2002 Thomas - Blinkers not flashing

[ALCCbus]

Hey everyone! I joined in an effort to get some answers for fixing issues on our 2002 Thomas, since they usually seem easy enough to do myself!

Currently dealing with the blinkers/hazards not flashing. They turn on, but they don't flash!
Looking at the panels it seems like some things are not where they are mapped out to be either.
I also see we might have a panel inside the bus? But I also don't have a key to access it, naturally.

Any ideas?

 

[Albatross]

panel locks are easy-peasy; you can usually paper-clip your way through them, or if you've got some other reason to call a locksmith, you might be able to get them to bang it out for dirt-cheap if he's already there.


As far as your blinkers go, I would put money that it is either your flasher relay, or you have a primary bulb out somewhere--generally check the left side. If neither of those is the culprit, then you've really got a tough problem, but 99% of the time blinkers not blinking will be a bulb, or less-common the flasher itself.

 

[dbsoundman]

I’ll bet it’s flasher issues too. I don’t know what your Thomas model is exactly but mine gets a lot of water in the side electrical panel underneath the drivers window. Guess where the turn signal flashers are…

I’ve replaced one of mine twice so far. I’ve replaced the other one just once.

 

[ewo1]

I also see we might have a panel inside the bus? But I also don't have a key to access it, naturally.

Any ideas?

Most of those locks are actually "wafer" locks and are super easy to pick open.
don't waste your money on a locksmith.

Many times if you have another key that fits the lock you can wiggle n jiggle and slide the key in and out quickly while applying slight turning pressure and the lock will open up.

 

[nikitis]

Definitely check relays. They are what cause the blinks. Sounds like a relay is stuck in the ON position.

 

[dbsoundman]

Definitely check relays. They are what cause the blinks. Sounds like a relay is stuck in the ON position.

I have replaced my hazard flasher twice now. The first one was stuck on because it filled up with water and rusted apart, the second one just stopped working and was stuck on for no reason, and it was only like a year old. They’re all Novita flashers.

 

[Gareth Ellis]

Is this an MVP? There most likley are two flasher units, one for the turn signal lever and one for the hazzard lights. Start by pulling the hazzard light switch to make sure the turn signal lights all work. Also check the fuse to the turn signal circuits. This should be identified on teh fuse blcok or inside the door. if all that is good, then pull the flasher unit, is is normally in the lower left of the electrical cabinet, has two spades on it, looks about teh same size as a relay. This replacement would potentially work with incandecents as long as the total circuit does not excede 10 amps.

https://amzn.to/3K9oTG4

 

[britpotato]

If someone re-wired things, you're probably going to need a wire tracer.

I'm dealing with something similar in my International. If they don't flash but they light up when you hit the turn signal, it sounds like the flasher relay. This is normally with your standard vehicle fuses (ie. - not the ones that run the stop sign and school bus-specific stuff). In mine, it's in the cab. I think they're $20 or so. Try replacing that before digging into wiring.