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Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:05 pm

I have a 78 bus and I am having some problems identifying why my turn signals wont work.
I have tried several things the Bentley suggested and have no idea why. Here is what happens: When I hit the right signal, the dash light comes on but no flashers. When I hit the left turn, nothing happens.

I have tried a new flasher relay, no results.
I have inspected all the bulbs, they are all good.
I have checked the fuse, it is intact. I wiggled it around too, and no change.
I have pulled the steering wheel and visually inspected the turn signal mechanism and see no problems.
I pulled the plug and tested the connections with scrap wire and got the same results as the current function, (right turn makes dash light, no signal, left nothing) which leads me t believe the mechanism is okay.
I put the meter on the fuse heads and didn't get any perceivable change.

Thoughts?

Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:08 pm

Reach up under the dash and snap the hazard switch back together (plastic part with wires into metal case), then put a zip tie around it so it doesn't come apart again.

Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:20 pm

used a mirror to check all the connections (6 ) on hazard switch. all are connected. I forgot to mention in the initial post that the hazard was not working either.

Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:36 pm

it's basic, but make sure you have the right bulbs in the right places. A one-way contact bulb in a two-way contact slot (or vice versa) has given my bus some strangeness in the past (like the e-brake light shutting off when the e-brake is pulled and turning on when it's released)

Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:49 pm

Fred Mintert wrote: used a mirror to check all the connections (6 ) on hazard switch. all are connected. I forgot to mention in the initial post that the hazard was not working either.
Don't look for wires coming off, look for the switch itself separating.

Fairview wrote: So when I looked up under the dash at the backside of the hazard switch, I could see that it was coming apart. I took it completely out, cleaned up all the contacts with electrical cleaner, reassembled and squeezed the case as it should have been. (If you are faced with this, be sure not to lose the ball bearing, which I think is the detent for the switch.) Now I have all my lights going!

Here's a couple photos to show how it looks when it comes apart. Look carefully at the one of the case, you'll see the little ball bearing near the Phillips screwdriver. You'll need to keep track of that and reinstall.

Jeff

Thu Jul 02, 2015 5:19 pm

Busdaddy's advise on this got me to investigate the hazard switch. Otherwise I would not have noticed that the hazard switch was coming apart. Take a good look at yours as it most likely is the culprit.

Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:05 pm

upon closer inspection, I have already zip tied the hazard switch a couple year back and it is tight.

Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:58 pm

OK then, make sure 15 (aka+) on the hazard switch has power when the key is on and 49a on the signal switch has power from the relay, next start probing the individual wires at the fixtures, could be a whole bunch of bad grounds.

Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:36 pm

Great news! It was the flasher relay. I had replaced it with one from autozone, but it must also have been the faulty. I went to a friends house and he pulled a relay out of a 73 and it worked! Problem solved.... thanks bus daddy and everyone!

Sun Mar 06, 2016 10:11 am

Fred does the flasher relay that works have 3 prongs or 2?
I have no hazard flash on the rear lights.