Turn signal 'Click'

Pardon me, what was that you said?

 

Spousal units with a mute function ?! What model year did that become an available option?

Seriously, what I notice mostly is a complete lack of any turn signal use by the motoring public. This includes law enforcement vehicles which I think should be setting the standard. I still drive with my 1970's drivers education training in mind, signaling my intentions well in advance of execution and a follow-up awareness to manually cancel a signal that doesn't automatically cancel. It is habit, and a good one to get into.

 

You're no fun. We don't have to guess what you're going to do! Of course, many will probably think those blinking lights are for decoration and ignore their intended message.

 

Turn signals?? Does anyone bother using those these days besides myself!

 

Update: I have experimented with the Toyota flasher. It is the same as used in most other Toyotas, Scions, and Lexi from 2004. Inside the flasher module itself, there are two very small relays which are at all loud. I have developed a bit of electronic kit which connects the flash indicator lines from the a flasher into a delay circuit - about 20 secs delay. After that delay, a normal 12V relay becomes also connected; its only purpose is to click loudly as a reminder. There may be some more beta testing about the delay duration and about how loud the "after 20 sec" click is when installed under the dash. I will then publish a diagram of the circuit and other installation details. For anyone who just wants an always-louder flasher, the delay circuit is unnecessary. In that case the parts needed are one standard auto relay and two diodes. In either case you will need to be able to access the relay connector in the Prius, and tap a few wires. Look on this forum for instructions on how to access that relay (it is a bit of a challenge for non-gymnasts ....).

 

The standard click loudness seems adequate to me. Maybe not when I get a few years older and deafer.

 

Smh. If you need a louder blinker or can't remember to turn off the blinker something is wrong with you.
My $.02 im not trying to be rude, but come on!!

 

what?

 

Here is the first part of a description on modifying a Toyota turn signal flasher to get a louder click.

1. There are some after-market modified flasher relays that do more or less the same thing.
2. In passing, this description applies primarily to modifying an "LED compatible" flasher, which you might need to get anyway if you replace the regular signal bulbs (2010-11) to LED equivalents. Most of the replacement flashers now on sale are in fact LED compatible, which means they will work with BOTH tungsten and LED bulbs.
3. First of all, see the URL shown in the first picture. It will show you how to get at the deeply-buried flasher inside the Prius dash.

4. The following applies to the 91980 8-pin relay. The TRIDON/NOVITA is very similar internally, maybe easier to add wires to.
5. OK, now follow the URL link to understand how to remove the in-place relay (you can use a tap-the-wires alternative, but the method described here allows for a plug-in substitution with no warranty impact issues). This URL also described how to fit a tap-turn relay instead, but I link it here for help on access and removal. Unplug the harness plug (blue) as shown, and leave the existing relay in its place in the white plastic bracket.
6. Next, obtain the 91980 substitute. Study the connection side of this relay as shown here.
9. Next, gently pry apart the grey plastic cover from the black plastic base that holds the relay internals, and inspect the connection on the circuit board underside. You will see how each of the 8 pins connect into the circuit.


10. Using a very small soldering iron tip and small stranded wire, attach a wire to the solder points for pins 2, 3, and 7.



You will see here that I added some RTV after connecting the 3 wires for added support and insulation. Also that I caused a little bit of heat damage to the black thermoplastic but that does not affect its functionality.
11. Now bring the 3 wires out through a hole in the grey cover (drill or melt a small hole), close up the two parts (grey cover and black plastic and circuit board), and add a wire connecting block if you wish.

12. You should confirm with a tester/ohmmeter that each of the three wires are properly connected to the matching numbered pins of the connector base. At this stage, the modified relay should work just like an unmodified 81980 relay - try it in the car if you want to be sure. At the VERY worst, you might blow a small fuse if you did something wrong, or if the relay does not work, go back to the existing one for the time being.
13. We have not changed the click at this point (except that the click might be a little louder when brought down from its white plastic holder bracket.
14. Next is a Stage 1 improvement. This is intended to augment the 81980's click (coming from one or two very small relays inside the grey cover box) with something louder. Some people have used sounders or buzzers for this, but I though that still having a click, only louder would be better.
15. This is one way. You build this little circuit using a standard 12V auto relay. I have found that the SPDT relays to be a bit louder than the SPST versions, but that may depend on the manufacturer. You can put this little Add-a-click where it is more audible - I found a spot at the front of the console cover. The diodes are the usual 1N4000x type. The secondary relay can then be used to switch to another device (like a louder clicker or buzzer), but with an on-off switch. In a future instllment, if there is interest, I will provide an improvement in which the normal quiet click goes on for 20-30 seconds, after which the louder-clicking relay is activated to serve as a "forgot to turn off" reminder.



14. One last point: the reason for doing this modification in stages is that the "extra" part, such as the Add-aClick, can be connected, removed, or replaced with the three wire connection. Those same 3 connection could easily be derived from harness or turn signal bulb connections (plus a ground) without making ANY modifications to the existing relay. Some people might find that easier. YMMV.