The Turn signal that does and doesn't work.

Ok, what I have is a 1985 Chevy Caprice Classic.

The problem is the right turn signal works just fine, until you turn on the head lights. Then it won't flash acts like the bulb is blown.

Any thoughts?

 

Does your wagon have the optional cornering lights ?



I had the same problem with my 1983 Caprice wagon.
In the end I found out that a previous owner wired up the cornering light to the right hand front side marker light....

 

Headlights don't cause problems like this . Do the turn signals work if you only turn on the running lights ? Check the tail lights on that side . They are in the same circuit . Look for corrosion in the sockets and try a new bulb even if it looks okay . Use a quality bulb , the less expensive ones tend to cause problems .
Things like this are usually simple to fix . Trouble shooting is one step at a time .
Good Luck !

 

Most likely you have a bad ground at one of the parking or tail lights. Due to the bad ground, the turn signal is grounding itself through the parking light circuit. That works fine with the lights off, but as soon as you turn the lights on, that "ground" path now sees +12v, with makes the turn signals no longer function.

 

No I don't have fancy cornering lights.

All the bulbs are good, so I'll have to check for the bad ground.

Thanks

 

I have to agree with starting with the ground conections. I'm not a mechanic but over the years have gotton screaming deals on nice cars that had problems with running/marker/signal lites and ground conections have always been the cause.

 

Iggy, I used this procedure to upgrade my grounds on the whole car. My Halogens don't need a relay! The car starts on the first crank. I don't have a big stereo, just a stock Ford AM/FM/Cassette MPX. Cost me under $30 for the bigger cable and new lugs.

The site has lots of other good info on factory stereo diagrams and mods too.
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1

 

I had an 1157 that shorted out inside one time. Somehow, the 2 filaments were touching and both tried to burn at the same time. Bulbs can sometimes appear to be good, but not be.

 

hey iggy where abouts are ya? near KC?

 

I've seen 1157's cause a lot of problems . Too many cheap ones being sold ( AKA China ) . It's worth paying a bit more .

 

sorry i have been out of it guys.

due to a move and surgery on my neck i have been slowed down a bit. The best i can do right now is with help walkin i get to look at her out the window.

I was tracking down the grounds, when my time ran out and the doc put me in the hospital. I think i've got it narrowed down to a ground wire in the back where the hide the spare under a plastic armrest/ cover. A very exspirenced gentelman that I shared a room with for a bit said he had one and back there they have a ground that is pinched and put through brace near the rear gate.

I hope in a few weeks i'll be able to move around and check it.

right now the family has me so locked down if i sit up in bed there checkin on me.

well i hope everyone else gets out and finish some projects and get some road time.

 

Naw Yuk I'm up in northern Indiana

 

are you doin ok there Iggy??
you take care kiddo....she'll wait for ya

 

Thanks Rev
I'll be fine, its just so frustrating. I wait all winter for good weather so I can get out and work on her and now I'm trapped staring at her through a window on these beautiful blue bird days.

The doc just released me to start walking around though, so If I can catch the family lookin the other way maybe I'll get to spend a little time with her doing just some piddly stuff.

Yall take head and don't waste a chance to work on them or get them tires rollin or you might just miss out like me right now.

 

Excellent advice Iggy! I'm gonna be 63 this year and I'm in great health (touch wood). With the winters so long and extremely cold, here in the prairies, you tend to turn to mush, so I keep busy in my woodwork shop in the basement, making stuff for the house. BUT!!! I'm thinking that this year I might make an overhead console for the wagon, unless I get some free time, during the renovations that are going on right now, as well as the new Interior Version 3 on my Squire!

I eat my big meal at lunchtime, and a light supper. But I'm always looking for projects to keep me active and motivated.

Don't push it, but don't let all the pundits keep you down either. Lots of armchair wizards give advice they don't even use, when it comes to recovery and staying at the top of your game.