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| turn signals acting like flashers. https://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25144 |
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| Author: | Sam Powell [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | turn signals acting like flashers. |
UH_OH! I thought I was finished, and was just buttoning things up. I wire tied the steering column wires up, and put the steering column back up where it belonged, and when I got through the turn signals now behave like a flasher. All lights flash, as well as both indicators. Any idea of where to start looking for a short. Is it in the column? Is it logical to assume that both left and right feeds from the turnsignal switch are now touching each other somewhere? Am I on the verge of burning something up here? This turn signal switch has been broken for years. The cancel cam does not work. I replaced it with a junk yard piece years ago, and it broke again within a few weeks, so I just said to hell with it. Later, I purchased the part that was supposed to fit, but it did not. Any advice about how to put a good, and proper switch in here? What part, manufacturer,etc.? Thanks for any advice. Sam |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
The first thing to do is to check if they are flashing at normal bright intensity, or if they are flashing at a dim intensity that looks more like parking/tail lamps. If they are flashing at normal bright intensity, then yes, you probably do need a new turn signal switch assembly (the whole thing, not just the cancel cam). Shee-Mar SM106'll fit and work correctly in your '69; see here. If they are flashing at dim low intensity, it is probably a loss-of-ground issue. I have this intermittently in the front blinkers (maybe also rear, haven't checked in awhile) on my '62. If one of the lamps loses its local ground, it'll ground via the other filament through a complicated electrical path that makes my brain hurt. |
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| Author: | Sam Powell [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Thanks Dan. Thanks for the link. I will check that out. The other thing I did was hook up the ground wire for the steering column, but everything was working before. It does not seem as if this would create a problem. Fortunately the wires on this model go essentially outside the column behind a chanel that comes off easily. Are there some continuity checks I can make between the various wires in the column? Should I remove the lamps to make these checks? Maybe another clue: I said they were working correctly before, but that is not quite true. They were flashing very slowly. I assumed that was because I put in indicator bulbs that were much smaller. I was going to ask if you knew of a tail lamp bulb which drew slightly more current than the stock ones. I am assuming that if I turn the headlights on, this will clarify whether they are flashing dim, or bright.. If the taillights are already on, then is it logical to assume that dim flashing will not show up much? I don;t know much about this, but I can follow instructions sometimes. The left rear brake light fails to work every once in awhile? Is this a clue? Sounds as if that is the place to start. I came to work this morning, and will get back into it this afternoon. Sam |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
One brake lamp sometimes failing to work points even more strongly to a worn-out turn signal switch assembly. I would put my beer money on that being the cause of the problem. |
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| Author: | Sam Powell [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Man you are fast! Check out the edit I made to my last post while you were answering it. Sam |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
H'mmm...what bulbs are you using? I tend to use the capacitive "electronic" flashers (Ideal EL-12C) for a nice, loud click and insensitivity to load...means I have to keep an eye open for bulb failures since they are no longer indicated by extra-fast or extra-slow blinking. If you used something like a 1034 with a conventional flasher that's expecting 1157s, yeah, it'll flash slowly. These old lamps really need as much help as they can get in today's traffic. I'd suggest a pair of 3496 bulbs for the brake/tail units, see this post. |
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| Author: | Sam Powell [ Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
OK, now I see why this circuit can give you a head ache. Apparently the flasher switch itself was on, but not functioning properly. The flashers had failed to work for years, and I gave no thought to them. But in the process of buttoning everything up, I must have bumped the flasher switch on. However, the lights would flash only when you turned the turn signal one way or the other. I figured this out when I realized that the emergency flahser was the one clicking, not the turn signal. To make things even weirder, when the lights would flash, the dash board power would come on and off with the lights, if the key was turned off. The gauges would bounce in time to the lights. I figured I had a short between the turn signal lead and the dash lighs somewhere in the harness. HELP. So, I unplugged the steering column/harness plug, just to eliminate a short in the column as a possible source of problems, and everything stayed the same. I turned off the turn signals. So while I was standing there scratching my head, and listening to Click and Clack on NPR, the flashers all of a sudden started flashing. What now?! The car is becoming possessed! And I did it. It's all my fault. It dawned on me that maybe the emergency flasher switch was turned on. I reached down and pushed it down, and Voila, the flashing stopped. I don;t know how long it had been on prior to the flashers starting up. I plugged in the column harness, and no change. I turned the flasher switch back on, and nothing at first, then, it started flashing again. The switch was apparently somewhat corroded, with intermittant contact being made on some of the poles inside. I worked it a couple of times, and it got more reliable. But apparently earlier, when things were really goofy, enough poles were making contact within the switch to link all four bulbs but not enough to give them power until the turn signal was engaged one way or the other. But why the gauges pulsed, I dont; know. Once I plugged in the steering column, things got normal again. I will go buy the flasher and bulbs you recommended. Thanks for even trying to understand a car that has been messed with so much over the years. I hope this is the last gremlin that pops up for awhile. Rewiring a dash board is not for sissies. I've rebuilt engines and transmissions, and they were way easier. What you see is what you get. Sam |
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