Turn signal trouble shooting
 

My next project is to tackle the non-functioning turn signals for my 69 912. Last weekend I took off the lens covers to check the bulbs. They all looked ok, but when I tried to take them out, they were sort of melded in there. After disconecting the battery, i used some pliers and peeled all of them out. The signal housings look ok and the wiring to them looks fine. There are a few wires hanging around (i presume theyre grounds because of the ends of them) which I'll attach to the body soon. Some new bulbs and a new turn signal relay are also on the way (as well as some new lens seals, cuz why not...). If that doesnt work, whats the next step? Not sure if this means anything, but The brake lights and reverse lights work as well.

In German cars all grounds are brown wires. Just make sure that the wire you are grounding are grounds. Also clean all of the wire connections including the grounds. Also check for any breaks in the wires.

If you do not have a wiring diagram. You need one when working with the wring. There is not one specific to the 69 912. It is combination of the 65-68 912 and the 69 911.

check the Porsche bulb replacements are exactly what you are replacing. I would not match what is existing because they may have been replaced with a bulb that looked correct. you can get some odd results otherwise. what I did was to place a copper pig tail ground strap, a small one, from the housing (screwed it on ) to the threaded captive nut that the light housing attaches too. bob

The wires are brown, so thats a good sign, lol. At the ends of them, they are flat metal in the shape of ring, as if they're to be bolted into something. The prior owner rubberized just about everything so I may need to scrape a small area off the chassis to get it some contact. As for the wiring diagram, I have one but it's back in IL that we used for the engine swap and it worked fine, so I'll get it when I go home in a few weeks. The bulbs that I bought were the OEM part numbers, but from Phillips. The part numbers are...
Brake bulb 90063112890 x2
Side turn bulb 90063110390 x4
Taillight bulb 90063112790 x6
There's one other b
I matched them with the part numbers from stoddard. At about $0.50 a bulb, I bought twice as many as I'd need (~24 bulbs) in case one goes out in the future. I'm rather surprised somewhere doesn't just sell a total lightbulb replacement kit with everyone you'd need.

While I'm doing all of this, should I also be changing out the turn signal switch and/or turn signal spring?

If your wiring and bulb efforts don't work, I suggest looking at the hazard switch. I have a 69 912. Intermittently I will loose both turn signals. Somehow, I happened to discover that I can get them back by playing with the hazard switch. My next project is to remove the switch and see what's going on. Good luck. Tim

you have the right idea .... put in all of the correct bulbs before you replace the turn signal switch. It might be ok and just need cleaning and a return spring. if my memory is correct ...those brown wires with the round end would go on the captive nut on the body to ground.... the screw that goes into the lenses completes the capture ...... same place I put my additional pig tail ground.... also..... if the 69 is the same as the earlier cars ... you will want to get all of the bulbs working including the license plate lights to get the prober response from the system.... if you neglect the license plate lights you should have no problem getting the turn signals to blink but you will notice on the gauge when you use your turn signals the indicator will operate properly ...showing right turn and left turn appropriately and not just flashing both directions at once on the gauge.... bob

Brett, does your turn signal lever move up and down and stay up or down? I am trying to troubleshoot my turn signals as well. I have seen the bulbs flash once or twice in the past, but now it seems as if the switch in the steering column may be bad. I need to hold the switch in the up or down position and even then the lights do not come on. Are the switches even available? Thanks.

Justin

bobrestore, now that you mention it, my 912 has a fiberglass rear bumper and I do not have a license place light. It was one of those things I was going to add on, but got side tracked with the whole engine swap and some issues with the trans.

jw912, the signal lever moves up and down but it doesn't really hold in place too well. I think I'll just get the spring. It's only $3.70, plus I need a license plate light so that shipping shouldn't be too bad :/

the license plate light is in the engine lid ... there are two of them bob

The license plate light and the luggage light are on a separate fuse and wiring from the parking lights. The only connection would be the headlight light switch.

The turn signals and hazard lights are on the same circuit. They have the fuse for the hazard lights, the flasher relay, and hazard lights relay in common.

So if you have both turning signals indicator lights flashing. the license plate lights would not cause the problem.

I have an aftermarket ducktail and there is no engine bay light either. Either way, the bulbs and relat should arrive tomorrow, so if I have a slow call day on saturday Ill fiddle with it.

All the new lightbulbs are in place, as well as new turn signal lens seals and covers (I cracked the front right from over tightening one of the screws :mad:). I also went through and changed out all of the fuses. My 912 manual says I should only have 12 fuses (2 sets of 6), but I have 16 (2 sets of 8). I went through each fuse slot and labeled them, and it's in the correct order per the manual. My manual does not list which color fuse to use, so I just replaced blue for blue, etc. After all that, the parking lights work, as do the brake lights and reverse lights, but still no turn signal. I attempted to replace the turn signal relay, but honestly can't find it. I looked in the trunk, but couldn't find anything that looks like the part I bought. Is the relay normally under the dash or under the foot pedals?

I think its in the same place as a 1966.... If So, it is in the trunk next to the fuse box near the steering column and gauges.... It is a Bakelite flat fitting, that your flasher plugs into, so if your relay is missing you will have to look close for it....

The turn signal relay is on left side near fuel gage. Look with light right left corner from trunk.

I switched out the relay. I was a little tripped up because the stock relay is cylindrical but the replacement is rectangular. Either way, the turn signals still don't turn on. I guess the next step is to pull apart the steering column and look closer at the turn signal switch.

There are some other relays under the floor broad. I would look at those before taking apart the steering column.

When you're checking the relays Jaems is referring to, pay particular attention to the wiring/condition of the warning (aka emergency) signal relay which shares a wire with the turn signal flasher unit. Are you certain that you're getting current at the turn signal relay when it's on?
Bill

I actually do not have a hazard switch, so that may be the underlying issue. The only ones I can find are a bit out of my price range at the moment, so maybe I can get a non-oem to work at the moment. I was going to take a look at it last night but I had to stay late at work. Hopefully I'll have some time tonight.

While I was messing around with it yesterday, I found that when the car is turned off and I turn the turn signal lever to the right, the right parking lights turn on, but when I turn it left, the left parking lights don't turn on. If I turn the car on and do the same thing, neither of the parking lights turn on but when I flip the parking light switch, both go on. I guess that means the turn signal switch kind of works, but any idea where the wiring glitch could be?

All that in mind, I bought a turn signal spring and also I found that 69' hazard switches are a 1 year deal and no OEM makes them. Used on eBay is $400+... I'm going to try to find an old classy looking 356, 914 or VW one instead.

I know this sounds redundant ... but.... check to be sure you have the correct bulbs in the proper places....
bob