Troubleshooting Help with Intermittent Signal lights

[Yamariv]

Hey gents, I've been trying to track down the cause of my intermittent signal light issue and thought I might as well ask you guys since someone must have ran into the same symptoms and can hopefully point me in the right direction instead of me doing the shotgun approach.

Here are the weird symptoms, let me know what you think..

-Both signals seem to work fine at start up (outside and on the dash)
-Left side seems to work properly 95% of the time
-After a few minutes of running, the right side front quits working and the green light on the dash stops flashing or it stays solid green
- While this happens, the rear tailights always work fine and flash no matter what the dash green lights show.

What I've done:

- Added a ground strap from the rad mount to the frame (nothing changed)
- Changed the signal flasher with a new one (nothing changed)

I'm thinking it could be a ground on either the front bumper signal or the fender signal and plan on redoing those grounds in the next few days.

I hope it's not the signal mechanism in the column, are these symptoms pointing to this piece as faulty? The mechanism does click and cancel properly as I drive.

Thanks for any help, cheers

[Steeveedee]

I'd say clean all connections and put something on them to keep them from corroding.

[Palf70Step]

Sounds like a loose ground or dirty ground. I just redid all the battery cables, engine, chassis, , and cab grounds on my truck to get rid of intermittent electrical. Also remember to check the dash cluster circuit board. They tend to crack and become finicky with age. Also if yours have working side marker lights check those sockets and grounds as they tend to get over looked.

[roger0080]

It's the lack of grounding of the signal housing to the front bumper and to the rear quarter panels.

I got tired of that problem and soldered a wire onto the back of each signal housing and grounded each. End of that PITA problem!

Post-edit: it's been a long time but IIRC I soldered the ground wire right to the back of the bulb unit and not to the housing, but I can't remember.

[Yamariv]

Awesome, thanks guys! I'm happy to hear it sounds more like a ground issue than the steering column signal assembly being faulty. I'll add some grounds shortly and report back hoping it's fixed. Fingers crossed!!

[Ironangel]

Not your column...And I agree on the grounding issue. A poor ground in the rear will effect both the front and rear on that side. So although you took steps to add ground straps to the core support, a poor ground to the bed or elsewhere may still be your culprit. I've done what Roger0080 did only instead of solder I used ring terminals with a length of black wire. Clean the surfaces and use star washers. Spray the rust prone areas with undercoat or even paint. Good Luck!

[Tom70C20]

I had very similar issues on my '71 camaro and battled it for a couple of years. Only difference is mine worked in the front but not the back and it was the left side that was wonky. It would also flash a little slower on the left when it was working. Kept swapping bulbs, resoldering wires, new flasher, putting in new bulb sockets. It would get better briefly then come right back. Usually better at startup then would start malfunctioning partway through the drive. I studied the wiring diagram and decided the only thing left it could be was the switch mechanism in the column. Put a new one in and it has been perfect for a year now. Maybe the wiring isn't exactly the same in the trucks, but just thought I would share. It wasn't that hard or expensive to change.

[Yamariv]

Originally Posted by Tom70C20

I had very similar issues on my '71 camaro and battled it for a couple of years. Only difference is mine worked in the front but not the back and it was the left side that was wonky. It would also flash a little slower on the left when it was working. Kept swapping bulbs, resoldering wires, new flasher, putting in new bulb sockets. It would get better briefly then come right back. Usually better at startup then would start malfunctioning partway through the drive. I studied the wiring diagram and decided the only thing left it could be was the switch mechanism in the column. Put a new one in and it has been perfect for a year now. Maybe the wiring isn't exactly the same in the trucks, but just thought I would share. It wasn't that hard or expensive to change.

Interesting, that sounds EXACTLY like my issue, dang! I've got all the grounding rings and wires to add grounds so I'll start with that I think and cross my fingers. Either way, all the bulbs should have their own grounds anyway so it won't be lost work. If that doesn't work then there's only the switch mechanism..thanks for your story!

[NJ68stepside]

I’ve had a few electrical gremlins over my years. Basically. A few beers, razor blades and voltage meter. Spend the day taking the wire harness apart and trace each wire. I had a crushed wire that when it got hot, lost connection with the crank position sensor. Only got hot when doing highway speed for about 30 minutes. Wire was crushed during the assembly between a intake runner and valve cover.

So just trace from the light to the switch and take your time. Could just be a frayed or broken wire that will barely be visible.

[body bolt]

I have this same issue with the right front and I've isolated it to the bulb socket. It seems the buttoms have lost material due to corrosion and don't make contact.

[Yamariv]

Thanks a bunch guys for all your troubleshooting stories. This gives me a good idea where to start and what it could be. I hope to work on it again this week and see if I can track the problem down. I'll update the thread when I know more!

Thanks again!

[badpeanut]

I've had similar problems with these '71 & '72 Chevy front turn signals. My fix about 10 years ago was to remove the signal housing (also lens and bulb) and "recrimp" the socket to the signal housing from the front with a punch so the ground was reliable again.

[Yamariv]

Originally Posted by badpeanut

I've had similar problems with these '71 & '72 Chevy front turn signals. My fix about 10 years ago was to remove the signal housing (also lens and bulb) and "recrimp" the socket to the signal housing from the front with a punch so the ground was reliable again.

Interesting! So you just dented in the rim around the socket to re-establish the ground?

[Grumpy old man]

Sounds like your blinker fluid is low .

[badpeanut]

Originally Posted by Yamariv

Interesting! So you just dented in the rim around the socket to re-establish the ground?

The socket is crimped to the housing, and the crimp loosened up over time making the ground intermittent. I used the punch to walk around the perimeter to tighten the crimp up again.