HELP with blinkers

[litevette]

I have a 68 Firebird. The drivers side blinkers work fine. The passenger side blinkers work when the lights are off, but they don't when the headlights are on. I replaced the headlight switch as I assumed it was related. No change. What do you suggest?

[litevette]

Anyone? Anyone?

[Jim Nilsen]

Check all of your ground connections on the radiator support and anywhere else they go. Also get a continuity tester and check every wire in the system you can. It could also be in your column, so pull the connector apart and check the continuity of those wires for a bad ground. The turn signals go in and out at the column.

I am betting you have a bad ground more than any other problem.

[litevette]

Check all of your ground connections on the radiator support and anywhere else they go. Also get a continuity tester and check every wire in the system you can. It could also be in your column, so pull the connector apart and check the continuity of those wires for a bad ground. The turn signals go in and out at the column.

I am betting you have a bad ground more than any other problem.

Excellent Jim! Thank you!!!

[Jim Nilsen]

Try using your emergency flashers and see what happens with the lights on and off to see what happens. If you have a problem with the emergency flashers too the problem is going to have more wiring invloved to trace. The flashers and turn signals have seperate flashing curcuits in the fuse panel.

A bad ground somewhere can effect both curcuits where as a bad hot wire will only effect one of the curcuits.

good luck

[litevette]

Try using your emergency flashers and see what happens with the lights on and off to see what happens. If you have a problem with the emergency flashers too the problem is going to have more wiring invloved to trace. The flashers and turn signals have seperate flashing curcuits in the fuse panel.

A bad ground somewhere can effect both curcuits where as a bad hot wire will only effect one of the curcuits.

good luck

O.K. got a chance to mess with it and want tive you a new run down as I dropped the steering column to work on my guages and light switch. I may have jiggled something, so here's what's going on now:

1. Lights Off: All blinkers work fine, but when passenger blinker is on, both the rears flash and so does the drivers side quarter panel (pontiac emblem shape) light.
2. Lights On: Only drivers side works (but blinks slow). Passenger side not at all.
3. Hazards: Work perfect (all flash)
O.K. you talked about a continuity tester. What is that? What am I looking for and how do I look for it? Please talk to me as a child as I'm totally new to this and have no clue about voltage, amperage or any other electrical stuff.

I did find a wiring diagram online, so if I need to reference something you tell me then I'm sure it'll be of good use (although I don't understand it Ha! Ha!). Man thanks so much for taking the time to help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[camaro68]

Check your bulbs also sounds like you have a loop. The elemets in the bulbs could be crossed causing them to supply power from the blinker circuit back to your parking lamp circuit.

[Taman]

Similar thing happened to my brothers 68 Cutlass. I was the 4 way flasher switch. He had to have his lights on 4 ways on and right turn signal to make the right light to come on. All the tail lights go through the 4 way switch.
A ohm meter is also a continuity tester. You are making sure you don't have a high impeadance(ohms) resistance. Should be less than 20 ohms. Should be 1 or 2 ohms.
I agree on the bulbs. I put a mismarked 1157 in my tail light but it was a single filament bulb, that made my left blink dimly blink with the right. Also try grounding the socket to the body with a small piece of wire.

[litevette]

Thanks a million you guys! I'll get an ohm meter this eve and hope to have this all checked out this week end. I'll let you know how it goes!