Today is electrical problem day
April 25th, 2015, 11:59 AM
#1
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Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
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Today is electrical problem day
I'm running down a few electrical problems today( electrical is not my best suit) and so far this one has me stumped. turn signals work fine on left turn but on right I get a fast blink and only a very week light on the dash indicator, barley can here the flasher click. I have polished all connectors and replaced all bulbs.. To me it acts like a poor ground but so far I can't find one. Will a bad flasher do this... Any ideas.... Tedd
April 25th, 2015, 04:13 PM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rowlett, TX
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I don't think it is the flasher or neither side would work. I could be wrong on that. I am betting a ground or some kind of bad connection. My time in the USAF has really helped me find electrical gremlins on old cars.
April 25th, 2015, 04:25 PM
#6
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It's not the flasher. How long has it been acting this way? One thing I have found on these old cars is that the spring loaded contacts at the bottom of the socket can sometimes stick in the down position and the bottom terminal on the light does not make contact. Wiggling the wire from the back, or pushing toward the socket can usually cure it. I too would bet you have a circuit issue of some sort, i.e. grounds. You can also take a multimeter and test for grounds on your turn signal sockets on that side.
April 25th, 2015, 04:55 PM
#7
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Bulbs are new today even though the old ones checked out OK when I switched them around to known good sockets. I polished the socket contact points the first time I pulled the lenses off so I think I'm good there. I think I can get to the back side of the bulb holders if I remove some of the carpet in the trunk and I'll check for shorts/ bad connections and such.Then I'll put a multimeter and see whats up on voltage. I was hoping for something simple like a bad bulb or a little corrosion but it looks like I'm going to be deeper in it than I planned.
There is a courtesy light out also but it has been interment for awhile and I am sure its just a bad connection, it's next on the list. Two months ago there was not a thing that needed attention now I have a grocery list.
....Tedd
There is a courtesy light out also but it has been interment for awhile and I am sure its just a bad connection, it's next on the list. Two months ago there was not a thing that needed attention now I have a grocery list.
....Tedd
Last edited by Tedd Thompson; April 25th, 2015 at 04:58 PM.
April 26th, 2015, 07:59 AM
#9
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^^^THIS! The same flasher contacts are used for both sides. Common sense tells you that if one side works, it can't possibly be the flasher. It's likely a bad ground. In particular, check where the sockets ground, if they use the lamp housings as the ground path. On my 62, for example, the front part/turn housings are aluminum with a steel socket crimped to it. Galvanic corrosion between the two raises all kinds of electrical hell.
April 26th, 2015, 11:04 AM
#10
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Some success some not so good. The courtesy light was a quick fix, just a bad connection, cleaned it up and it was done. The backup lights also were a quick fix with a clean up and wash/polish .After pulling the bulbs on the turn signals again I washed them with a electrical non conductive solvent/ cleaner and worked the springs back and forth a couple dozen times on both sockets and I now have the indicators on the dash and the lights outside blinking but at different speeds and intensity.. To me that indicates still a bad ground somewhere, so I'm now looking on the back side of the light housings for any obvious problems. The right side rear turn signal is weaker should I work on that first ? Perhaps it's the source for the short.
I still have a park light light on the left side that is out and that will be next after the turn signals on the list to get worked on. I'm here till the legs give out
.... Tedd
I still have a park light light on the left side that is out and that will be next after the turn signals on the list to get worked on. I'm here till the legs give out
.... Tedd
Last edited by Tedd Thompson; April 26th, 2015 at 11:08 AM.
April 26th, 2015, 11:25 AM
#11
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I now have the indicators on the dash and the lights outside blinking but at different speeds and intensity.. To me that indicates still a bad ground somewhere, so I'm now looking on the back side of the light housings for any obvious problems. The right side rear turn signal is weaker should I work on that first ? Perhaps it's the source for the short
April 26th, 2015, 01:23 PM
#12
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GOT IT!!! It was the whole chrome housing that holds the red lens and light socket.This thing is held on by two 5/16 bolts with Phillips heads. Took a wrench on my largest screwdriver to bust it loose yet it wouldn't ground through that connection. Works like new now.
Next is the park light that won't light. If I can't get it, no big deal I will still do our road trip with or without it working....But I know I won't be happy till everything works as it should.
.. Thanks for the thoughts and ideas ...Tedd
Next is the park light that won't light. If I can't get it, no big deal I will still do our road trip with or without it working....But I know I won't be happy till everything works as it should.
.. Thanks for the thoughts and ideas ...Tedd
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