DDRock

My father has a 66 Olds Cutlass we bought last year and has been enjoying the car a lot in Florida. He called me to say his turn signals just stopped working. He said brake and running lights work fine. The turn signals do not work and the indicators on the dash do not come on either.

1966 Olds Cutlass 330 2spd on the column non tilt. I am in NJ and not down there to help him. I did search but didn’t find anybody with same issue. Can some one help me direct my father how to diagnose and fix this? He has taken it to 2 shops that swear it should have 4 way emergency flashers and just shrug at him.

Thanks,
Derek

oldcutlass

1967 was the first year for mandatory emergency flashers. Has he checked the flasher unit under the dash?

CRUZN 66

The flasher unit would be the quickest check... But since no lights have power, I would check for a bad ground or power source to the directional switch itself...

oldcutlass

The indicator lights are tapped off of the rest of the cars directional lighting, so if the other lights don't flash neither will the ones on the dash. Since the brake and tailights work and I'm assuming the front parking lights work, it's not a ground issue.

joe_padavano

The ACC terminal on the ignition switch directly powers the flasher module. The purple wire from the flasher runs to the turn signal switch via the steering column connector. The only way the turn signals don't work when the brake lights do is 1) no power to the flasher module (that same ACC wire powers the RADIO, HEATER, and W/S WIPER fuses, so if those items work, that's not the problem), 2) bad flasher module, 3) bad purple wire from the flasher to the turn signal switch, or 4) bad turn signal switch. Check those items.

DDRock

Thanks so much guys. I will have him start to look and report back.

DDRock

My father finally found the flasher up under the dash right next to headlight switch. He had to pull down the a/c duct and really look. He replaced it and all good now. They work.

Thanks,
Derek

oldcutlass

Glad you got it.

CRUZN 66

Good to hear the problem is fixed... Eric's recommendation was right on...

Fun71

Glad he was able to get it fixed.

Be sure to tell him to NOT take the car back to those two shops.

For any further issues, ask here first for advice because as demonstrated, the free information here is more accurate than what you find at "shops" these days.