early turn signal electrical problem

[billwagnon]

My turn signals have always worked, but the indicators inside both flash weakly at the same time.

Today however, there's no flash inside and neither side turn signals work. Emergency flashers work, but only on the right side.

I pulled all the bulbs. The glass in one bulb is loose in the base, but that bulb works on the right side (emergency flasher).

I have cleaned up all the bulb bases. I had the rear signal assemblies out about six months ago and cleaned everything up at that time, but I haven't taken out the front assemblies.

Electrical repair has always intimidated me. Is there a methodology like check-measure-adjust for turn signal problems? I have a test light do I need anything else?

[Evans, Marv]

A simple first step is to check all of your grounds. Clean them all & check the condition of the wires. If that isn't the current problem, you may eliminate it as a future condition. Good luck.

[billwagnon]

are the "grounds of concern" all connected to the turn signal assemblies?

[fintstone]

Do your brake lights and back-up lights work? If so a good place to start is at your flasher relay.
If you have a voltmeter or test light you can test the relay. First, find the flasher relay. Unplug it from it's socket. There should be 4 pins C, 31 49,49a. put a small piece of masking tape on the top of the relay and mark on it where each pin is...C,31,49,49a. Plug the relay back in about half way so you can stll see each contact. turn on your emergency flasher button and you should observe 49-12v(or test light on), 31 ground (or test light off-you can ensure the ground is good by using this pin to ground your test light and probing pin 49 and ensuring the light comes on), C switching between 0 and 12v (or test light flashing, 49a flashing between 0 and 12v (or test light flashing). If this is correct, your flasher relay is good. Next, turn off the emergency flasher, turn your key to accessory and turn on either turn signal. You should get exactly the same.

[billwagnon]

thanks fintstone & everyone - I found out one of my fuses was just a little corroded - replaced it and I'm good (turns out my brake lights were out too). Also replaced fuse for my license plate lights which never have worked, and they're good too!

My flashers though only work on the right side of the car - for full flashers I have to use left turn signal + hazards. I got a digital voltmeter and now I'm going to learn how to use it.

Thanks for all the help!

[dhoward]

Bill, keep working the groud issue. If nothing else, just removing and replacing can be enough to fix an oddball electrical problem. When I first started to assemble my car, (bought it in a box...) I noticed that the more grounds I cleaned and tightened, the more weird electrical inconsistancies went away...

[jeff1hughes]

fuse was going to be my recomendation, I had a similiar problem with my running lights on one side, just a fuse was loose fixed the problem, no problem.