Dang Caprice Turn Signal

Well, my driver's side front running lite/turn signal, had this problem where the running light didn't work, but the signal did. Simple fix - new bulb. Got them cool amber ones 'stead of the clears too. Sorry, I like to tell stories. Well, I replaced it, now the signal works when the lites are off, but just stays a running lite when the lites are on. Any suggestions before I get pulled over?

 

Sounds like the main light switch current is criss-crossing circuits. Could be that it's NG or some circuit attached to it. Bad wire or ground.

 

Man, that's gonna be a pain to work on crawling in the snow haha. Oh well. At least it's not too major. This thing is kinda always that way. It wouldn't start the other day after I had stopped at the gas station next to my high school. Came back during my study hall, sprayed some good ol' gummout own the carb and she fired rite over. Hopefully this signal's that easy!

 

Gasline anti-freeze. You might have water in the gas tank, and that stuff cleans it up. No winter stalling. Happens here in our -30 weather, usually at highway speeds, but you're so close to the Great Lakes that there's a good chance you could have a bit more humidity in the tank.

 

You know, I was working in the auto department at work today and saw some of that stuff and am actually going to pick some up now. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

It works like a dehumidifier/dryer, chemically. Takes about 5 minutes to thaw out a fuel line from the gas tank to the carb. One bottle per tankful in below 20F weather does the trick, usually. I've used two of the bottles only once in our really cold weather winter a few years ago. Good stuff.

 

Check for moisture in the bulb socket. I have also seen bulbs where the filaments got crossed and sorta shorted out.

 

I put some heet in today, as the thing didn't wanna fire up at the gas station next to my school again. Called my friend over, had him spray some gumout down the carb while I 'floored her' and she kicked right over once again. Guessing I got a choke problem as the idle stuck a bit after that too. I'll play with that tomorrow.

I'm also going to clean out that light socket and see if I can't find any other problems with it. Hopefully she'll be tip-top again. The joy of buying someone's car that's 21 years old and spent the past seven years as he said 'to tow the boat now and then.' I do think I've gotten most of the kinks out mechanically and the rest is basic cosmetis. Headliner, etc.

 

So, I found if I jiggle the wire, the directional works when the lights are on, but the running light is out, and if I jiggle it again, the opposite happens.

 

Stick your tongue out towards the left, at the same time jiggle the wire. That should fix it.

 

How come you can jiggle it? Sounds like the contacts are loose inside the switch or you've got a broken wire or two.

Yeah it's only 12 volts. Licking it, standing in a puddle might weld it up, the real Crazy glue.

 

I wasn't jiggling it at the switch, I was under the car, at the light socket. I'm guessing, I've got a broken wire, or a poor connection somewhere near the bulb.

 

You can purchase new light sockets at about any parts store for around $6. Pretty easy to replace so long as your not laying in the snow and ice to do it.

 

hey bubba try some die-electric silicone for the bulb connections at the sockets,,clean em and lube em up,,, and of course check all the connections at the sockets for bad connections and of course check all the bulbs to make sure they are all good,,,generally the wiring harnesses on them cars were routed and secured in a generally good manner with no real issues with riding conditions or in a manner to cause a hassle with shorting out or breaking off causing a loss of electric to the source so it should be an easy fix

 

I think I'll do that, I will be laying in the snow and ice however. I have replaced the bulbs, and am on the third one. The first time I replaced it, I dropped the bulb that I had put in the day before in the snow, and she shattered faster than you can say shallow grave.