electrical issue.

[85chevy1]

WEll i managed to fine tune the rear end's issue, but now the front end has just got me stumped.

The singles kinda work and kinda dont.

The lights are suppose to flash one at a time correct? side marker then front, side then front.

the driver's side does this. but then when we go to the passenger side it does not work like this. both bulbs flash at once.

Now this is with the head light switch in the off position.

Once i pull the switch all the way out the pass side doesn't work at all. The signal indicator in the dash stay's solid all the time even when the lights are off.

i have checked grounds. re grounded. checked for short's grounded wire's. I have come to a dead end. replaced the flasher and hat didn't work.

SO does any one have any idea or a clue as to where i should go on with this?

 

[dyeager535]

Have you physically inspected the side marker bulb/sockets? I've seen a few of those in very poor shape from melting, could be an issue.

You are correct about the side marker/front turn, they flash at opposite times, at least on my truck.

 

[toomany]

Have you checked the bulbs in the rear? What about the front? I've seen this problem before, one of the filiments was burned out (dual filiment bulb).

You are correct about the side marker/front turn, they flash at opposite times, at least on my truck.

I think mine flash together. But when I turn my headlights on, they flash opposite. Or maybe it's the other way around.

 

[85chevy1]

omg this makes me feel so embaressed. in my years of being a mechanic i let this old truck fool me. it was simply the socket.

sorry about this

 

[dyeager535]

Flash different based on headlights? Check it out, let me know.

Just curiosity. I never checked mine. GM did some weird stuff on the cars/trucks in regards to lighting. In one of the cars (same headlight switch as the trucks essentially) you could actually turn OFF the interior lights by rotating the knob all the way past "low" which the trucks use to change intensity of the gauge lights, or all the way "high" to force the interior lights on.

 

[toomany]

Flash different based on headlights? Check it out, let me know.

Ok I just went out and checked.

Lights off, just signals--flash at the same time
Parking lights on--they allternate. One on, one off, one on
Head lights on--same as parking lights

Both sides are the same, and all the lights work.

I know atleast one of my Camaros does this too. I think it's the '83 that does it. The '82 has all the wiring out of it since it's a drag car. The '88 is all covered up for the winter so I can check that one to easily.

 

[dyeager535]

That is absolutely bizarre.

Wonder what the heck the reason is, whether it's a wiring deal, "cool" or what GM was thinking. Seems like a waste of money, however they do it, assuming that's "factory".

 

[Leper]

Most vehicles do that. It is so you can see the turn signals better at night.

 

[dyeager535]

But only at night? Why not just make it standard? Would seem to complexify (my own word!) the wiring immensely for absolutely no gain overall. I mean I see the safety reason behind it, but why not at all times?

I can just see it, mid-1980's, guy walking into the maintenance department explaining that his blinkers only work right with the headlights on.