch is all still in one piece. Many, many threads have started with "my signals don't work" and have happily ended with "I zip-tied my switch back together".

Let us know.

Good call.

Also, wiggle the flasher relay a little with either in the signalling position.
There is a fuse #12? 11? that can kill the ticker in the relay and give you insolent flasher indicators that just glower at you.
Colin

[Oregon72]

Everything behind the flasher knob is intact.

Where does the flasher relay look like? I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

[Amskeptic]

Everything behind the flasher knob is intact.

Where does the flasher relay look like? I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

That might be a too-facile report. The emergency switches are famous for loosening between the phenolic "cap" where all the spades stick out, and the pot metal body of the switch that has these little tabs that are supposed to hold it all together. It is under spring pressure.

At any rate (if you actually did get up there and are confident that the switch is securely assembled) the relay is usually the smaller of the two rectangular boxes on the relay board under and to the front of the fuse array in '70 and later buses.
Colin

[Oregon72]

Do I need to remove the three screws that hold the fuse box down and remove the fuse box to get to the relay? I bought a new relay from NAPA that has 3 prongs - L, R, and X it is silver and cylindrical (about the size of a 35mm film canister) - I'm not sure if this is the right thing to use or not. I've kept my reciept in case I got the wrong thing.

[Amskeptic]

Do I need to remove the three screws that hold the fuse box down and remove the fuse box to get to the relay? I bought a new relay from NAPA that has 3 prongs - L, R, and X it is silver and cylindrical (about the size of a 35mm film canister) - I'm not sure if this is the right thing to use or not. I've kept my reciept in case I got the wrong thing.

You gotta do what you gotta do. If you feel you must lower the box, disconnect the negative if you have any concerns whatsoever about the possibility of an unintended short. I cannot conjure up the 1972's relay set-up like I can the '73 where you just pull out the old one and put in the new one.
Surry,
Colin

[Oregon72]

Do I need to remove the three screws that hold the fuse box down and remove the fuse box to get to the relay? I bought a new relay from NAPA that has 3 prongs - L, R, and X it is silver and cylindrical (about the size of a 35mm film canister) - I'm not sure if this is the right thing to use or not. I've kept my reciept in case I got the wrong thing.

I returned the silver cylindrical flasher relay for the black square one that is the correct OEM replacement (about $12 or $13) according to the computer system at NAPA. I got home and replaced the flasher relay hoping that was the culprit and .... whaddaya know??


IT IS FIXED

It would be good to note that it is likely the silver cylindrical one would have worked as well, the one that I replaced was black and square so I thought that would be best.

For those that don't know and stumble upon this thread later, the relays are plugged into the bottom of the fuse array and one must simply unclip it and lift it up and out of it's holder to see and replace. Be careful not to dislodge any wires while messing around up there and when you remove the bad relay, take care to note exactly where your new one will go.

Thanks guys-