lights? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dinnut · 08-19-2003, 09:07 PM

alright, my 70 has something funky going on. if i put the left turn signal on, the front light doesnt blink. but when i put the headlights on it comes on... still doesnt work when turning left. my side lights are non existent ( no wiring or bulbs in or near them) any ideas. btw my truck still makes that banging noise when trying to start it. one day it started and we put a new starter after the bendix wouldnt extend far enough to reach the flywheel. so now after the new starter is on it spins enough to reach the flywheel and then makes a clanking noise. im thinking i got a funky flywheel. maybe the wrong size or something. anything would help.

also polished it all up couple days after these were taken. take more soon.

dinnut · 08-19-2003, 09:08 PM

recent photos.

70c10 · 08-19-2003, 09:24 PM

Sharp truck!. I bet it's the turnsignal!

Jwill41 · 08-19-2003, 10:08 PM

sounds like ground is bad at one of the sockets.

ChevLoRay · 08-19-2003, 10:21 PM

Yep, sounds like you have a bad ground. The reason it comes on when you turn the headlights on, is because the turn signal light is reading a ground, thru the headlight bulb. So, here's one thing to check: The turn signal/park light housings probably have rust or other corrosion between the housing and the socket for the bulb. Another (easier to fix) problem is the failure of the bulb to make proper contact within the socket. NAPA has a tool designed to clean out the corrosion/rust, in a light bulb socket (with power off).

Check the wiring, to be sure the grounds are connected, and that they are "clean", i.e., not rusty or so forth. The wiring harness for the lights has all of the lighting connectors attached. Check all connections for proper make-up (male to female).

As for the side marker lights, believe it or not, they were just reflectors, when new. New wiring harnesses have the pigtails for the side markers, if you want to make them operable. I bought a new harness from www.wiringharness.com, which is M&H Electrical Fabricators, in California. Check them out, if you are interested in new harnesses.

My guess is that you will probably need new housings, because the corrosion between the socket and the housing will be very difficult to overcome....unless you can bridge them. Maybe a small sheet metal screw will tie the two parts, electrically. It's a long shot, but it might work.

Jwill41 · 08-19-2003, 10:40 PM

Mine does that sometimes and I have to wiggle the park light socket on the front.

Longhorn Man · 08-19-2003, 10:55 PM

Have you checked the bulb?

dinnut · 08-20-2003, 11:50 PM

the bulb works when i put on the headlights. so its not socket or bulb. on 69-70 the turn signal lights come on with the headlights in the front. but wont blink when i hit the thing to go left.

Blue4x4 · 08-21-2003, 12:02 AM

sounds like a bad ground.

Longhorn Man · 08-21-2003, 12:27 AM

Yes, but there are 2 filliments in that bulb...think of it as 2 bulbs in one.
If the dim one works, (parking lights) then that is one filiment. Then when you turn on the turn signal, the bright one works.
One can work and the other be dead.
Try taking the bulb out and swapping it to the other side.

JayDubBlazer · 08-21-2003, 01:07 AM

I had the same problem with my brake lights on my fathers trailer, it turned out to be the bulb.

Hotrod70C10 · 08-21-2003, 02:21 AM

I had the same exact problem. tighten the bolts for the turn signal housing. It will fix the problem, or atleast it fixed mine.

08-19-2003, 09:07 PM	#1
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	lights? alright, my 70 has something funky going on. if i put the left turn signal on, the front light doesnt blink. but when i put the headlights on it comes on... still doesnt work when turning left. my side lights are non existent ( no wiring or bulbs in or near them) any ideas. btw my truck still makes that banging noise when trying to start it. one day it started and we put a new starter after the bendix wouldnt extend far enough to reach the flywheel. so now after the new starter is on it spins enough to reach the flywheel and then makes a clanking noise. im thinking i got a funky flywheel. maybe the wrong size or something. anything would help. also polished it all up couple days after these were taken. take more soon. Attached Images __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

08-19-2003, 09:08 PM	#2
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	recent photos. Attached Images __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

08-19-2003, 09:24 PM	#3
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Sharp truck!. I bet it's the turnsignal! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

08-19-2003, 10:08 PM	#4
Jwill41 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Farmers Branch, Tx Posts: 1,009	sounds like ground is bad at one of the sockets. __________________ http://www.picturetrail.com/jwill41 67 1/2 ton GMC short step side 68 1/2 ton Chevy long fleet side 72 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban 99 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban founder (and only member) of the primer/clearcoat club

08-19-2003, 10:21 PM	#5
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Yep, sounds like you have a bad ground. The reason it comes on when you turn the headlights on, is because the turn signal light is reading a ground, thru the headlight bulb. So, here's one thing to check: The turn signal/park light housings probably have rust or other corrosion between the housing and the socket for the bulb. Another (easier to fix) problem is the failure of the bulb to make proper contact within the socket. NAPA has a tool designed to clean out the corrosion/rust, in a light bulb socket (with power off). Check the wiring, to be sure the grounds are connected, and that they are "clean", i.e., not rusty or so forth. The wiring harness for the lights has all of the lighting connectors attached. Check all connections for proper make-up (male to female). As for the side marker lights, believe it or not, they were just reflectors, when new. New wiring harnesses have the pigtails for the side markers, if you want to make them operable. I bought a new harness from www.wiringharness.com, which is M&H Electrical Fabricators, in California. Check them out, if you are interested in new harnesses. My guess is that you will probably need new housings, because the corrosion between the socket and the housing will be very difficult to overcome....unless you can bridge them. Maybe a small sheet metal screw will tie the two parts, electrically. It's a long shot, but it might work. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-19-2003, 10:40 PM	#6
Jwill41 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Farmers Branch, Tx Posts: 1,009	Mine does that sometimes and I have to wiggle the park light socket on the front. __________________ http://www.picturetrail.com/jwill41 67 1/2 ton GMC short step side 68 1/2 ton Chevy long fleet side 72 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban 99 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban founder (and only member) of the primer/clearcoat club

08-19-2003, 10:55 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Have you checked the bulb?

08-20-2003, 11:50 PM	#8
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	the bulb works when i put on the headlights. so its not socket or bulb. on 69-70 the turn signal lights come on with the headlights in the front. but wont blink when i hit the thing to go left. __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

08-21-2003, 12:02 AM	#9
Blue4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 790	sounds like a bad ground.

08-21-2003, 12:27 AM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Yes, but there are 2 filliments in that bulb...think of it as 2 bulbs in one. If the dim one works, (parking lights) then that is one filiment. Then when you turn on the turn signal, the bright one works. One can work and the other be dead. Try taking the bulb out and swapping it to the other side.

08-21-2003, 01:07 AM	#11
JayDubBlazer go cyclones Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 1,883	I had the same problem with my brake lights on my fathers trailer, it turned out to be the bulb. __________________ Wes PROJECT OLE GREEN 1972 Blazer 4X4 350/700R4 2017 Silverado LT

08-21-2003, 02:21 AM	#12
Hotrod70C10 Low & Slow Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,047	I had the same exact problem. tighten the bolts for the turn signal housing. It will fix the problem, or atleast it fixed mine. __________________ 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop

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