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DIY and Gadgets: Adjusting RV Turn Signal Sounds

| Updated May 22, 2015

“Roger, is the turn signal still on?” Lynn had detected a faint tick tick as we cruised down I-65 at the speed limit in our 1995 Dodge Roadtrek. We had changed lanes a third of a mile back. The partially hidden green blinking light and the faint tick tick was easy to miss. And our wonderful old Dodge is not the quietest vehicle at 70 mph. We once inquired of our mechanic about the whine in the differential. His advice was turn up the radio!

But there had to be a better solution than driving down the highway like a deaf old geezer who didn't know his turn signal had been on for the last five miles.  At least if we are deaf old geezers, we would rather not advertise it!

Lift out Glove Box
Lift out the glove box to reach the flasher relay in Dodge

A bit of research showed that the Dodge van uses a standard two-terminal flasher relay that was readily available.  Not only that, there were “Extra Loud” versions available.  And the relays are very easy to reach because they are just under the glove box.  No wonder only the passenger could hear the faint ticking!  A trip to the local auto parts store procured a brilliant yellow Novita LF-12 “5X Louder” flasher relay.  It took about five minutes to install and that included taking photos.

Relays on Right
Relays on the right

After you lift out the glove box you will see the flasher relay (and other relays) off to the right side.  They can be round or square and metal or plastic.  The silver box in the photo is for our add-on rear view camera by Rear View Safety.  Lots of room behind the glove box.

Remove old Flasher
Removing old flasher relay

Remove the turn signal flasher relay. If you are not sure which one is the turn signal flasher, turn on the ignition and the turn signal. You will hear it clicking.  Turn off ignition before removing it.  Ours is the round black one.

Install New Loud Flasher
Supposedly “Extra Loud” flasher relay

We installed the new yellow “5x louder” flasher.  Turned on the ignition and and turned on the turn signal – tick, tick.  What?  This “Extra Loud” flasher relay was no louder than the original!  Back to the research mode.  Google can find anything.  We weren't the only ones with the problem.  The DIY solution was a small beeper from Radio Shack soldered to the two terminals. Unfortunately many Radio Shacks are closing and not all of them remaining stock electronics parts.

Turn-Alarm Flasher
Turn-Alarm Model 262

We found you could buy a loud flasher relay pre-made from a company named Daeco  called the “Turn-Alarm.” Here is a link.  We emailed them to figure out the correct model to buy (since we have a Stowaway cargo box on the back with tail lights we need a “heavy duty flasher” to handle the extra lights).  That turned out to be model #262.  They have models for a variety of vehicles and various number of terminals on the flasher unit.

Install Beep Flasher
Installed and ready to Beep!

About a week later an envelope arrived in the mail with the flasher relay.  It appears to be a standard heavy duty electronic flasher relay (like the one we took out) with a little buzzer on the top with heat shrink tubing making it into a nice package.  Less than 5 minutes (with photos) later it was installed.  The turn signal now goes BEEP BEEP instead of tick tick. But we can hear it now. And at freeway speeds.  Success!

 

 

Mike Wendland

Published on 2015-05-22

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

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