No Right Blinker w/ Headlights On

[jlynch1960]

Title says it all. Right front directional works fine with the lights off, but with headlights on, no go (both hi and low beam). Left works fine as does right rear.

Does this sound like a stalk switch issue? I did the "Won switch fix" a couple of months back but wasn't aware if the problem predated the fix. Ground should be the same.

Did a couple searches but came up blank. Anyone else come across this one?

Thanks, Jim

[arbita1]

What year car? Did this just develop or has it been since you've had the car?

[jlynch1960]

'84 Carrera

I guess what's puzzling is that the rear works but not the front and the issue is unrelated to the hi/low beam. If the problem were in the stalk switch (a contact point not meeting?), you would think both front and rear would fail.

I've looked at the wiring diagrams in Bentley, but I'm certainly no expert at sorting these out.

[arbita1]

The weird thing is that the headlights have nothing to do with the turn signals. They are seperate circuits.

Check the bulb in the turnsignal flasher and make sure you have a dual filiment bulb. Also, try taking the bulb out of the other side and see if there is any change. Start with the easy stuff and rule out the bulb first.

[jlynch1960]

The bulb's fine - blinker works with headlights off, when I turn the headlights on, right front blinker goes off. To test it, I put the signal on and when I pull the headlight switch out, the front blinker goes dark.

Headlights and blinkers may be separate circuits but by reason of the high beams being controlled by the turn signal switch, there is some (potential) overlap between the two. Witness the numerous threads discussing high beams flashing when signaling a turn, or headlights going out doing the same, etc.

[jlynch1960]

My bad. Went out to have another look - with headlights on, turn signal light remains on (as it should as part of the running lights) but does not blink with the turn signal on.

Oh well, thanks for the thoughts. Got to get some work done.

[DRACO A5OG]

The heads light are not connected via electrical to the signals. Only the non wired Mechanical Lever.

When you did the Won Fix, did you just bend the #3 (total of 5 springs and Metal Armature) spring or anything else?

You probable already did this but did you check the wires to the fuse panel. Sometimes they get loose or the fuse itself will appear to be seated but may shrink enough not to make continuity or just enough corrosion as not to make a solid contact. I would rotate the fuse while in the panel to help with the contact and check the wires for loosen and tighten if needed. I know this will be coincidence but over time and road vibration from our euro hot rods needs the simple maintenance to be done.

[arbita1]

If light goes on but doesn't blink I would still say start with the bulb. I just did this yesterday. Had the same problem with my front left turn signal light. One of the filaments burnt out.

[fastfredracing]

But they all share the same ground up in the headlight bucket. Does the turn signal still flash with only the driving lights on , and not the headlights? Ground problems do all sorts of weird things. You just need to spend some time with a test light/voltmeter in that area. Check the where the little wire grounds with a screw inside of the turn signal housing as well.

[DRACO A5OG]

Hmm, it is possible if the bulb housing starts to get out of round and loose you will have bad continuity. take the lens off and wiggle the bulb to see if it will make better contact or replace and do the same.

I have placed rubber o-ring get a tighter fit in the sockets, I noticed one of my new hi-po bulbs were out and when I removed the lens and touched the light bulb, it was loose and lit right up

Jim

[joefondo]

Any luck with fixing this? My 1990 c2 does the same thing. Lights off blinker works, lights on nothing?? right side only.

[DRACO A5OG]

On the 3.2 the signal is independent of the light system. you probably have a crossed wire connection so the signal is not grounding properly. Was recent work done to that side?

Oh yeah Welcome to the Board, Have you inquired on your Model board? You missed us by 1 year.

[danishcarnut]

I'm sure it's a bad/missing ground. When You turn on Your runninglights, then the bulb get's ground through the hotwire to the signal. When You then turn on the signal, the bulb get's power from the runninglights AND the signal, and then stays off, because of the missing ground.

[69911e]

Check voltage from blinker ground to battery ground; should be near zero (<.2V). If greater check battery to fender and fender to blinker ground. Fix accordingly.
If all grounds pass, check voltage at battery with car running and lights on.

[Porboynz]

+1 on the ground. Because the indicator works with the lights are off means the earth path is via the headlight filament, through the headlight wiring and using the good earth on the other side of the car. This earth return path vanishes when the lights are switched on and the filament goes to 12v.