Turn signals

[Jack Innes]

Hello, I am trying to figure out the turn signal connections on a military truck built in 1969. The switch is made by Spartan & has 6 wires coming from it. The relay box has no markings but may be something common to other 24 volt military applications, most of the other gauges & switches are standard looking. The box has 2 connection bars one with 6 connections & the lower one has 5. The brake light switch is not connected to anything at present. The signal system looks like it was on the truck from the factory.

When the main light switch is on "Brake light" the relay makes flasher sounds & the indicator on the column flashes but nothing else works. The signal/brake bulbs all work when energised at the box with a jumper.

Does this sound or look like anything common to other vehicles?

Thank you for any suggestions.

[rob love]

I believe that is the same setup that was on the M38A1 Cdn2 from the factory. There is a wiring diagram in the Canadian jeep maintenance manual of that period. As wll, I believe it may be common to the US M37B1 (?) 3/4 ton dodge.

[Bob Carriere]

All kind of info and wiring diagrams available not sure which would be applicable but seems common on CJ 5 Jeeps.

Good luck

Cheers

[rob love]

I googled M38A1Cdn2 wiring harness and also M37B1 turn signals, and both searches will bring up your turn signal system. The Cdn 2 wiring diagram is actually on this site. Below I have attached a photo shamelessly stolen from the internet which shows the relay box you are asking about.

There are the solid state dignal kits which replaced these earlier boxes, but since your truck is rather unique, I would think you would want to keep the original set-up. I do recall seeing the installation kits available at one of the US suppliers like Saturn surplus, but I can't find the source now.

Found it. It was Saturn surplus who has the NSN: 2590-00-906-0155 boxes listed: http://saturnsurplus.com/electrical/0155.htm

[Jack Innes]

Thank you Bob & Rob. That is the same box for sure! I looked it up on Saturn Surplus but they will not ship to Canada. Is there a way around this?

I also found a wiring diagram as you mentioned & it should clarify the stop light mystery.

Jack

[Robin Craig]

Jack,

make some American friends

Robin

[maple_leaf_eh]

The common work around for US shippers who won't go across borders is to determine the closest UPS store to the bridge closest to you. Then have the US company's ship to the UPS store. When you get a shipping confirmation, make a cross border shopping trip to do the pick up. The little storefront in Ogdensburg, NY is a regular TV news story before Christmas as Canadians line up around the building to get their parcels.

[chris vickery]

Optionally, go to Kinek.com and set yourself up a user ID.
The best part is that you can choose from dozens of border points to suit your needs. You just give which ever Kinek address that you want to use as well as your unique ID number and when it arrives they send you an email notification.
They hold your parcel up to 30 days free of charge. Handling fees are very reasonable and many places also offer dock services, forklift or yard storage for items like vehicles.

[Jack Innes]

Thank you Robin & Terry.

Now knowing that a replacement is available I took the old unit apart. It is in fairly good condition & the problem was corroded points similar to what you find in old voltage regulators. Once cleaned I now have functional turn signals!!

With the help of the M37 wiring diagram & a little studying of the relay box I now also have brake lights! The wiring seems odd in its numbering but not impossible to trace.

For security I think I will order a relay box & have it shipped to my place in Kansas to be retrieved at a later date.

I have attached a picture of the power plant as well. It is now back in & running. (With new everything that is mentioned in the manual as instruction #1 - remove engine. Front brakes, fuel pump, etc.)

[Randy Hatfield]

Hello, i am new to your forums. I have a 1952 M38A1 USA version 24V jeep. I have been restoring it, I am looking for a wiring diagram possibly from the CDN 2 or 3 that will show how to wire the turn signals. I installed a wiring harness from Peter Debella jeep parts that has wires ready for turn signals. I just want to make sure that I hook up everything the way it needs to go. I recently installed the military Directional Control flasher unit with the Canon plug 3 wire. I like how my Northern friends take a good product and improve it. Any help with the diagram would be most appreciated.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Randy Hatfield

Hello, i am new to your forums. I have a 1952 M38A1 USA version 24V jeep. .... I like how my Northern friends take a good product and improve it. ....

Some soldiers would disagree with you on the last point. Some Canadianizing practises have been pure stupidity!

What you are observing is differences between the design when it was 'sealed' as a variant by the US military. Our buys tend to be towards the end of the production runs, and technology matures. The differences between our M38A1 CDN1 from 1953 are readily apparent to the M38A1 CDN3 contracts from 1970 and 71.

[Wayne Hingley]

Hi Randy. Here are the CDN2 (Fig 1) and CDN3 (Fig 7) wiring diagrams respectively. Hope that helps.