Another Turn Signal Problem

[Rufas]

I'm trying to troubleshoot my turn signals on my 70 GMC. I have working 4 way flashers. I'm using a test light for my troubleshooting. I have power to the TS flasher just like the 4 way flasher. If I touch my test light to the non powered side of the 4 way flasher it will active. But doing the same to the TS flasher nothing happens. I've swapped the flashers, both work in the 4 way and neither work in the TS.

The right TS dash indicator stays on constantly. I've got diagrams but not sure of the functionality of the circuit. Both brown leads from the bulkhead connector have power. I have power on the brown lead going to the instrument cluster. I get nothing when using the test light on the TS harness at the steering column when activating the TS. I do have flashing on the dark blue and light blue at the steering column when the 4 ways are on. The steering column has been replaced, but the original steering column acted the same way. I think this would eliminate the turn signal switch.

Some more background. I running a single wire alternator and none of the wires for the voltage regulator or the blue and white wires that normally connect to the alternator are connected to the alternator. Neither of the wires with the 4 amp fuses for the amp gauge are connected.

It sound like a grounding issue, but I can't figure out the ground from the diagrams.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA
Eric

[VetteVet]

If all six of your lights work with the hazard switch then the wiring and lights are OK. Turn on your headlights and see if they all still work. If they do then it's not a grounding issue.

The purple wire in the column connector is the power wire from the turn signal flasher. It should have power at the connector when the key is on. if you put a 12 volt jumper on it the turn signals should work, but they won't flash. It should make each side light up when you select left or right turn though.

If you have power on the flasher on the input side but not on the output side then the fuse panel connector must be bad as long as the flasher is good. Try connecting the jumper on the output side of the flasher and see if the turn lights come on.

your alternator and the battery gauge have nothing to do with the turn signals.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by VetteVet

If all six of your lights work with the hazard switch then the wiring and lights are OK. Turn on your headlights and see if they all still work. If they do then it's not a grounding issue.

The purple wire in the column connector is the power wire from the turn signal flasher. It should have power at the connector when the key is on. if you put a 12 volt jumper on it the turn signals should work, but they won't flash. It should make each side light up when you select left or right turn though.

If you have power on the flasher on the input side but not on the output side then the fuse panel connector must be bad as long as the flasher is good. Try connecting the jumper on the output side of the flasher and see if the turn lights come on.

your alternator and the battery gauge have nothing to do with the turn signals.

I did as you suggested and the lights turn on. I think I know what is going on here. I have switched everything to LEDs. With the 4 way circuit there's enough current draw to make my electronic flasher work. But on the TS side there isn't enough current draw to trigger my electronic flasher.

Tomorrow I get another flasher and see if it fixes this problem. I'm pretty sure it will.

Thanks for your help.
Eric

[Rufas]

Today I replaced my Painless electronic flasher with a Carquest electronic flasher, PN FC536. That almost FIXED the problem. I've replaced all lights with LEDs. I removed the LEDs that were in the front parking/turn signal housings and replaced those with the standard 1157 bulbs. Turn signals now work.

It appears that the Painless flasher worked when the full load of the 4 ways. But when used in the turn signals there is just not enough current draw. With the Carquest flasher still not enough current draw. But using the 1157 bulb was enough for the Carquest flasher to work.

I tried the Painless flasher with the 1157 bulbs and still didn't work.

I'm not going to use load resistors hanging off the TS socks. I'm fine keeping the 1157s installed. A much cleaner install.

[harpo231]

try a "no load" flasher

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Rufas

Today I replaced my Painless electronic flasher with a Carquest electronic flasher, PN FC536. That almost FIXED the problem. I've replaced all lights with LEDs. I removed the LEDs that were in the front parking/turn signal housings and replaced those with the standard 1157 bulbs. Turn signals now work.

It appears that the Painless flasher worked when the full load of the 4 ways. But when used in the turn signals there is just not enough current draw. With the Carquest flasher still not enough current draw. But using the 1157 bulb was enough for the Carquest flasher to work.

I tried the Painless flasher with the 1157 bulbs and still didn't work.

I'm not going to use load resistors hanging off the TS socks. I'm fine keeping the 1157s installed. A much cleaner install.

If I understand your post, you didn't replace the turn signal flasher, which is a different one.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by harpo231

try a "no load" flasher

Never heard of that.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

If I understand your post, you didn't replace the turn signal flasher, which is a different one.

I replaced the Painless flasher with a Carquest flasher.