Another odd project - F350 with a big-truck turn-signal switch

[LCAM-01XA]

Hey folks, I have a Signal-Stat 900 SigFlare switch from a Mack truck that I'd like to install in my '90 dually. How would I go about wiring this up? It has four wires: blue, red, green and yellow. I assume yellow and green wires are for the left and right turn signals respectively, so of the remaining blue and red one is power and the other is likely for the hazards. But that's only four wires, whereas the factory turn-signal switch has a 10-pin connector - now I know of these 10 pins two are used by the steering wheel slip rings (for cruise and horn) and one is for the wire that grounds on the ignition key tumbler, so these I will not mess with and leave as is, however what about the remaining 7 wires? I was suggested that I may have to run separate turn signals and brake lights (not combined as they are from the factory), however the Mack truck the switch came from had only two lights on in the rear so they must have been combined park.brake/turn lights like our pickups have... Any ideas and/or suggestions?

 

[Compu Doc]

Any ideas and/or suggestions?

Yes. My idea would be to forget about doing it at all. First off it is not self canceling so after a turn you will always have to remember to turn your turn signal off.

Seeing someone going down the road with their turn signal on and not making any turns is totally annoying and a hazard and I am sure I am not the only one feeling this way.

 

[Worstenemy453]

Yes. My idea would be to forget about doing it at all. First off it is not self canceling so after a turn you will always have to remember to turn your turn signal off.

Seeing someone going down the road with their turn signal on and not making any turns is totally annoying and a hazard and I am sure I am not the only one feeling this way.

Definitely.

 

[snicklas]

Ivan,

PM Midnight Rider. He has installed a Signal Stat in his 85, and it has been in service for a long time. He said this is one of the best mods that he has done. Also, If I remember correctly, he ran a constant hot to the Signal Stat, which allows him to run all the signals, even if he has the key in is pocket.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Yes. My idea would be to forget about doing it at all. First off it is not self canceling so after a turn you will always have to remember to turn your turn signal off.

I love it when people just make assumptions about someone - now wouldn't the mere fact I'm considering this conversion suggest to you that maybe I'm not your average cell-phone-zombie driver??? Heck man, even my torque converter is on a full-manual control and I have to unlock it before slowing down under 30 mph, so I don't think remembering to cancel the turn signals will be much of an issue. Especially seeing how I learned to do so when I learned to drive and it's become second nature, whether the vehicle I happen to be driving needs it or not. For that matter, the cam part of the self-canceling mechanism in my factory switch has been broken since I got the truck, so I already am canceling manually... Besides, if those switches are safe to use in big trucks driven on public roads, they're safe to be in my truck as well

PM Midnight Rider. He has installed a Signal Stat in his 85, and it has been in service for a long time. He said this is one of the best mods that he has done. Also, If I remember correctly, he ran a constant hot to the Signal Stat, which allows him to run all the signals, even if he has the key in is pocket.

Oh yah, I remember him mentioning that - well hopefully he chimes in here soon so the info can be useful to other members as well, if not I'll chase after him via ***

 

[snicklas]

I agree, I say it you want to make a mod like like this to YOUR truck, go ahead. Big trucks are like this, and have been "forever". I know that your truck is not where near stock, especially in the electrical control department, this just goes along with all that. Not everyone on the road blindly charges along and needs a vehicle to be 100% automatic... in those cases, there needs to be a lane that helps to "control" the vehicle. I can't count how may times I see people reading a book, or the paper, ot putting om make-up, while smoking and talking on the phone and texting..... those people need a special lane all to themselves..... or if you need to do all that during your trip to work, ride the bus........
Sorry, rant over. I agree, you shjould not have been told not to do it beause you would just drive around with the turn signal on. I would say most that do drive atound with the signal on, the auto cancel is working.......

 

[Worstenemy453]

I never said he shouldnt do it. I just agreed that people who leave their signal on is annoying.

 

[Compu Doc]

I love it when people just make assumptions about someone - now wouldn't the mere fact I'm considering this conversion suggest to you that maybe I'm not your average cell-phone-zombie driver??? Heck man, even my torque converter is on a full-manual control and I have to unlock it before slowing down under 30 mph, so I don't think remembering to cancel the turn signals will be much of an issue. Especially seeing how I learned to do so when I learned to drive and it's become second nature, whether the vehicle I happen to be driving needs it or not. For that matter, the cam part of the self-canceling mechanism in my factory switch has been broken since I got the truck, so I already am canceling manually... Besides, if those switches are safe to use in big trucks driven on public roads, they're safe to be in my truck as well

Well have you ever considered the fact that I do not know you and what your intention was for the switch in the first place?. Did it ever occur to you that their are people on here and in life that put things on their vehicles just for the æsthetics?

Also I do not know your driving habits personally but the average Joe driver would usually forget to turn their turn signal off. I knew of one guy who had a van that the turn signal stopped self canceling and instead of fixing it he put a loud buzzer on it to remind himself to turn the signal off. I've also witnessed tractor trailer drivers not turning their signal off as well and driving for miles with it on.

Still if it were my truck I would just fix the turn signal switch that is already their but since it is yours you can do what you want.

 

[homelessduck]

It is extremely annoying when people cruise with their signals on.. Though, I had an old Ford in HS that I had to manually click off the blinkers.. You really do get use to it, and it is no more hard to remember than shifting a manual trans. I am a cell phone zombie though, so it was a pain in the ass for me.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Compu Doc, nothing personal against you, it ticked me off that when I asked "how to" the response was "don't!" - it's something that I've been seeing way too often on the internets, and in many of these occasions it was a result of nothing other than the person's ignorance and narrow-mindedness on the subject. Don't think that's the case with you, but this is where I come from.

That said, I do know exactly what you mean by folks forgetting their signals on and then going around the world to the left (or right). IMHO a lot of it has to do exactly with the self-canceling setup of the signal switch - folks get so used to it shutting off their blinkers after making a turn they completely forget (or don't even realize it in the first place) that the system has its limitations, and in particular the angle the wheel needs to be turned at so the mechanism "catches" and shuts off the blinker. I've noticed this on many vehicles, both older and very new ones, and it's mostly noticeable when merging or changing lanes on the interstate - you put your blinker on and then barely turn the wheel so the vehicle just glides into the next lane, but when you straighten the wheel the blinker remains on cause you didn't actually turn the wheel enough to where the cam in the self-canceling can do its thing. Sure the flasher is clicking, but if you have the music on not even loud the noise from the flasher gets drowned in that. Light is probably flashing on the dash too, but I've noticed most folks tend to rarely look at their gauges when they are on the interstate... Which all would also explain why most of the time you see people cruising along with the blinkers on, but rarely see that in cities where one has to make fairly sharp turns. Like Homelessduck said you get used to the manual canceling very easy, but it goes the other way too, one can get too used to the self-canceling as well.

 

[Compu Doc]

And one can get so used to driving a stick in a company truck because their truck with the automatic is in the shop. When they get the truck back from the shop they put their left foot almost through the floorboard...been their done that. I know what you mean about the lane change signal. That's why when I change lanes I don't put my signal lever all the way down, I just hold it until the light comes on, change lanes and then let go so it's off.

Last week I was driving a Peterbilt and the first thing I noticed was that it did not have self canceling turn signals what a PITA.

 

[adrianspeeder]

It's worse when you remember which truck in the fleet doesn't self cancel turning left, and a different one that doesn't cancel after turning right.

Adrianspeeder

 

[rhkcommander]

I must be paranoid cause mine works but I check it occasionally anyway to make sure it canceled

You could probe the wires while using the hazards/signals/brakes/reverse lights even maybe and see which wire activates when.. a pad and pen, time and you'll probably figure out which is which.
That is, if someone else doesnt just post up what they do

 

[Black dawg]

driving with a turn signal on is my favorite thing in the world!

 

[crashnzuk]

I don't have anything to add help-wise, but am curious why you want to re-engineer you turn signals? Is there something that your factory system will not let you do? Pure curiosity, just trying to understand what you want to accomplish.
Travis..