Jason444

iTrader: (6)

Hi everyone,

We just bought an '84 Recaro TA that only has 15k original miles on it. I figured going in that the belts needed changing since the car hadn't been driven much. I drove the car down the road the first time and sure enough, the alternator belt launched. Later, I changed the belts just to find the alternator bearings were dry and noisy. Turns out that is why the belt tossed itself. Anyway, I got all of that fixed and took it out for a 15 mile test run, and during the test, I noticed the turn signals blink too fast, like there is a ground problem, but all of the wires are reinstalled correctly and tight from that alternator repair and there are no blown bulbs.

Also, when I got back, now there is a belt squealing every time the radiator cooling fan comes on, and I can't figure out which one or why. What does the totally electric fan on the back of the radiator have to do with one of the belts squealing?

Thanks in advance!

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

You sure that it is a belt squealing & not the fan motor?

Last time I had a fan motor going out but, it wasn't fully out, it squealed like a belt.

Jason444

iTrader: (6)

You know, that makes perfect sense, the bearings in that electric motor could be going out also. I'm in the electric motor business, I should have caught that, but it sounded just like a belt. You don't have any insight on the turn signals blinking too fast do you?

84redta

iTrader: (34)

have you tried a new flasher? i believe there are two under the dash, one for the four ways and one for turn signals. Have you tried swapping them? Also, putting the four ways on, are they any faster or slower? Just an idea.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

I can only think of old flashers, being "bad". Or the fact that our old flashers do seem to flash faster than newer model cars.

Jason444

iTrader: (6)

Good idea. I'll try that tomorrow. I wonder when I limped the car home at night on dropping voltage if it might have gotten the flasher somehow.

coop427

You most likely just have a blown bulb. Thats a design of the turn signal circuit that when a bulb is blown it actually changes the resistance in the circuit so it flashes faster to let you know you have a bulb out.
HTH

oscarfromla

iTrader: (9)

Just something else to think about: I had a squeeling belt once and it turned out to be the alternator, but it would only squeel when it had a heavier than normal load, i.e. electric fan.

myroc86

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

My '84 T/A occassionally had the same problem. The blinkers would flash very quickly although all the bulbs were functional. Then one day they wouldn't flash anymore. I replaced the flasher unit and have never had the problem again.

There are two flasher units. One for the hazards and the other for the turn signals. The one for the turn signals is in a little metal retainer that clips to the metal dash frame. Its to the right of the steering column and next to the convenience center. The flasher unit in the convenience center is for the hazards.

Jason444

iTrader: (6)

Got everything fixed. Thanks everyone for the help.

coop427

what was the problem with it?

FireDemonSiC

As has been said, make sure that it is not the alternator belt making noise from a sudden heavy load.

Mine used to do it I thought it was the power steering pump until I noticed that every time I'd kick on the rear defroster at idle, it would begin the squeal.

And also like Stephen said, check the fan bearings too. Try spinning the fan by hand with the engine off and key out of ignition. I can tell mine is starting to go out because it makes a noise that sounds like a pack of angry crickets.

Jason444

iTrader: (6)

The turn signal problem was a bad flasher and the other problem was the new belt was not tight enough causing the squeal. It did not do it when I put the new belts on, but I guess there was not enough load on the alternator until the fan came in. Both are fixed now and the car runs great. Thanks again for everyones help.