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69SSConv


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Turn Signal Trouble - Troubleshooting advice
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Noticed on my first cruises yesterday, and yes had it out today as well, that my left turn signal is not working.  Here is a list of what I have verified so far:

Left rear turn lamp works (and blinks as supposed to)

Dash indicator light does not, light up or blink

Front turn signal lamp does not, light up or blink

Parking lamps works fine

Left front bulb and dash indicator bulbs are good, verified them twice.

Steering column cancel cam does not work for left signal, does work for right.

looked at wiring diagram, same light blue wire runs from steering column connector to indicator lamp and front lamp. Seperate yellow runs to rear lamp, which is working.

Looking for advice on where I should start?  Could it be in the column as the cancel cam is not working for the left turn signal as well?

 



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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
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does the lever go in place and stay or is it floppy to the one side?

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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
Vaguely stock appearing, and the opposite of restored.
1999 std bore 5.7, Vortec heads, Holley Stealth Ram, GM cam
700R4, Viking coilovers, 12 bolt 4.10 posi, and a whole bunch more
69SSConv


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It is not loose, it clicks in place like it normally would.

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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
John D


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If the rear lamps work 7/8th's of the battle is won... the make/break circuits in the TSS are good.

How about 4-ways/hazards? Do all lamps blink?

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
69SSConv


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I haven't tried the 4-ways? I will check them and report.

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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
Chris R


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If you got one side to blink on only one bulb. That verifys the circuit to the flasher is good as well as the flasher itself. Check the ground connections. Unless 69 is different then 66. The bulb uses the socket for part of its path to a good ground connection. If your sockets are still original, make sure your getting a good connection there.



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Chris - Ramsey, MN.

Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist.

While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water. I drank it!

Sincerly,

The opportunist.
69SSConv


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The plot thickens?  I went and checked the 4-way flashers per John D, suggestion, and they do not work at all?  Meaning none of them flash?



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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
Lost in the 60s


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That could simply be the flasher is bad or MIA. Lots of those get pulled and put in the turn signal location when they go bad.

Very possible the wire to the front has been pinched somewhere during all the work.

 



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

Some Assembly Required

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS 350 rs
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Chris R wrote:

If you got one side to blink on only one bulb. That verifys the circuit to the flasher is good as well as the flasher itself. Check the ground connections. Unless 69 is different then 66. The bulb uses the socket for part of its path to a good ground connection. If your sockets are still original, make sure your getting a good connection there.

  

  The four way flashers have their own flasher; could be a different problem all together.   For now you know they (the 4 ways) don’t work but the wiring to three of them is ok because the blinkers in the LR, RR, RF, work.

  Chris makes a good point; grounds truly are the Achilles heel in our 40 year old cars that were never expected to live this long.  

  Have you tried using your electrical diagram to locate the grounds behind the dash and run new wires to them from a known good ground source temporarily?  Then see if the dash blinker indicators work. 

  Have you tried using a test meter to check for voltage at the LF bulb socket? Then work your way back to the fire wall?

  Have you used your meter to read out that big ugly, fragile, almost impossible to work with cannon plug at the bottom of the steering column?

  Can’t remember what you started with Loran, did you replace any of the wiring harness?

 I had a similar problem with my Elky after it sat in storage for 20 years.  The only things that worked where headlights, parking lights, brake lights, and the four ways however, dash lighting, turn signal indicators, wipers, fan, radio would not work.  I replaced the circuit board on the back of the dash, all the light sockets and cleaned up all the grounds and everything work. 

  Those light sockets develop corrosion inside where you can’t see it; circuit boards develop small cracks and corrosion that will compromise system grounds.

 Good news is you’re batting 750% and driving the car.  

 Now, do you remember those hand signals?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Kevin

Northwestern Ohio
69SSConv


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Just for background, the car has new wiring harness's throughout, did not use any of the old wiring.  I had all blinkers working, flashers, etc. a few months back, the only thing that has been done is the dash bezel has been pulled out (column dropped, bezel tilted forward to replace top switch, etc.), so that leads me to believe it is on the column or, possible a dash ground has been knocked loose.  Instrument lights are all working as well as the guages?  I really hate to have to pull the dash out again, but I think I will start by checking flashers have not come loose, and then verify I have voltage at the column wires and work from there?

 



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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
67ss


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Take a fused jumper wire and power the blue wire at your turn signal connector and see if the front lights and dash indicator come on. If so the wiring to that is ok and you either have a bad connection at the turn signal connector or maybe a dirty contacts in the turn signal switch.



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Chris P
East Central, Mn

66 Chevelle 300 deluxe
69SSConv


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Chris P, Thank you! 

I found my problem quickly after trying your recommendation.  I disconnected the connector from the steering column and applied 12v with inline fuse and both the dash light and front signal lit up. 

From there I knew it had to be in the column.  I cleaned up the contacts (were dirty) in the connector on the column an once I plugged it in, I then had front signal and dash, but not the rear?  Took it apart again, cleaned contact some more, and this time made sure everything was seated well into the connector, and ta da!  I now have left & right signals all the way around, flashers work, and even got my horn working that I hadn't taken time to troubleshoot yet.

Life is good again.  Now onto the wiper motor, see if I can get that working or swap it with a repro, I bought at the swap meet at Karl's.


Thank you all.



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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
67ss


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No problem, glade it was that easy.



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Chris P
East Central, Mn

66 Chevelle 300 deluxe
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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
Vaguely stock appearing, and the opposite of restored.
1999 std bore 5.7, Vortec heads, Holley Stealth Ram, GM cam
700R4, Viking coilovers, 12 bolt 4.10 posi, and a whole bunch more
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