Baffling--directionals won't work

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I've very occasionally in the past (this is an '83 SC) had directional problems--no lighted-arrow indication on the panel, right directionals front and rear did work, left directionals didn't. (I don't know that I ever checked whether the left front directional was out, it may have only been the rear that was inop.) I'd take the taillight lens off and fiddle with the bulb a bit and everything would be fine--cockpit indicator on, all directionals working.

Now, however, I have no directionals at all. Bulbs are good, fuses are good, bulb and socket contacts all cleaned, directional-stalk unit is only 4,000 miles old. The directionals do work in the European-nightlights setting--i.e. with the ignition off and the stalk deployed right or left, the right or left tail and front lamps stay lit. (I believe this is a different bulb than the directionals, though--that it's a taillamp bulb.)

All the other lights do work--brakelights, reversing lights, taillights.

Is there any obvious place--a 911 Weakest Link--to look for the fault?

thanks,
Stephan

[Wil Ferch]

Go back and really make sure contacts are clean and ( also) tight. I had the same problem ( almost) when I first picked up my 85 some years ago. Ultimately went back to my "cleaned" bulbd and sockets and really cleaned them now also including some dielectric grease and all has been fine since... worth a shot.
--Wil

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Fixed! Thought I'd tried everything and was about to pull out the taillamp units and start a wire trace, and then decided to cycle the hazard flashers. Pushed the red button on, all four flashers worked full and bright. Pushed the red button off, and the directionals are 100-percent back in business, just in case anybody else ever comes up with such an anomaly.

Stephan

[CamB]

Sounds like the flasher unit is sticking (I think - happened in my Jag). The problem might come back soon - and it might not for a long while.