Another turn signal problem

[Gretz]

My front right turn signal blinks dimly, approximately half as bright as the front left. When I purchased the car a few months ago, it didn't work at all. I opened it up, removed the reflector and found a bunch of corrosion on both the reflector and the connections. I went to work with my Dremel and cleaned up everything and reassembled it. Since then it has functioned correctly, but dimly.

I went to the front fuse panel and cleaned it and removed corrosion. Replaced all the fuses. I assumed it could be a ground issue. I cleaned up the luggage compartment grounds with my Dremel (haven't done the one at the power antenna yet). Still blinks dimly. All the other turn signals / lights etc function as intended. Indicators on the tach work correctly. As a hazard light, the signal works correctly, albeit dimly.

Here are the anomalies: first, it seems I can remove the ground connection from the back of the reflector and it makes no difference. Signal blinks dimly as it does with the ground connected, which makes me think it's a ground issue. Also, with the headlights on, functioning as a running light, the blinker shines at full strength, matching the left one. It's only as a turn signal that the brightness is reduced.

I will note that there is an old-ass Clifford Sabre alarm still installed in the car, which is on my list to remove. So this could contribute to electrical issues, although I'm not quite sure how it would affect only one turn signal.

Also, hazard light weirdness: with the headlights off, the hazard lights all flash in unison. With the headlights on, the right front turn signal is out of phase with the other three. Seems this could be a big clue, but I'm a noob so I don't know what that means.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! This one is hurting my brain!

[Gretz]

Bump- seems like the out of phase flashing when headlights on would be a clue? Plus the fact that disconnecting the ground from the reflector makes no difference. This one is really stumping me guys.

[allaircooled]

Hmm... is the alarm wired into the turn signal lights? I would remove that if is just to eliminate it as the source of your problem.

[tirwin]

The note that removing the ground doesn’t make a difference suggests that it is finding an alternate ground somehow. Electricity follows the path of least resistance so the alternate path has less resistance. You will need to figure out why the local ground has higher resistance and correct that.

[Gretz]

Good point. I will try to trace the path of other possible grounds.

Is it possible that the turn signal / hazard flasher could have issues and needs to be replaced?

[Gretz]

I went through the fuses again and turned them all and ensured they had good connections. Everything looked good. Checked the signal and it was suddenly flashing at full brightness. Perhaps I put a bit too much dielectric grease on when I cleaned up the fuse panel. I now have carbon conductive grease so I may go back and re-do the panel with the new grease. I’m just happy the signal is working correctly now.

I did order and receive a new flasher/signal relay and I have my gauges out so I might as well install the new relay. That way if the problem reoccurs I’ll know it’s not the issue.