Turn signal hi-jinks! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

'70 C/10 SS500 · 02-16-2004, 04:03 AM

Alright, my hounding for information continues! I replaced the turn and hazard flashers and now my front turn signals work, but not the rear. My brake lights don't light up either. I do have all side markers, headlights, and dash lights working. The tailights turn on with the headlights but the other element isn't lighting up. What are your guys ideas? Please help. Thanks!

SWINGSAX68 · 02-16-2004, 04:52 AM

Sounds like it could be a ground problem, check your ground....is it a step or a fleetside????
OR could have the wires crossed, if you did the work on the wireing yourself, check that also.
Anyone else got any ideas.....

jef5150 · 02-16-2004, 05:43 AM

so it looks like "all" lights "except", rear turnsignal/brake lights work!.which are the bright element in the rear bulbs, try replacing rear bulbs jeff

Longhorn Man · 02-16-2004, 08:16 AM

Your ground if 99% likely to be good. Since yur tail lights work, there is a ground. Only once in a while will there be a ground for tail lights but not for brake lights/turn signals.
Like Jef said, check your bulbs. Short of that, it is time to get the test light or multi meter out and follow a couple wires. The green one and yellow one to be specific.

zeeklu · 02-16-2004, 09:07 AM

It could be the turn signal switch.The brake lights go through it and I had a problem like that with mine. Chris

Beefcake · 02-16-2004, 11:24 AM

This is funny... Its exactly what I had to deal with on my trip this weekend. The bulb casing is so rusted that it wont produce a good ground. I kept blowing fuses.... So finally I just took a wire wrapped it around the bulb, and grounded it to a screw...

Got me home...

slam33 · 02-16-2004, 11:28 AM

I had all sorts of problems until I replaced the trn sig switch in the colume. All of a sudden I had brake lites, turn sigs, backups. It all worked fine. Sounds like the switch is bad.

WRMZ71 · 02-16-2004, 02:20 PM

I thought he said he already had replaced the turnsignal switch. While checking the bulbs make sure you got the double pronged nipples on the back of the bulb. With the taillights lighting up you just might have a one pronged bulb thats hitting the right contacts on the connector socket. If you're bulbs are good unplug the connector harness underneath the back of the box and check for voltage on the I believe dark green for the left and purple for the right side. If you don't have juice there check the harness going along the framerail for breaks or bad wires then check the connector plug leaving the firewall.

Longhorn Man · 02-16-2004, 08:15 PM

No purple, that is for ignition. They would be green and yellow.

PanelDeland · 02-16-2004, 11:48 PM

Just as a quick tip.I keep an old tubing brush in my box so I can clean the sockets when changing bulbs.I just stick it in and rotate it to brighten the brass up before installing the new bulb.This way I know there is a good clean surface for the bulb sides(ground) to contact.Don't do it with juice flowing it can short across and blow the fuse.

Longhorn Man · 02-17-2004, 12:19 AM

dielectric grease will help prevent this corrosion, but you have to clean the stuff out of the sockets after 5 or so years...it can get just as nasty and prohibit good contacts.

Hooter · 02-17-2004, 12:30 AM

well if your turn signals and brake lights dont work, they are both on the same circuit, did it have tralier wiring? check the green and yellow wires, the wires run along the drivers side frame rail, could be damaed or pinched anywhere along there, check the plug between the firewall and interior, check to see if you lined up the band connector on the steering column, check to see if you broke any solder connections on the turn signal switch, and who's to say that the new turn signal switch was any good anyways?

**kwmech** · 02-17-2004, 04:02 AM

How about the plug at the firewal [rubber gromet] is it together tight?

'70 C/10 SS500 · 03-10-2004, 06:28 PM

OK, I fess up, I'm a jack-ass! When I checked the bulbs to see if an element was blown I didn't notice that it was. The first time around I didn't take them out of the socket, they "looked good." Well, after tinkering with things front, and rear and underneath, I ultimately had to check the bulbs again. This time I took them out and sure enough, both bulbs lower element were blown. I feel like an idiot now. Nice to have all my lights working again though!

02-16-2004, 04:03 AM	#1
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	Turn signal hi-jinks! Alright, my hounding for information continues! I replaced the turn and hazard flashers and now my front turn signals work, but not the rear. My brake lights don't light up either. I do have all side markers, headlights, and dash lights working. The tailights turn on with the headlights but the other element isn't lighting up. What are your guys ideas? Please help. Thanks!

02-16-2004, 04:52 AM	#2
SWINGSAX68 Now the others dig........ Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,520	Sounds like it could be a ground problem, check your ground....is it a step or a fleetside???? OR could have the wires crossed, if you did the work on the wireing yourself, check that also. Anyone else got any ideas..... __________________ 68 Chevy C10 Stepside Black Primer 78 GMC Longbed White 09 Chevy Silverado Shortbed Granite Blue *LOOKING FOR A 67 4 DOOR IMPALA!!!Just like Sam and Dean Winchester!! 'Cause Mustangs are for p^#$ and you can fit a body in the trunk of a 67 Impala* MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies Texas State University-San Marcos, TX Certified Music Educator I hope Mom is up there watching and being my Guardian Angel "I've got a fever.....and the only prescription.....IS MORE COW BELL" -The Legendary: Bruce Dickenson "F#$@ 'em up!!!!!!" -The Legendary: Rogelio Escobar TRUCKY LINKS** http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=457750 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=461184 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=472848 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417541 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=477788

02-16-2004, 11:24 AM	#6
Beefcake Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Motor City Posts: 540	This is funny... Its exactly what I had to deal with on my trip this weekend. The bulb casing is so rusted that it wont produce a good ground. I kept blowing fuses.... So finally I just took a wire wrapped it around the bulb, and grounded it to a screw... Got me home... __________________ 72 GMC Camper Special 2500. currently has 350/350/14 bolt. 383 and 400 tranny is in the works.

02-16-2004, 11:28 AM	#7
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	I had all sorts of problems until I replaced the trn sig switch in the colume. All of a sudden I had brake lites, turn sigs, backups. It all worked fine. Sounds like the switch is bad. __________________ 71 LWB 350/350still working on it but it's going tp be sweet. www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A>

02-16-2004, 11:48 PM	#10
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Just as a quick tip.I keep an old tubing brush in my box so I can clean the sockets when changing bulbs.I just stick it in and rotate it to brighten the brass up before installing the new bulb.This way I know there is a good clean surface for the bulb sides(ground) to contact.Don't do it with juice flowing it can short across and blow the fuse. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" Last edited by PanelDeland; 02-16-2004 at 11:50 PM.

02-16-2004, 05:43 AM	#3
jef5150 Inline 69 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: valleysprings,california Posts: 1,018	so it looks like "all" lights "except", rear turnsignal/brake lights work!.which are the bright element in the rear bulbs, try replacing rear bulbs jeff

02-16-2004, 08:16 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Your ground if 99% likely to be good. Since yur tail lights work, there is a ground. Only once in a while will there be a ground for tail lights but not for brake lights/turn signals. Like Jef said, check your bulbs. Short of that, it is time to get the test light or multi meter out and follow a couple wires. The green one and yellow one to be specific.

02-16-2004, 09:07 AM	#5
zeeklu Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Northwest NJ Posts: 746	It could be the turn signal switch.The brake lights go through it and I had a problem like that with mine. Chris

02-16-2004, 02:20 PM	#8
WRMZ71 Cause the Chicks DIG IT!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 509	I thought he said he already had replaced the turnsignal switch. While checking the bulbs make sure you got the double pronged nipples on the back of the bulb. With the taillights lighting up you just might have a one pronged bulb thats hitting the right contacts on the connector socket. If you're bulbs are good unplug the connector harness underneath the back of the box and check for voltage on the I believe dark green for the left and purple for the right side. If you don't have juice there check the harness going along the framerail for breaks or bad wires then check the connector plug leaving the firewall.

02-16-2004, 08:15 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	No purple, that is for ignition. They would be green and yellow.

02-17-2004, 12:19 AM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	dielectric grease will help prevent this corrosion, but you have to clean the stuff out of the sockets after 5 or so years...it can get just as nasty and prohibit good contacts.

02-17-2004, 12:30 AM	#12
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	well if your turn signals and brake lights dont work, they are both on the same circuit, did it have tralier wiring? check the green and yellow wires, the wires run along the drivers side frame rail, could be damaed or pinched anywhere along there, check the plug between the firewall and interior, check to see if you lined up the band connector on the steering column, check to see if you broke any solder connections on the turn signal switch, and who's to say that the new turn signal switch was any good anyways? __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

02-17-2004, 04:02 AM	#13
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,650	How about the plug at the firewal [rubber gromet] is it together tight?

03-10-2004, 06:28 PM	#14
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	Lights working! OK, I fess up, I'm a jack-ass! When I checked the bulbs to see if an element was blown I didn't notice that it was. The first time around I didn't take them out of the socket, they "looked good." Well, after tinkering with things front, and rear and underneath, I ultimately had to check the bulbs again. This time I took them out and sure enough, both bulbs lower element were blown. I feel like an idiot now. Nice to have all my lights working again though!



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