Another turn signal problem...
 

Didn't want to hijack somebody else's thread, but I also have a turn signal anomoly. Maybe it's an inigma, but it's a pure PITA to me! My turn signal relay quit on me a few weeks ago and I replaced it with a new one from Pelican. All was good. Then, after a few weeks, I started noticing odd signal behavior. When I would push the hazords lights the dash would not flash, but the hazord indicator on the dash would. Other times, the hazord indicators on the dash DO work. What was weirder was that at times when I would turn on my left turn signal, the right indicator on the dash would blink! I'm almost always on the road when this happens, so I have not yet checked to see if my actual turn signals are behaving correctly or it's just my dash indicators. Funny thing is (as if this whole thing isn't funny) sometimes they work like a charm, like when I'm in my garage testing them :rolleyes:

Any ideas guys?

Ok, I've checked this out and the lights are working correctly, but the indicators on the dash are sometimes backwards. Now, it seems as tho they are backwards MOST of the time. Any ideas guys?

I'm something of a newbie, so I probaby can't help too much. I'm sure you've already looked at the electrical diagrams on this board? Is it possible that you did something funky in installing the new relay? Is it possible that it's totally unrelated to said relay, and you're instead beginning to lose your blinker/headlight switch? Intermittent problems are such a PITA; I can relate because I'm still tracking down vestiges of some weird electrical stuff. Steel wool, electrical lube, and a volt-ohm-meter are your best friends. Good luck, and hopefully someone who knows more than I do (that's most of you) shoudl be able to help out.

Dan

Have you replaced the indicator lights in the tach lately? Maybe switched sockets in the back of the tach by accident?

i have to know more about the circunstances to be able to diagnosis the problem. You said when you push the flashing button ??? is that with key on, off, engine running ?????? Can you understand and fallow a electrical schematic wiring diagram ?? I don't even start to fix problems if i don't have one of those if front of me. can you be more specific and be more aware of what else it's happening to other components of car when your problems occur.
Try to refit the relay and check for corrosion at the socket of relay for a start. Let me know.
truly, Phil.

Phil, I did reseat the relay and no dice. The hazard button was what I referring to. The turn signals dont work with the ignition off, so it was on and sometimes running also. I just cant understand why it would all of the sudden be inverted between the dash indicators and the actual turn signals. It just doesnt make sense.

Any other ideas?

i gonna have to study the wiring diagram concerning your car. You mentioned the relay giving up on you, sometime ago ??? Did it ever happens before you replaced that relay ??? Just curious !!!
Is your turn signal assembly feels loose at the touch when you are using it ???? Just a thought !!!! If i understand, it doesn't happen all the time but only sometime ??? It is gonna be a hard one but not impossible to figure it out. Do a test: remove fuse # 17(fuse for hazard lights) and turn key to running position and try to activate turn turn signal (left or right) and see what happen ??? Put back fuse #17 then remove fuse #11 (fuse for turn signals) and try to activate hazard lights, what the results ??? Let me know. Phil.

Phil, thanks for the input. This problem did not happen until after I replaced the relay, but not immediately after--it took a few weeks to materialize. Initially, it only happened ocassionaly, but now it seems completely broke. I may have to start digging into the wiring, I dunno. I did partially pull the tach out some time ago also. I'm wondering if maybe a loose wire on that could cause this?

Matt,

You may want to look at the turn signal switch on the steering column. AS they wear out they can make contact on both signals at the same time, one or none. What happened in my 84 when mine was wearing out was at first they didn't work going right and then both directional lights on the dash would work at the same time if I used one signal and nothing worked going the other way(left). Never figured it out exactly. Finally the whole thing died after the highbeam contact got fused shut and killed my battery. When I replaced the switch the problems all went away.

it absolutely make sense about the turn signal assembly wearing out and making all kind of weird behavior. it will be the first thing i'll be checking out if i was you. I have just replaced mine last week. not to hard. it took me about the morning and by lunch i was done.
Good luck, filou.

Hmmm, well i did notice some weird stuff going on while turning the wheel also... I'll have to look into the turn signal assembly. How much does the assembly cost?

Check pelican for a idea of price !!!!I got deal on ebay because i was the only one who bid !!!!! It's around $100 or so, may be more !!!
Good luck, Phil.