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Relays *are* fun, but their locations? Turn signals needed

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:00 am
by xtlicious
I couldn't find it in the FAQ -- and I don't have one of those glossy wiring sheets that I've seen on the interwebs -- but do y'all have a list of relays by year and function?

In my SoCal corrosion-free '80 528i US I see one common-looking relay *in* the steering column, one common relay on the side of the main wiring junction under the instrument cluster, and one not-common relay in a similar location. Under the hood there's the known ones in the box, plus one on the side and one on the front, and the magnificent combo relay. There's also one hiding under the rear seat, driver's side. And likely more I haven't yet fumbled upon. So what are all of the ones outside the labeled box?

I fixed my hazard switch detent and the hazards work great, now. The turn signals have never worked (in the 5 days I've had it running). I keep wanting to find a turn signal relay but following the wiring leads me to the under-dash junction, which then leads into the main loom and... ? Similarly, according to realoem there's a unique hazard relay in my car but I can't find it.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 9:56 pm
by T.Hanson
In the wiring Rat's nest myself.

Electric windows have circuit breakers in the driver's kick panel. My adventures suspect the relay, box thing under the back seat has something to do with the rear windows. Fronts work, backs don't. I hear buzzing and clicking from that box.

Turn signal lever, wires, trace to a relay in the upper left corner, driver's firewall near the hood release lever. Bad bulbs can effect the flashing.

Haynes and Chilton's books ( O'Reilly autoparts) have wiring diagrams, for what I don't know.

Flashing not the problem...

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:04 pm
by xtlicious
Flashing is not the problem. All turn signal bulbs are brand spanking new. As I mentioned, the hazard flasher works just fine (as do the running lights). But the turn signal does absolutely nothing. No lights, no ticking (which is why I suspected a flasher / turn signal relay of some sort).

Didn't get back under the dash to re-look for the flasher relay you mentioned (is it behind the connection loom?) but I'll try that tonight.