4-way flasher question...

[Tonglebeak]

Whenever I turn my 4-ways on, they stop flashing when I apply my brakes. Only the brake lights stay on until I release the brake, then the 4-ways resume.

I had thought that this is not the way things are supposed to work. Should they not be flashing the entire time? At least, that's the way it works in my astro work van...

[BBrip84Oatsie95]

Mine do that... I think it even says something about it in the manual...

[Tonglebeak]

Bah, if that's by design then it sucks ass -_-

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

Bah, if that's by design then it sucks ass -_-

People use 4-ways when also moving down the roadway....but putting on Brakes means your motion is slowing (if moving); hence, if someone was "following" you down the roadway, and had seen your 4-ways going, they would know you were slowing.

[CieraSL92]

Hmm. I guess I'm the only one whose 4-ways stay on whenever the switch is on, regardless of brake application.

[Tuddi]

I thought the 4-way was intended for use by women during their first year as drivers... typically used when they don't know where they're going.... (which is like ... all the time... )

[CieraSL92]

It really should be.

[Tonglebeak]

So is it normal or not @_@

[Tuddi]

It is normal. Works that way on many cars.

Even my old Celeb is prepared for woman-drivers :)

[Tonglebeak]

Err, should've been more clear.

Are my 4-ways supposed to continue flashing when the brakes are applied, or are the lights supposed to remain solid until the brake is released, and then flashing resumes?

I ran through the service manual, doesn't make any indication at to what should be going on.

[Tuddi]

I should have been more clear too.

When I push the brake pedal, the blinking does stop.... which get's me wondering now... does the blinking on the front end stop as well?

The difference with our cars and cars that do not have that function, is primarily that the other cars have orange lights for the hazard lights, and the brake lights are free to be used while the hazard lights are blinking.

Ours are with red ... and red. So to avoid confusion by other trafficants, the brake lights have 1st priority due to the safety issue.

[Tonglebeak]

Tuddi, from what I've saw, it does stop as well. Which is why I'm led to believe that it's NOT the way it's supposed to be. Perhaps a defect in the flashers?

[Tonglebeak]

That just got me to thinking. I just went to the AZ website to look for service bulletins. One of them is:

Lighting - Intermittent/Inoperative High Mount Stop Lamp 88T938A9F 08/01/88

...

[notsoslimshady76]

Mine continue flashing no matter what. The rear may go solid, but the front should flash no matter what. As well as your dash indicator

[Tonglebeak]

My dash indicator goes solid. Thanks for bringing that up because I didn't mention it. Also, the 4-way flasher stops making noise while the brake is applied. But as I said before, it resumes normal operation after the brake is released.

What do you think might be the culprit here?

[BBrip84Oatsie95]

My family's s-10 stops flashing when the brakes are applied...

[dcjredline]

Every car I have ever owned has stopped blinking. Think of it like 85 said, it is a SAFETY FEATURE

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

Every car I have ever owned has stopped blinking


FAUQUIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Procurement Division
(http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/documents/departments/procurement/solicitations/18-07khAddendum3.pdf)
Invitation For Bids:
Title: Roll-Off Container Truck

The following revisions and clarifications have been made to the original Invitation For Bid referenced above.
...
...
Directional Signals Front & rear, 4-way flashers that continue to operate when brakes
are applied.
..
..

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

Whenever I turn my 4-ways on, they stop flashing when I apply my brakes...

I checked with my 88 Beretta Electrical Service Manual, and they indicate there are:

1. Lower Stop Lights - Which are used as turn signals, 4-Ways, and Brake
2. High Level Stop Light - In car

They conclude with, "The Stop Lights will come on when the Brake Switch is closed," and if you look at the circuit, there is only a single wire feeding each bulb for turn, 4-way, & brake.

Note - Another wire goes to double filament bulb, but the other wire is for run lights only.

PS: Neat conversion for bikes: FOUR WAYS for FIVE BUCKS! (http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/fourways.html)

[ochy38]

the reason is this, before the third high mount brake light was necessary, if a vehicle had a single brake/signal bulb then the 4 ways stopped flashing when the brakes were applied so that the brake lights would be displayed.... im not positive but i believe that the a's came without the third light when originally designed. considering it was the same basic design the whole way through the entire life of the a's, im sure gm just added a new light in withuoght touching any of the wireing when they became mandatory. this is the way it has worked with every car ive seen withought a third light. however, all that being said, my four ways continue flashing with the brakes on....

[Pontiac6ksteawd]

If your turn signals are also your brake light, then the 4 ways will stop working when the brake pedal is applied. If your turn signals are seperate from the brake lights, the 4 ways will continue to work event thou the brake pedal has been applied. Almost all cars are like this.

[86euro]

If your turn signals are also your brake light, then the 4 ways will stop working when the brake pedal is applied. If your turn signals are seperate from the brake lights, the 4 ways will continue to work event thou the brake pedal has been applied. Almost all cars are like this.

I second that.