a turn signal thread with a twist.
 

love me them electrical gremlins.

I have read many a post on turn signal/electrical problems. This doesn't mean I've no more work to do, but my problem does seem a bit different, and if someone has had the same problem, maybe you can cut short my multimeter time.

My car is a 72T. When i use the turn signal lever, both lights (l and r) come on and flash. the front signals work ok. The rears, no.

When I've the emergency flasher on, the fronts work fine. rears, no.
with the key off, when I signal left or right, the (front and rear) markers come on (like they're supposed to.)

What's different than the 3000 other threads on this, you ask?

The problem wasn't always so bad. It used to be only Left. when i would signal, the Left indicator (in the tach) would flash great JUST ONCE and then go to the (both flashing) thing. Right worked just great.

Lately the lefts just do the (both flashing thing). I thought I'd be a smart guy and clean up all the grounds in my turn signals all the way around. I checked the bulbs, cleaned the contacts, used dilectric grease, etc. Guess what? Now the rights have the same problem. Lucky me.

Now the rights give one good flash, and then both indicators (in the tach) come on.

Before I turn this into a book, does anyone have any suggestions? I think i've ruled out my actual turn signal switch. It seems fine. I'm just looking for a pelican miracle before I get in there and ( oh boy ) check every wire.

I await the response you get. I have a similiar problem with my 84. Turn on the left signal and the right flashes and vice versa.

Pretty sure its the switch. Try a little electrical contact cleaner and try tightening up (squeezing) with a channel lock, the switch assembly, worked for me.

bump

I get the "both lights flashing" when turning left, only...sometimes it even fails to flash. I got out and looked, what I'm actually getting at the lens is an alternating flash on the left side bulbs...like one flash is the turn signal, the next is the 4-way, who knows.

I expect it's related to bad batteries, cause it only manifests itself at low idle, generally at night with the beams on, and when it's cooler.
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And, mine's a 72 as well. Gotta do that Optima upgrade.