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Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:56 am

My 73 has both passenger side directions working in sync with the directional signal on the dashboard. both of the drivers side directionals are out though, and the signal on the dash doesn't blink either. I believe the directionals are both on the same fuse, so it leads me to believe it's the wiring. any ideas??
magpie

Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:43 am

Forgive this suggestion if it's stupid, but have you tried switching the passenger side bulbs to the driver's side just to see if it isn't the bulbs?

Sat Jul 09, 2005 2:43 am

It will not be a fuse, as there is only one fuse working the turn system.So, if one side works, the fuse if okay. I like the bulb testing idea. Simple, but effective. If both of the bulbs are bad on one side, you get nothing, no flashing, no indicator dash light,etc. If you just put in the front one, with a known good bulb, it will still work, just flash too fast, because you have too little resistance, with only one bulb, in the system. Use the correct size bulb, as that will affect how fast they flash. Check all the grounds in the front and rear, that go to the light assemblies. ----George4888

Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:04 am

Certainly the bulb-swap idea is a good and easy check for sanity sake.
ALSO
Check to make sure the bulb holders (in non-working side) are not corroded as this is pretty common. They may only need to be cleaned to start working again.
THEN
Check to make sure the connector blocks for the left side (black/white-stripe wires) are connected from the steering column to where they seperate at the connector blocks and go to front and rear signal pods. It could have come loose there due to other work you might have been doing on something unrelated.

BUT

I've seen this exact same kind of problem before (more than once unforunately) and it came down to the actual signal stem switch contacts were worn-out or broken inside.

The sad thing is, there's no way to fix it, you just have to replace the whole switch and that requires removal of the steering wheel.

If it is the switch, you can try "jiggling" the stem as you make the turn in question. Sometimes a flukey switch will suddenly start working and you may even have to hold it "just so" to make it work but this will get you by while a replacement is sourced usually.

The problem is so much of the signal stem switch's internals are plastic and they simply wear-out.

Since your passenger side? is working fine that tells you the fuse and the flasher relay are functional so there really isn't much left to go wrong.

A really BASIC wiring description of this system is this:
- Fuse panel to flasher relay
- Flasher relay on BLK/GRN/WHT wire to signal stem switch
- BLK/WHT or BLK/GRN to LEFT and RIGHT connector blocks
- BLK/WHT or BLK/GRN to left or right turn signal pods front and rear

HTH

Sat Jul 09, 2005 5:31 pm

all set! still trying to figure outthe reverse lights, but that's another thread:) Thank you all! :lol: