Turn signal problem-Solved

[dasdachshund]

Greetings from Soccer Town USA,
1970 Riviera
I recently replaced my rusted out battery tray. In doing so I disconnected all the wiring to the back passenger side taillight for easier access. After getting everything done I hooked it all back up and everything works EXCEPT the turn signal on that side. When I push the lever to signal that way, it will blink once and then nothing.
Things I do know:
-All grounds are good in back (meter checked)
-The wiring is hooked back up right and all connectors work and all the rust/corrosion was sandpapered off before re-connection.
-The warning flashers DO work on all four corners.
-Yes, everything worked before I took the wiring off.
-The passenger side rear taillight is slightly dimmer than the driver’s side. Can’t remember if it was before the battery tray fix.
-This last winter I lost all turn signals and traced it to a connection off the relay in the back of the fuse box. I did wiggle all wires around down there and no change.
Thanks.

-dasdachshund

[Tcash]

Replace the bulb with a known good one or test to make sure the bulb is good.

Hold the bulb between your fingers and flick it with your other finger, while watching the filament, if it is broken it will oscillate.

Hook a test light to the wire for the turn signal and ground it to the battery and see if it flashes normally.

Hook the test light to the battery positive and ground it to the light ground terminal and see if it flashes.

Good luck
Tcash

[SGKent]

also double check the ground on that side.
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Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
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[dasdachshund]

Thanks for the tips.....

2 more knowns:
-All fuses have been checked, spun on their little spring loaded connections to knock off corrosion and are good.

-Something weird, the tail lights on both sides work if the brown ground wires are disconnected from either of the housings.

I'll check things tonight after work. (I do believe the bulb is good because it works when I put the emergency flashers on- which as mentioned above work on all four corners) I do have to see what exactly happens at the tail light when I activate the signal lever. I only know the dash lights blink once, then stay out, but I assume (YIKES) the lights are doing the same. Drivers side blinkers work great.

-dasdachshund

[dasdachshund]

Problem solved,
Seems my Bus is very susceptible to corrosion on the grounding lug “crimp” connection. My driver’s side back up light had the same problem. I had infinite resistance between the ground lug and the light casing. Hummmm, I wondered if it was the same problem with the backup light. It was. Cleaning did no good. It’s the rivet like connection between the ground spade and light housing. I had to physically move the spade around to break the corrosion under the crimp, then had to CAREFULLY pound a bit to get the crimp to hold tight again. Once I had zero ohms between the ground spade and the housing, I buttoned everything back up and tried it out. Everything works as it should and I have turn signals again.
Hope this helps someone down the road.

-dasdachshund

[secretsubmariner]

thanks for explaining what it was dasdachshund, I've got gremlins in the same area, and your experience will come in handy.
_________________
-Tony
ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ
1978 Champagne Edition Bus FI
1970 Auto Fastback FI