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Hi Pete:

Thanks for posting to the Board and helping us out. I just wanted to post about my experience with the flasher gremlin. As Pete noted, I changed out the flasher relay and, while I was at it, improved the ground to it. While that helped, the phantom flasher kept flashing. It just wasn't as frequent; but still was an aggravation. I then took the turn signal itself a part and cleaned it and then reinstalled it onto the column and made sure the collar was tight to the steering column. Based upon Pete's suggestion, I then took the hazard flasher loose, found a somewhat loose connection to it and tightended it. THe bulb inside the hazard flasher was out and I replaced it. After putting the flasher switch back together and installing it my phantom flashes have all but gone away. Every step of the way the problem got better. But I think Pete is right in that the bulk of the cause for the phantom flashing is the hazard flasher switch.

If the problem returns, I'll change out the flasher switch.

Pete, thanks again for the input and hopefully this will assist someone else with the same problem.

John

No problem John glad to help and happy you too found and corrected that annoyance...It drove me crazy too but mine was even harder to chase down... no loose wiring and such just a defective switch. Taking it apart did not find any burnt or unsoldered connections, no burnt smell, no tell tale signs to go by. I think it was Jim Laguardia that put me on the right path...so we all help one another!...cheers

Guys

Need some help. I ordered the hazard relay flasher from SAV to try and solve my phantom flashing. I got it installed this am and it stop the flashing... Altogether. The hazard lights didn't work at all. The switch has power as the red knob lights up. But, no flashers work. Thoughts??? The wiring harness plugged in and the two auxiliary wires were plugged in. Any ideas?

Any help you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks

John

Are you referring to the Emergency Flasher Switch or the Flasher Relay that you replaced today?

Make sure that the panel that the switch is mounted to is grounded very well to the chassis and that any ground wires attached to the panel are clean and tight. I had problems at one time because the panel was not grounded well to the chassis. Removing the panel and removing some rust from along the top edge and then using new mounting bolts (6mm) solved the issue.

It was the hazard switch. The red knob lights up but the hazard flashers on the outside of the vehicle don't work. The harness was plugged in right and I flipped the two loose wire connections and still no flashers. I reinstalled the old hazard flasher after cleaning it and everything works right; I just still get the phantom flashes inside.

Thoughts?

I returned the Hazard Switch to SAV and they were very nice about accepting the return. Supposedly, they checked the switch and it was fine. I have no idea why it didn't work on my truck. But, since I was stuck using the old switch, I wanted to share what I did as it solved the phantom flashing problem, at least for now. I cleaned the exterior of the switch real well (especially the connections on the back). I then took off the plastic housing and inspected the internal workings of the switch. I also cleaned the interior and put the plastic housing back in place. On the back of the switch you have the connectors for the wiring harness to plug in. You also have two spade connections (male) for the two separate female wire connections from the dash to connect to. I noticed that both of these spade connectors on the switch were loose. So, I sautered both connectors at the base to improve their connection. After reassembly and re-install, it has worked great. I don't want to jinx it; but I may get a couple of phantom flashes in an hour vs. one every few seconds before. If anyone has the same issue, give it a shot. You may have the same result. I waited a month to make the post as I wanted to confirm the results of the repair before suggesting it to anyone else. Hope this helps,

John