Gremlins! Gremlins I sez!

[tirwin]

Fix one thing another thing breaks. Working on these cars is like trying to get a wrinkle out of a bedsheet.

So when I bought my '83 SC a few months ago the ignition switch didn't work and the turn signal switch was worn out and flaky. Took the opportunity to of replacing the turn signal switch to put on a new MOMO steering wheel. That was a couple of months ago. A couple of weeks ago I replaced the ignition lock assembly. I thought everything was fine. No more starting the car with a screwdriver.

About a week ago I decided to drive the car to the office. On the way I noticed the turn signals indicators on the gauge suddenly quit working. Then they came back. Everything else was working fine. Then they went out again. I got to the office and asked a co-worker to come out and watch as I went through all the lights. Turn signal I could get by without, but I wanted to make sure I had brake lights. Tried and tried and couldn't reproduce the problem. All lights worked fine.

This morning I went out for a drive and same thing happened -- no turn signals. Then I heard a distinct click. Huh. Tried the turn signals - worked. A few minutes later, another click. No worky.

What the heck is making the clicking noise? Relay? It sounds like it's right in front of me. Looked under the dash and didn't see anything obvious.

[mholbrook38]

The turn signal relay is right behind the left most gauge on the dash. Or, if looking from the trunk, look right behind the master cyl. There are two rectangular boxes. One is the turn signal and one is the buzzer.

[tirwin]

Thanks mholbrook38! Traveling on business for a couple of days. I'll check it out when I get home.

[haycait911]

seems like 99% of the time I have an electrical problem, it's a ground. actually, make that 99.7%. every time I come across a ground now while working on the car, I take off the wires, clean everything, smear on di-electric grease and re-assemble.

[cdrik915]

+1 Haycait911: bad ground.

[tirwin]

I can see the ground idea. I was using a lot of choice words to get that ignition assembly in place. Entirely possible I jiggled something loose. Wouldn't the clicking sound be indicative of the relay?

[haycait911]

everything 12v depends on ground. without a solid ground power can't flow, therefore no power, or less/intermittent power. not just the column, look around for the brown wires running to a terminal on the body. your car is almost 30 years old. lots of time for a bit of moisture to cause corrosion in a ground connection.

most 12v problems, ESPECIALLY intermittent ones, are a grounding problem. IMHO.

[pete3799]

Check the grounds behind the ash tray.
Possible you knocked one loose while under there.

[fbarrett]

Make sure the appropriate fuse is fresh (a failure may be invisible) and clean.