I have a problem with my turn signals. Ignition off, Brake Light fully functional. Turn signal level has limited travel left and right, almost not moving. If I engage the level to the right, the right turn signal rear lights are on,, engage the left and the left turn signal light is on. I have to very carefully manipulate the level to get both of the rear turn signal lights to go off. The front turn signal lights are not illuminated. All of this with the ignition off. I have a 65 Dynamic 88 with tilt wheel and optional side lights. Could it be the turn signal switch?

 

The turn signal circuit only gets power when the key is in the RUN or ACC position. This comes into the column on the purple wire from the flasher module. Brake light circuit gets power all the time, but the pedal needs to be pressed for that power to reach the turn signal switch. This comes into the column on the black with white stripe wire. There are no other wires in the column harness that are hot with the key off. If the lights are really coming on with the key OFF, start checking for power on those two wires. Neither one should show voltage with the key OFF. You DO have the headlight switch off at this time, correct? There could be power from the park light circuit into the turn signals if one of the 1157 sockets has a bad ground and the park lights are on.

 

Thanks for the information Joe. I did some more digging and found some information on the AACA site for a 1963 buick Riviera. Turns out the 63 Riv has the same turn signal switch as the 65 olds with tilt wheel and optional side lights. There were two solutions, one was to check the actuator cable going from the switch up to the turn signal cancel cam. If the actuator cable is broken, it causes the turn signals to light up with the ignition off. In my case the cable was fine. I pulled the switch and used some contact cleaner to give it a good bath, operating the switch back and forth. Re-installed the switch and everything works as it should. Thought I would let you know.
Thanks Again

 

Thanks for the follow-up. I'm still struggling to understand how power gets to the turn signal switch without the key on. In any case, over time metallic debris from contact wear gets mixed in with the grease inside the switch, potentially causing an internal short. Cleaner certainly helps with this.