electrical help!

[bossbijou]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_Ay3iA1mS8/UjNG-k-WUmI/AAAAAAAAAB4/_Z8DYBsm0MU/s1600/image-2.jpeg

this is my turn signal relay on my 1965 thunderbird (its the thing that clicks under the dash board.) i need to replace it. any help? for a replacement or a new one. i just need one that works. even better if i can find it at auto zone.

[RustyNCa]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_Ay3iA1mS8/UjNG-k-WUmI/AAAAAAAAAB4/_Z8DYBsm0MU/s1600/image-2.jpeg

this is my turn signal relay on my 1965 thunderbird (its the thing that clicks under the dash board.) i need to replace it. any help? for a replacement or a new one. i just need one that works. even better if i can find it at auto zone.

Yeah, just take it with you to auto zone, it's a pretty standard piece that they should be able to match. I didn't know that was the relay that was used for the turn signal, looks alot like the horn relay on other 60s cars and the relay the squarebirds (at least the ones I have) use for the part of the ignition circuit.

Cheers
RustyNCA

[DKheld]

Apparently a C5SZ-13A366-C is the original part # (one on flea bay for big bucks).

Auto Zone lists these as replacements when I searched on 1965 Tbird turn signal relay (not sure the link will work).

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Electrical/Flasher/_/N-26fp?filterByKeyWord=turn+signal+relay&fromString=search

Eric

[bossbijou]

a guy at orileys auto parts said it was a horn relay. ill have to get one of those. it does however control the blinkers but a horn relay for some odd reason sounds right. thank you for your help.

[Yadkin]

The horn relay is located under the hood, in the front driver's side, near the horns. The turn signal flasher is a small cylinder, typically gold in color, located under the dash. That appears to be the map light relay.

Or it could be the brake light relay:

http://macsautoparts.com/ford-thunderbird-brake-light-relay-before-11-17-1965-c5sz-13482-ar/p/JS0R3CHL1119243/

[bossbijou]

i dont know but now that its out my blinkers and flashers dont work. i just need a new one

[jopizz]

Most relays just need the points cleaned. It's easy to remove the top and clean the contacts. A lot easier than running around from store to store trying to find one.

John

[simplyconnected]

It's definitely a Turn Indicator Relay (under dash) C5SZ-13A366-C. A horn relay does NOT flash. A regular relay will not work, either.

The turn indicator relay (under the dash) is calibrated to flash the indicator lights only when all four lights (3 in rear, 1 in front) are on. In other words, it is a unique, normally closed contact relay with a flasher unit inside. Most cheap signal flasher units are designed for two or three lamp loads. This one does much more. It delivers power to the sequential motor in your trunk.

I come from an 'electrical background' and I normally do not give this advice but... That new old stock unit on eBay looks pretty good, even at forty bucks.

As an alternative, personally, I would use a conventional two-pole flasher and connect it with a conventional relay. That way you get the classic turn signal 'click-click' at the right rate, and the relay contact would drive the sequential motor in your trunk. Again, this is something I would do for my own car. It would probably take all of two hours to fabricate and install so that's why I suggest you look hard at the eBay listing; the correct plug-and-play part.

Do not let anyone convince you that this can be substituted by a horn relay or conventional relay. They don't cycle on/off like a turn signal 'can' does. Also, I do not throw parts at a problem without knowing the old ones are bad and the new ones will remedy the problem. Have you checked all your lamps? Did you try putting new bulbs in and try it without loading your system with other accessories on (like A/C)? All this matters. - Dave

[scumdog]

The horn relay is located under the hood, in the front driver's side, near the horns. The turn signal flasher is a small cylinder, typically gold in color, located under the dash. That appears to be the map light relay.

Or it could be the brake light relay:
http://macsautoparts.com/ford-thunde...0R3CHL1119243/

Hmmm, does a '66 have a horn relay?

Couldn't find one on mine

[simplyconnected]

Hmmm, does a '66 have a horn relay?

Tom, that's the first time I ever thought about such absurdity. I looked at '65 &'6 electrical diagrams. NO HORN RELAY.

They run power from the starter solenoid, through the top LH 20a circuit breaker, straight through the steering column and back to both horns.

This is a mystery to me because in the past, that little spring pushing on the carbon brush couldn't take much current (horns draw serious current). Oh man, now you got me going... - Dave

[Yadkin]

No horn relay in 65-66? Dang, FordCo went backwards.

[scumdog]

Tom, that's the first time I ever thought about such absurdity. I looked at '65 &'6 electrical diagrams. NO HORN RELAY.

They run power from the starter solenoid, through the top LH 20a circuit breaker, straight through the steering column and back to both horns.

This is a mystery to me because in the past, that little spring pushing on the carbon brush couldn't take much current (horns draw serious current). Oh man, now you got me going... - Dave

Hence why I fitted a relay Dave - now my horns sound like a locomotives!

Before that there was just a muted toot - and for a while I actually ended up disconnecting one horn since with only a single horn to power-up the current made that single one a bit louder.

But yeah, if you have a '66 fit a relay and have the horn-button current as a means of activating the relay.

[simplyconnected]

I whole-heartedly agree. If anyone wants a drawing showing how to connect a regular relay to make your horns work, let me know. Or, you can simply get a conventional horn relay and follow the Squarebird wiring diagram. - Dave

[Austin Vail]

It's definitely a Turn Indicator Relay (under dash) C5SZ-13A366-C. A horn relay does NOT flash. A regular relay will not work, either.

The turn indicator relay (under the dash) is calibrated to flash the indicator lights only when all four lights (3 in rear, 1 in front) are on. In other words, it is a unique, normally closed contact relay with a flasher unit inside. Most cheap signal flasher units are designed for two or three lamp loads. This one does much more. It delivers power to the sequential motor in your trunk.

I come from an 'electrical background' and I normally do not give this advice but... That new old stock unit on eBay looks pretty good, even at forty bucks.

As an alternative, personally, I would use a conventional two-pole flasher and connect it with a conventional relay. That way you get the classic turn signal 'click-click' at the right rate, and the relay contact would drive the sequential motor in your trunk. Again, this is something I would do for my own car. It would probably take all of two hours to fabricate and install so that's why I suggest you look hard at the eBay listing; the correct plug-and-play part.

Do not let anyone convince you that this can be substituted by a horn relay or conventional relay. They don't cycle on/off like a turn signal 'can' does. Also, I do not throw parts at a problem without knowing the old ones are bad and the new ones will remedy the problem. Have you checked all your lamps? Did you try putting new bulbs in and try it without loading your system with other accessories on (like A/C)? All this matters. - Dave

If you don't mind, could you tell me what specific parts you would use to replace the factory indicator relay with a regular flasher relay and conventional relay? I'm no electrical engineer, I just know how to replace parts. But I know someone who is an electrical engineer, so I'm thinking of asking them to help me replace my broken relay with the other stuff you mentioned.