Turn Signal or Electrical Problem

max49 · 10-17-2007, 05:32 PM

My turn signals seem to work fine. All the bulbs are lighting and the clearance lights blink alternately on both left and right side.
When my headlight are off, everything works fine. When the headlights are on , everything seems to work fine too, but only with the left signal the indicator light, in the dash, stays on , without blinking, but all the lights are blinking.
Has anyone discovered what causes this?
This could be partly Damon, but I think every Damon gasser owner on this forum has a Ford and there electrical system is definitly different.
We've discussed some electrical differences on the Damon forum before.

max49 · 10-17-2007, 05:32 PM

My turn signals seem to work fine. All the bulbs are lighting and the clearance lights blink alternately on both left and right side.
When my headlight are off, everything works fine. When the headlights are on , everything seems to work fine too, but only with the left signal the indicator light, in the dash, stays on , without blinking, but all the lights are blinking.
Has anyone discovered what causes this?
This could be partly Damon, but I think every Damon gasser owner on this forum has a Ford and there electrical system is definitly different.
We've discussed some electrical differences on the Damon forum before.

dieselclacker · 10-18-2007, 06:33 AM

Max,not sure I understand your problem, but you might try turning off the dash lights, to assure that light is not leaking thru a loose signal indicator bulb where it plugs into cluster. Had this happen once on an older car I owned.

Dieselclacker

max49 · 10-19-2007, 03:15 PM

Thanks Diesel Clacker,
The problem is simple, the left turn indicator light does not blink, it stays on solid, but the front, rear and side clearance lights still blink. If the head/ parking lights are off, the indicator blinks.
I thought, surely I'm not the first person this has happened to. It's not the bulb and the dash lights have no effect on it.

bazza · 10-21-2007, 05:32 AM

Had that happen on a p32. turned out to be a bad ground on one of the lights. From memory ((thats a dangerous statement) it was one of the side clearance lamps.The way I picked up on it was that the left side clearance lamp flashed on and off at the same time as the turn signal. However the right one flashed at the opposite time as the turn signal.ie. the clearance lamp was lit when the turn signal was of. I spent many hours trying to track the problem with no avail. In the end I found the rear wire loom close to where the side clearance lamp was. so i cut the lamp from its original wiring and spliced it into the the rear park and turn lights. no problem since.
bazza

max49 · 10-21-2007, 01:05 PM

I'll check that out bazza. It's probably some 'ground' issue. But now I have to wait til the snow melts from the ground.

depchief · 10-24-2007, 05:16 PM

Had the same situation. Right turn indicator stayed on steady when head lights were on.
Bad ground, check the wires on the rear of the front turn signal bulb housing.
Mine was the right side, check your left.You should see the light is not as bright.

Also the turn chime goes off very mile or so and you have to turn on the opposite side turn signal to cancel the chime

max49 · 10-24-2007, 06:06 PM

Thankyou Depchief, This makes sense, especially on these fiberglass boxes. I'll check/ fix the ground. I thought , someone else must have had a similar problem before.

OMG, 8 days wasn't long enough for the Rockies, or too long.

max49 · 10-25-2007, 03:19 PM

Come on guys, I need some help. I thought I did what Depchief suggested. My left clearance light blinks brightly with the turn signal on and headlights off. But if I turn the head/ parking lights on it blinks but is about 1/2 as bright I thought I had a ground problem and I probably do. But there is a red wire and a black wire going to the clearance light. They connect into a maze of wires and cound'nt follow them, but I assumed the black was going to ground. I tapped the black and ran it to a new ground. Well that blew the turn signal fuse under the dash. Disconnected my new ground and replaced fuse. Turn signal worked like it did before but I had no 4 way flashers or brake lights. I checked every fuse in the interior and exterior fuse box and all were good. But then I found a 2nd BIG fuse box that I never knew was there. All the Maxi fuses are in there along with about 15 more small ones. Found another blown fuse and that fixed my brake/ 4 way lights. But I still have the same problem with the left turn indicator light does not blink if I have the head or parking lights on but works good with the big lights out.
I know theres alot of smart guys on this forum that have figured out bigger problems than this. Is'nt the black wire from the clearance light supposed to be ground? Why does it blow a fuse if I reground it. What's a suggestion to reground these problem lights. Or what the heck should I do? I like every thing to work just right , but I'm not going to take it to a shop, just because the indicator light does'nt blink when all the outside lights blink. It's only the side clearance lights that blink dimmer, but still seeable

depchief · 10-25-2007, 04:18 PM

Max
Try using a jumper wire, with aligator clips and isolate the clearance light, figure a ground on the light and clip to a ground. You might get away with grounding the body of the light.
The wiring is most likely in series.
Check to find a major ground lug on the chassis and clean it up and use some star washers

max49 · 10-25-2007, 06:08 PM

I'm not sure what 'wired in series' means but the turn signal in front and the side clearance light, about a foot apart , alternate blinking or take turns. I guess if they were wired in paralell , they'd blink together. I guess that's why I don't understand how they work.
I don't think I can ground the body of the light beacause there is no metal, just plastic with snap in bulbs .

depchief · 10-27-2007, 04:46 AM

What happens if you take the bulb out??

Can you get a wiring diagram for the unit on line?

Try a meter to read the 12 volts from each connection on the bulb to ground, or when 12 volts is off try continuity from each side

Also check the front (grille) light to make sure it is OK, wiggle wires and have someone watch the indicator

JCM · 10-27-2007, 07:14 AM

Try changing the bulb. I had one that when the parking lights were on - the filiment drooped (turn and brake) and contacted the running light filiment. This fed voltage back into the vehicle and actually the engine would run with the key out if the parking lights were on and the left turn signal was on.
So try changing the bulb before tearing everthing apart.