Help: Turn signals do not work?

[dgagne]

I am putting my 69 911T restoration project back together and am trying to finish off the electrical. At this point everything is working except the turn signals. The relay is ok, the fuses are new but there is no power going to the fuses for the turn signals.
Any thoughts or recommendations on a process to try and isolate the problem. When I push down or up on the turn signal on the steering wheel, the green lights on the tach do not light up, nor do they for the 4 way flashers.

I hate electrical stuff!!! At least with rust I can SEE the problem!


Derek

[Fdalgas911T]

I am having a similiar problem.

Just like you I am finishing up a restoration. Everything electrical worked before I started restoring. Everything electrical works now except for the turn signals.

Here is the weird part, with the ignition key OFF the signals lightup but do not blink on each side (left front and rear lightup but don't blink with signal lever on left position, and right front and rear lightup but don't blink with signal lever on right position) When I turn ON the ignition key, the signals don't work at all. However, the 4 way flashers work fine with the key on or off! I replaced the flasher with a new one yesterday... no change in signal performance.

How can I approach this and troubleshoot / isolate this problem?

Articles i'vs read indicate that a good ground/earth is usually the problem. Could all 4 signal units have a ground problem??? even if all the other bulbs are working perfectly (brake/flash/reverse/running/headlighs) ????

[dgagne]

Hi,
I got mine working, it turned out, the relay for the turn signals was missing all together!!! I put in a new one and they work fine.
I did however experience similar problems to what you were describing. I was all to do with grounds on mine. Make sure that all ground wires are touching a bare metal surface, I had new paint and undercoating everywhere. I also took apart the housings, the back part where the wire goes into the housing and found some corrosion on the terminals. I cleaned them all up with a wire brush and they work fine now. Also, make sure the connections in the fuse box are getting power and that all the screws holding in the wires are nice and snug.
Good luck, this was so frustrating for me!

Derek

[DW SD]

I believe power for the turn signal circuit comes off of the the ignition switch. Check your wiring diagram and track down the correct wire. If I remember correctly: Power comes from the switch, to the relay to the turn signal and out to the fuse box and then to the light housings.

Hope that helps.

Doug

[Fdalgas911T]

Dgagne and DW SD, Thanks for your suggestions and help. I did a lot of problem elimination work removing all the blinker lenses bulbs and housings and cleaning everything including ground connections. During the search for the actual power 12+ source I accidentally caused the right blinker only to function intermittently. Removed the steering wheel and exposed the switch. Then I sprayed some old fashined TV tuner cleaner/lubricant on the switch and exercised it in all positions. Eventually the right blinker became 80% reliable but the left never functioned. I then located the two wires controlling the left blinker and stuck a hatpin through them and the left blinker began to work! Hurray, the switch was bad! Ordered a new one and now both blinkers function perfectly. That was the last step to complete restoration twenty years and finally done… sweet. Now I hope to pass the inspection and go for a long awaited ride. Thanks again.

[mjmoran]

Fdalgas,

I am having an identical problem now on my 68L. The lights work in the parking light mode (key off or out) -- all 4 of them. Once the key is on, the blinkers do not work. After tapping the three prong flasher box in the trunk, my RHS blinkers work and the Left does not. You found the fault in the switch on the steering column? Im sure our wiring scheme is different between the two, but the problem sounds identical...

Cheers,

[Rick V]

It's a Porsche don't worry about signals. We are an arrogant bunch who don't signal anyway...........right?


Before I get hammered by scathing posts I ment it as a joke

[mjmoran]

Rick, I think you are gettin us mixed up with the Lexus folks...I have yet to see a directional signal light on an Ell Ess fourwhatever... I just like to have everything work on my car...and after 37 years and 62,000miles, something was bound to go wrong...seems this is it!

[Rick V]

I couldn't agree more

[Fdalgas911T]

on Nov 2, 2005 mjmoran wrote:
I am having an identical problem now on my 68L. The lights work in the parking light mode (key off or out) -- all 4 of them. Once the key is on, the blinkers do not work. After tapping the three prong flasher box in the trunk, my RHS blinkers work and the Left does not. You found the fault in the switch on the steering column? Im sure our wiring scheme is different between the two, but the problem sounds identical...
================================================

Michael, Yes the switch in the steering column was bad... just internally corroded i guess. I was unable to disassemble the switch and repair it internally... just too compact and complex. but the new one fixed it and is working fine ever since. Fred.

[mjmoran]

Fred.

Fixed mine last night...it was a completely different problem. When I had the front lenses off for cleaning, I must have switched the wires for parking and turn...that was it. So simple...

Interesting that they would have the same symptoms