Hey boys, and yes gals too. I recently hooked up my front turn signals to check my hazards , flashers and turn signals. I was happy they all came on . But one weird thing is happening I cannot figure out.

When I apply the signal to the left , all is well the left side markers and lower bumper lights flash simultaneously.

When I apply the signal to the right , all sides of the system comes on. Yes everything !They all act as if the emergency flashers came on. The emergency flasher circuit on the fusebox remains off and ok while this happens . Only the flasher at the dash would be pulsing.

I immediatly went to the auto parts store and got a new flasher but it still presists.

I checked all my recently redone relay system and looked for a cross up , especially to the brown wire hot leads but could not find anything strange there. Still that wouldnt affect the rear lights too and make them all flash would it ?

I am looking into the column now but I had a friend rebuild the turn signals with a brand new one. Can some contacts in the switch be bad ?? Please advise .

Thanks

Steve :poke:

HTH ↓

Brown Wire is Rear Tail Lights / License Plate Light.
Yellow = Left Rear Turn / Brake
Green = Right Rear Turn / Brake
Lt. Green = Reverse

PPL = R / L Front Parking
Blue = Right Front Turn
Lt. Blue = Left Front Turn

Black = Ground Front & Rear (BE SURE ALL GROUNDS / BOTH SIDES are clean and good tight Grounds)

↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

http://elcaminocentral.com/articles/wiring/691.gif

http://elcaminocentral.com/articles/wiring/692.gif

If the wiring to the lights is correct and all grounds are good, there is one additional component that ties all of these functions together and that is the turn signal switch in the column. Yes both the turn signals and the hazard warning circuit run through the signal switch. Look for a break in the solder or possibly a piece of wire or sliver of metal shorting one function to the other. Harald K :texas:

The turn signal switch is a monumental PITA. And when it decides to act up it can be the hardest thing to find.......
I'm looking for a similar issue in my 67 turn signal switch right now. If I get in, turn the key on, and rapidly move the lever from left to right, to left to right a couple of times... all is well until the next time the Camino sits for a day or so. If I don't my left turn signal will turn my brake lights off, BOTH of them.

I'm just going to throw out a guess here Marv D, AND OF COURSE, It's probably a MILE OFF. But your Issue really sounds to me like the Contacts are pitted / dirty, or the tension on them are weak.
But hay my Brother, what do I know? Just wanted to THROW something your way.:poke:

The turn sig switch is brand spankin new. I like what Harald said about the contacts . I am going to try some compressed air and some non conductive lubricant to see if I can shake loose some sloppy solder. Then I am going to send power to the individual lights to check they are workig without the switch plugged in. If that doesnt check out I will have to remove the switch oh god. Will keep posted.
Thanks,

Steve

I am looking into the column now but I had a friend rebuild the turn signals with a brand new one. Can some contacts in the switch be bad ?? Please advise .

Thanks

Steve :poke:

Steve, sorry for the confusion, I know you have a NEW SWITCH, I read that in your Main Post.
And my comment was directed to MARV D and his Issue.:beer:
And I too felt Harald K provided great info that I need not add to with YOUR ISSUE. Thus my comment to Marv D. Hope that clears up the confusion.


I'm just going to throw out a guess here Marv D, But your Issue really sounds to me like the Contacts are pitted / dirty, or the tension on them are weak.
But hay my Brother, what do I know? Just wanted to THROW something your way.:poke:

Yeah i had a major malfunction like that the tail lights woulnt work at all long story short it got dark out and i had the radio on and it was blinking to the beat of the music so i unplugged the fuse to the radio and ran it to the acc hey they worked and quit blowing fuses!:dontknow:

I have seen this before a number of times. It was the ground each time. check the ground wire at each light. with a multimeter. Just because a connection looks good doesn't meen its conducting electricty. One circut is getting power but no ground for a return path, so it is seaking a return thru another circut. and when electricty flows thru that other circut it makes the bulb light up. but what do I know , I just wire Helicopters. Good luck...

im wondering what the original problem was???before the new switch...

if the truck side checks out good,
check the plug on the new switch,,1 or2 wires could be in the wrong order...

dont forget about the hazard switch side...

and as said check the grounds twice...:texas:good luck

Back in for more : Took apart whole turn signal switch at column and hazzards. I followed the yellow & green to the back and the two blues up front . All four seem to be sending power away from the switch in its correct position.

Something weird I discovered. The bright switch was on and when I turned on the regular lights , the Left signal works but the right is not blinking. Just second fillament in the bulb lights up. Lights off I still get the lefts to function , and right signal still flashes the whole system. Back to original problem.

I forgot to mention I am running a led circuit board conversion in the rears. Must be some brown wires touching inside the harness or some cross up in my relays. What about the fuse box at the firewall behind?

I'm goin bonkers. Was just ready to throw the gauges in it and drive her after a six year long frame off resto.:smileyb:

Probably a ground as others have said. I know I had a 79 Camaro that had a bad taillight ground and every time I hit the brake all the turn signal lights front and back would come on. It was actually kind of a cool effect but I ended up fixing it anyway.
It's funny how most electrical problems have to do with a bad ground. Next runner up is a short from wires touching due to missing insulation.:smileyb:

this answers your own question:

Something weird I discovered. The bright switch was on and when I turned on the regular lights , the Left signal works but the right is not blinking. Just second fillament in the bulb lights up. Lights off I still get the lefts to function , and right signal still flashes the whole system. Back to original problem.

You have a bad ground on the right side. It is hunting ground where ever it can get it and it sounds like it is getting it through the other light circuits.

I checked out the front ground on the newly installed turn signals. Grounded them and replaced the right one. Both filiments are lighting within the bulb on the right. Whether park or turn signal is on. All circuits flash like hazzards when the right side is selected. Must have something crossed up ?

When lights are on now the right indicator bulb glows along with the red alternator resistor light. Why is my alternater light comming on with the key off and the lights on. It seems the pink wire circuit thowing power to the dash gauges and flasher is sending out power when the lights are on and grounding through the resister wire at the alt.

What if I ground the dimmer swich . Can the power in that switch be finding another outlet ??

The left marker light is not flashing. It shares a spliced ground with the relays. So many components to check I am freaking out. Everyone warned me to install a new harness but I wouldnt listen. Just in time for Holloween this wire harness is creeping me out.

SK:let_it_all_out:

Both filiments are lighting within the bulb on the right. Whether park or turn signal is on.

SK:let_it_all_out:

Find out why both light up. That's your issue.
You have a purple and blue wire crossed somewhere is my guess.

I just caught something in one of your posts, which you did not mention at the start of this. You said you had LED boards in the tail lights. Most often LED's will not work with a standard flasher you will need a no load flasher due to the low voltage / resistance draw of the LED.
If you went to your parts store and got another flasher most likely it is not a no load flasher. I have LED tail lights in my 83 and had to order the proper flasher to make them work correctly.
There is a way that they will work and that is by splicing into the tail light wiring and still retaining a regular 1157 bulb and socket not sure where you would put the extra bulb. I ran mine that way for awhile and since my lights and wiring are external and in the rear roll pan, I mounted the sockets under the rear with a light cover for protection, the light would shine under the rear of the car. It was kind of cool but a bit tacky for my taste. What it did was draw enough current to activate the regular flasher. They also sell an electronic flasher but it still works the same as stock. The no load are designed for LED. If you go on the internet and search for a no load flasher you will come up with a pretty large selection some are pricey but you can get a "go-clean" for about $10.00. Also if your LEDs are run through a controller which some are make sure you have wired it correctly and as previously stated check all of the grounds. Harald K :texas:

Hey all. Great news. I tracked down the little bugger. Of all the great reccomendations and speculation whooda thunk ??

With the help of Mark Hamilton from http://www.madelectrical.com he helped me trouble shoot the loose grounds in which he told me to solder the back of the brass sockets of the turn signals and get em grounded. Now with solid ground connections to the frame and core support I elimated the ground issues but the turn signals were still acting funny. ( All were comming on like hazards when the rights go on )

Then just by luck , as I was looking into the side marker not working properly, I saw at night the left front headlights were flickering and dull yellow. Usually I would tap on it from the front as I thought the filiment in the bulb was bad but I then further discovered the connector plug in back of the lamp was shorting the brown wires from the headlights (hot ) to the turn sigs and sending power up the brown circuit. (running / parking lights)

Thus the flasher hot signal was back feeding thru the brown circuit of the turn signals and making them all flash. Wow what a relief.

Thanks for the help Mark. Now I also got my side markers to (blink) with the turn signals. So cool ! Give him a shout , his electrical upgrade formula for chevy is worth every penny and priceless value on what I've learned. Now I can finish the gauges , stereo and dash. steering wheel, seats , alignment and get El Camino rolling.:nanawrench:

SK