Dodge RAM TRUCK 1500 1995 Service Manual page 470

B R — TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD WARNING SYSTEMS 8J - 1
C O N T E N T S
page page
DIAGNOSIS 2 SERVICE PROCEDURES 4
GENERAL INFORMATION 1
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
Following are general descriptions of the major
components in the Ram truck turn signal and hazard
warning systems. Refer to Group 8W - Wiring Dia­
grams for complete circuit descriptions and diagrams.
TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM
With the ignition switch in the ON or ACCESSORY
position and the multi-function switch control lever
moved up (right turn) or down (left turn), the turn
signal system is activated.
When the turn signal system is activated, the se­
lected (right or left) turn signal indicator lamp, front
park/turn signal lamp and rear tail/stop/turn signal
lamp bulb filaments will flash.
HAZARD WARNING SYSTEM
The hazard warning is activated by a switch button
located on the top of the steering column between the
steering wheel and the instrument panel. The hazard
warning flasher receives battery feed at all times,
and the system is functional regardless of ignition
switch position. The hazard warning switch button is
identified with a double triangle. Push the switch
button in to activate the hazard warning system, and
push in on the button again to turn the system off.
When the hazard warning system is activated, all
(right and left) turn signal indicator, front park/turn
signal lamp and rear tail/stop/turn signal lamp bulb
filaments will flash.
TURN SIGNAL FLASHER
The turn signal flasher is located in the fuseblock
module (Fig. 1). It contains one fixed contact point
and one contact point attached to a flexible bimetal
arm. The contact points are normally closed. When a
turn signal is activated, current flows through- the
flasher. As the current flows through the bimetal arm
it heats and flexes to pull the contact points open,
stopping current flow. As the bimetal arm cools it
straightens, until the contact points close and the cy­
cle repeats.
The standard flasher is designed to handle the cur­
rent flow requirements of the factory installed light­
ing. If supplemental lighting is added to the turn
signal circuits such as when towing a trailer with
lights, the current flow through the flasher increases.
This causes the flash rate to increase. It is recom­
mended that the standard flasher be replaced with a
heavy-duty (hazard warning) flasher when supple­
mental lighting is added.
However, when a turn signal bulb fails with a stan­
dard flasher, the remaining bulbs in that circuit will
light, but not flash. This will give the driver an indi­
cation to check the turn signal bulbs. Because a
heavy-duty flasher has different internal circuitry, a
failed bulb will not prevent the remaining bulbs in
the circuit from flashing. Therefore, it is recom­
mended that an occasional visual inspection of exte­
rior turn signal lamp operation be performed when a
heavy-duty flasher is installed.
BUZZER
MODULE*"
Fig, 1 Turn Signal and Hazard Warning Flashers
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The hazard warning flasher is located in the fuse-
block module (Fig. 1). The hazard warning flasher
contains two normally open contact points mounted
to two flexible arms. A bimetal strip is attached be-
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD WARNING SYSTEMS