CAR TURN SIGNALS - FEATURES OF THE DEVICE AND REPAIR

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A turn indicator is a device in a car that notifies road users about the turn of an oncoming or passing car in one direction or another. At the beginning of the last century, flashlights were used to indicate the planned maneuver. Who invented turn signals on cars?

A similar idea was invented and patented by the Englishwoman Percy Douglas Hamilton in 1909. But many drivers did not appreciate this option, therefore, starting in 1914, mechanical flags and arrows were installed on cars, which were activated using a special button - this idea came to Florence Lawrence.

The device and principle of operation of direction indicators

For the first time, the direction indicators familiar to us began to be installed on cars in the USA and European countries. In the States, they have been used since 1939, although the patent was registered back in 1925.

The detail was invented by engineer Edgar Waltz, who repeatedly tried to sell it to car manufacturers, but was refused. After the expiration of the patent, turn signals became widespread.

Modern front direction indicators are located in or near the spherical block. The rear ones are installed in the rear light housing. The turn signal repeaters are attached to the fenders, doors or mirror housings. In some cases, they are repeated by diode inserts on mirror panels. But most auto makers integrate repeaters into their mirror housings.

Inside the direction indicators, there is a mechanical drive that turns the system on and off, and a switch that connects the lamps to the power supply.

In progressive models, there is an option to blink 3 times with a short touch to the lever, which makes it easier to change the maneuver. If this function is not available, a “turn signal extender” can be added to increase the flicker rate when the lever is briefly touched.

In modern cars, instead of clicks, more pleasant sounds are heard, informing about the operation of pointers. Also, some cars have the ability to select different types of sound.

Design features by country

In the understanding of residents of the CIS and European countries, turn signals are yellow-orange panels. Also common types include white cases with an orange light bulb in the middle.

Red products are present on American cars and are considered unusual for the domestic space. Therefore, they can cause ambiguous impressions. many drivers confuse them with stop signals.

In the United States, this concept was invented to make it easier to see the car from a long distance in the dark or in poor visibility. However, some researchers believe that the color red increases the likelihood of collisions with other cars, because it is quite difficult to recognize devices while driving at high speed. Therefore, American developers offer other solutions as an alternative to the outdated standard.

Direction indicators also take part in unspoken signals. So, if you need to report an abnormal situation, you must perform an alarm by turning on four turn signals.

There are other traditions in European countries. For example, if the driver is moving in the left lane, he may ask to give way by flashing the left turn signal. If there is a truck in front of him with the left signals on, this means that it is prohibited to perform the maneuver. When the right turn signal is activated, the trucker reports that the lane is free and can be overtaken.

If a passing car moves with the turn signal turned on, you can blink it with the left and right pointer alternately. In order to thank someone for useful information, it is enough to turn on all signals once.

What to do if the turn signals stop working while driving

During the operation of the vehicle, drivers may experience a dangerous breakdown - failure of the direction indicators. The problem is rare enough, but it cannot be completely ruled out.

For owners of old cars, for example "Zhiguli", who have repeatedly encountered the need to repair turn signals, such a defect is not uncommon. They will be able to restore the part in a few minutes, without asking for help from the workers of the auto repair shop.

But when it comes to novice drivers who have no experience in troubleshooting such problems, they may find themselves in an awkward position when signs stop working on the road. In addition, this situation is accompanied by fines in the amount of 500 rubles.

Naturally, breakage of rotary signals is not a critical problem... In addition, many car owners boldly continue to drive around the city without turning them on. However, operating a vehicle without working direction indicators is not safe and can lead to disastrous consequences. Therefore, restoring the working capacity of a part is a key task for every driver.

If you notice that there are no light signals (this is accompanied by a corresponding indication on the instrument panel or its absence, as well as clicks), try to remain calm and act accordingly. expert recommendations:

first of all, it is necessary to activate the "emergency lights" signals in order to attract the attention of other road users, and then pull over to the side of the road;
then you need to set the red triangle sign 15 meters from the vehicle (if you are within the city) or 13 meters - if you move outside of it.

After that, you need to use one of the following scenarios:

The first scenario is to contact the nearest auto repair shop for help. If the service center is a few meters away, you can safely go to it, giving turn signals with your hands. This is indicated in the requirements of the traffic rules of the Russian Federation Clause 8.1. According to this document, to indicate a turn to the left or a turn, you will need to extend your left or right arm to the side and bend it at the elbow. Right turn is indicated in reverse. If you plan to brake, raise either hand up.
If there is no opportunity to visit the workshop, the problem will have to be solved on the spot. To do this, you need to call the operational technical assistance service or try to fix the breakdown with your own hands. In the absence of skills or experience in the repair and maintenance of vehicles, it is better not to get under the hood. But if you have minimal theoretical and practical knowledge, try to restore the part to work yourself.

In the second case, first you need to check the direction indicator and emergency gang relay. If the latter starts normally, then the relay is fully operational. But getting access to this regulator is quite difficult, because it can be hidden under the hood, under the upholstery or other interior details. Fortunately, the thematic forums and portals offer a large number of detailed diagrams and instructions that make it easy to find the placement of the relay on any car.

Next, you need to disconnect the contact wires from the unit, remove the "ground" from the breaker and dismantle the relay. In place of the seized part, you need to install a new one (you can buy it at any nearest car dealership).

Regardless of the scenario chosen, it is necessary to fix the damage as quickly as possible.Otherwise, you will be forced to pay a fine of 500 rubles if you are stopped by a traffic police officer.

The main problems with turn signals and how to fix them

The turn signal indicators work properly if the following conditions are met:

The ignition is activated and the vehicle electrical system supplies the required voltage.
The steering column switch normally moves up and down.
The frequency of blinking of a car turn signal light is 60 cycles per minute.

Deviation from the listed requirements is a sign of some kind of breakdown.

If you are faced with problems in the operation of one turn signal, you need to familiarize yourself with the device and the principle of operation of the relay: an electrical pulse that passes through the lamps provokes the heating of a special resistor, which is responsible for the timely triggering of signals. If the resistance of the lamp differs from the nominal, this affects the turn-on time of the device. In case of weak contact or moisture penetration on the surface of the relay, lightly knock on it.

In case of replacement of a part and in the absence of positive changes, there is a possibility of insufficient contact from the side of the safety block. The problem is solved by installing a new fuse.

If only one turn signal does not work, then this is not due to the failure of the relay (such a failure is accompanied by a failure in the operation of two elements).

Perhaps a light bulb in the device has burned out or the connections between the wiring and the socket have been broken. When choosing a new light bulb, you should make sure that it has the required power and fits normally in the turn signal socket.

If there are traces of oxidation, remove them using a file or sandpaper. If the part is in strong contact with the contacts, they can be bent using thin-nose pliers. It is important to perform these steps with extreme care so that the contacts do not close. Otherwise, the pointers will start working incorrectly - in a checkerboard pattern. Correct operation of the cartridge indicates a problem with the wiring.

Often the switch itself leads to malfunctions in the turn signals. To check this element, you need to access the steering column switch and dismantle it. Replacing the button is easy enough - it is sold in every auto parts store and is inexpensive.

Excessively frequent operation of the turn signal is explained by the burnout of one of the bulbs or the oxidation of the chip in the rear lamp, as well as the tracks in the mounting block. With a dim burning of the pointer, you need to check the power of the model. If there are no problems, you should try to clean the light bulb contacts.

Having determined the clicks from the side of the relay, it is necessary to disassemble the mounting block. This phenomenon occurs when oxidation or tight fit of the relay. It is also caused by the failure of the part. To get rid of problems, you need to clean the contacts or install a new relay.

Conclusion

The serviceability of the direction indicators and their triggering at the right time is the key to safe and professional driving. But in Russian realities, the culture of drivers often differs from the desired one, so they do not always use such an important device, endangering the lives and health of other road users, passengers and pedestrians.