New guy wishes he had front turn signals! - long

[Hockey fan]

Hello All,

Proud new owner of a 73.5 T. Love the car but wish I could get my front turn signals working so I'd feel a little safer driving. Car was shipped to me from out of state and my p.o. said all was well when it left. When I checked bulbs the first time I found dual element bulbs in the front. I changed these to single element (after pulling the contacts back out for a good connection). I have all park lights working fine but when I hit the signal only the back ones work and both arrows flash on the tach. The arrow for the direction I'm signaling is brighter than the other side. Also if the headlights are on, they dim when I signal. On the plus side my reverse lights, brake lights and cabin lights all work! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I searched the board but didn't see another problem similar to mine. Thanks!

Jeff

[davis911s]

Hey do your front lights flash with the emergency lights? If Yes than you know it isn't the bulbs or the wiring at the lights. If NO then there is a good chance it is the bulbs or the coonections or connectors.

Take the bulbs out and use a multimeter to see if there is power going to the bulb (with flasher on)

Let us know

Shawn

[Hockey fan]

Shawn,

Thanks for the reply. I just went out and checked and I get nothing in the front with the emergency flashers - only the rear. Was I correct in changing out the dual element for the single element? It seems like the duals were put in because the peg layout seated the bulb "deeper" against the contacts. Will try the meter this weekend.

Jeff

[davis911s]

Jeff accoding to our hosts page http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911E/por_911E_lenses_main.htm

The front signal lense in your car, calls for a single filament bulb. However you have to ensure it is the PROPER bulb. Otherwise the contacts won't be made = no lights.

When you check with the multimeter, or even a 12V test light, you'll see if you have power getting there. IF NOT then you have to trace the wires and see at what point the power stops. There is obviously power at the turn signal switch (rear works) so somewhere between the switch and the element the power is stopping.

Look up your wiring diagram here http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911_Parts/911_electrical_diagrams.htm

Keep us posted, electrical seems overwhelming but it is really ussually pretty straight forward.

Shawn

[Bo]

Actually, I'm having a somewhat related problem - my high beam won't come on any longer after having replaced my turn signal switch, and I was going through the electrical charts you refer to yesterday evening, and one thing confuses me regarding how to interpret them:

The yellow wire going from the turn signal switch end up going nowhere (circled in red) in the chart - what does this mean? I mean the " )- " at the end of the wire.