[AlanHo]

In my previous i30 GD hatchback I found that the direction indicator "clicker" was barely audible. My wife, who can hear a pin drop at 100 yards, found it quiet.

In my new i30 Tourer the problem is worse - I cannot hear the clicker at all and my wife can only just about hear it - especially on rough roads.

Does anyone have a solution that does not require me to have a degree in electronic auto fiddling?

I confess my hearing is impaired - but my wife's is most certainly excellent.

[tla]

For the FD, the clicking sound is made by the M68 Sound Relay as shown in the picture below.

I'm guessing something similar is used in the GD.  Maybe you can find a louder replacement.

We found the FD relay rather quiet.  However, with our Korean built GD, the sound is more obvious, a higher pitched pinging sound.  We were immediately impressed by the change.

[Dazzler]

That is interesting Alan it seems to vary car to car, quite a bit. Mine was like your Tourer in the first (2008) i30 and yet Trish's MY11 CW is much louder..

Assuming they would use the same components for all their cars I am guessing it is a location issue, or maybe something is muffling the clicker   

Edit: thanks TLA 

[rstnick]

My son commented that he liked the quieter sound of the Indicator on our '12 Touring compared to our '04 Elantra GT.
I like it quieter too.

[Dazzler]

My son commented that he liked the quieter sound of the Indicator on our '12 Touring compared to our '04 Elantra GT.
I like it quieter too.

I understand where you are coming from Rob, the type of sound seems to vary too .. from a sharp click to more of a tapping sound.

Unfortunately, in some cases you can barely hear it at all...So I understand Alan's problem.

Ours was so quiet in our first i30, that often you had to double check by the light on the dash if you had engaged them at all. Sometimes, my wife Trish would say "we have to turn here" and I would have to point out I was indicating. 

[Phil №❶]

Sadly Alan, if that was my problem I would be going down the electronics engineer path, you do have the skills, just got to find your soldering iron, in one of those boxes. However, I suspect that you have better sound insulation in your car and it is working too effectively.

My solution would be to solder extension wires to the existing relay wiring and relocate the relay in a more exposed position. Failing that, try to find a louder one.

Might have to throw a few pounds at an auto electrician maybe.

[The Gonz]

Sadly Alan, if that was my problem I would be going down the electronics engineer path...

Guilt by associating. I'd be doing the same, maybe even sampling a few circuits for just the right customised sound from a parallel accessory.

Let me know whether there's a market for it.

[Shambles]

If I had this issue, and required louder acoustic feedback from the flasher unit, I'd parallel connect a small audio module through the cab to the relay, which I think is what General Gonzalez is hinting at.

[The Gonz]

Spot on, Admiral Shambles. I have no idea how the current module creates its sound but there is bound to be a couple of connections completing a circuit of some kind, delivering either power or a signal, intermittent or steady. Whichever way it works, the approach to piggyback this connection will be the same.

[eye30]

Easy peasy, just turn the hearing aid up

[Doggie 1]

Or get the wife to make a clicking sound with her teeth.

[The Gonz]

Or get the wife to make a clicking sound with her teeth.

I didn't know you allowed your wives in your i30s.

[tla]

Spot on, Admiral Shambles. I have no idea how the current module creates its sound but there is bound to be a couple of connections completing a circuit of some kind, delivering either power or a signal, intermittent or steady. Whichever way it works, the approach to piggyback this connection will be the same.

Here's the related schematic on the FD.

[agentr31]

get a truck reverse beper wired in, you wont miss it then

http://www.qds.com.au/products.html

[The Gonz]

Thanks, TLA. If the sound relay on the left is what's triggered by the turn indicator outputs on the right, then there's a number of options to take. I'd go straight to the turn indicator outputs and splice into their lines with a new module. The relay looks quite basic so I'm guessing the turn outputs are already an intermittent signal so aside from matching the voltage to any desired sound, there's not much more to do but decide where the new sound module is mounted, and this will be out of sight anyway.

I've used cheap buzzers for projects at a cost of only a dollar or two, such as this:

(click to show/hide)

[tla]

I've used cheap buzzers for projects at a cost of only a dollar or two, such as this:

(click to show/hide)

I think Alan was looking for something more like this http://www.jcwhitney.com/electric-130db-highway-blaster-replacement-horns/p2009014.jcwx
Positioned near the driver's headrest, there would be no doubt when the indicator is on.   

[The Gonz]

 

[2i30s]

 

[Doggie 1]

Perhaps there's something lying around the house that buzzes or vibrates that could be wired in? 
In fact, come to think of it, you could fit a replacement stalk at the same time. 

[agentr31]

Perhaps there's something lying around the house that buzzes or vibrates that could be wired in? 
In fact, come to think of it, you could fit a replacement stalk at the same time. 

the only problem is the amount of AA batteries it would chew through!

[The Gonz]

the only problem is the amount of AA batteries it would chew through!

That can be resolved with some voltage matching. I thought the real problem would be all that bulky rubber.

[rustynutz]

You must have the deluxe model, Gonz... 

[Phil №❶]

I can just picture Alan negotiating the Swindon roundabout, smiling. 

The answer to this issue lies in installing a vibrating device in the seat linked to the indicator relay. Those with poor hearing will have no difficulty detecting when the indicators are on. In fact, two devices could be installed, one under each buttock so the driver knows which way they have indicated. Premium versions could also have vibrating devices installed in the passenger seat for passengers so there is no doubt which way the driver is intending to turn.

 Another light bulb moment for Bob, don't you think?

[The Gonz]

We could add a central vibrator for the hazard lights, just for emergencies!

[Doggie 1]

we could be on to something here.....
Who wants to be first to give it a crack?

we could be on to something here.....
Who wants to be first to give it a crack go?

Hate for someone to be offended with your choice of words.
 

[Dazzler]

Love it! 

[bumpkin]

The i40 indicators are virtually silent, but I don't regard it as a problem, they auto cancel after junctions and you only need to use the lane changer function the rest of the time.  Are you finding that yours are staying on?

You could try seeing if you can pick up an ix20 unit, they sounded like somebody was holding a Magnum handgun to your head!