62 Turnsignal Switch help

[m455sx]

Have a problem with the turn signal Switch. Weekend before last i remove the idiot lights and installed factory gauges. All during the week i would check and make sure evrything was working properly. last week end i drove for about 10 miles and hit the left turn signal and it worked great. Next turn i hit the right turn signal and the it seemed at the time the truck was on fire. I pulled over and cut the truck off and it stopped smoking. I restarted the truck and everything seemed fine but now i have no signals and lost a brake light( could be coincidence). It appears the red wire coming straight from fuse block to turnsignal switch burned into at the switch. Can some one let me know what would cause that?

Also attached is diagram and some photos and was wondering if anyone can explain what wires go where.

Dark Blue is turn signal
Light blue turn signal
Red goes ?
Yellow goes ?

The above four wire are in an Harness which goes back to the Factory instrumant panel.

Additional wires are
Top center red wires goes to fuse block and was the one that caught fire.
Bottom center wire goes the the back of what appears to be the brake light switch.

Also is there supposed be a specail connetor instead individual wires and if so can someone sell me one.

Lastly the back of the turn signal switch is a steel cable attached what is that for?

[m455sx]

Pay no attention to the grammer errors lol

[m455sx]

anyone????? Bueller Bueller???

[1963c-10]

There are two plugs that come off the back of the instrument cluster that plug into the main harness. Is this what your refering to? or further down the steering column? I prob have some sitting around.

[1963c-10]

Let me look in my 61 parts truck. It'll be tomorrow before I can get by there though.

[m455sx]

Thanx, I'm checking to see if my diagram is correct and the right wires are going were they need be.and i am looking for a harness to plug into the switch. I just recieved my new switch and am trying to get installed this week.

[ray_mcavoy]

Hi m455sx,

The 62 turn signal wire color coding is:

Using your first pic as a position reference:

Upper row (3-terminals, left to right):
-light blue = to left front turn signal & dash indicator
-yellow = feed from the flasher on the fuse box
-dark blue = to right front turn signal & dash indicator

Middle row (2-terminals, left to right):
-pink = to left rear turn signal & brake light
-violet = to right rear turn signal & brake light

Bottom row (single terminal):
-natural (white) = feed from brake light switch

I think that red wire in your pic is something that's been added sometime in the past. I noticed that you said it leads straight back to the fuse box so I'm not sure what's going on there. The yellow wire is the only one that should be going back to the fuse box.

The wires on the middle row (pink & violet) go to the brake lights (which also serve as turn signals on the back) so the brake light problem is likely related.

Also is there supposed be a specail connetor instead individual wires and if so can someone sell me one.

Yes, the factory setup had all 6 wires grouped together in a single plastic plug housing that plugged into the turn signal switch. Replacement housings are available ... American Classic Truck Parts #PLG-106 for example. It needs to be used along with the factory style Packard 56 series terminals. Looks like your light blue wire still has one of these factory terminals while the others have been replaced with the aftermarket blue insulated ones. New 56 series terminals are available from various sources ... Standard Motor Products #HP7110 is a pack of 5 female terminals like you need.

Lastly the back of the turn signal switch is a steel cable attached what is that for?

That cable leads up to the turn signal lever/canceling mechanism at the top of the steering column. When you move the turn signal lever, it pushes/pulls on that cable to operate the electrical part of the switch.

[m455sx]

thank you a thousand times RAY!!!! I have replaced my turn signal switch and every thing works as it supposed to work.

[ray_mcavoy]

You're welcome! Glad to hear you got it fixed.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

you're welcome! Glad to hear you got it fixed.

x2

[m455sx]

Now a new problem has emerged itself this past saturday, now left signal works fine, hit the right signal and both rear lights blink and when i hit the brakes only the right tail light works and the right front parking light comes on. Very confused but sounds like a grounding issue??

[86c20]

i would say that is a ground problem from the sounds

[m455sx]

Wonder if is a light bulb itself or the switch?

[Smo_King]

Try disconnecting the lic plate light?
Posted via Mobile Device

*ooops

[m455sx]

I got it fixed, it was a defective turn signal switch. I called classic chevy and they sent me another at no charge and no problems...they were very helpful.

[G8rN@te61]

I am having a somewhat similar issue.

The steering column is not hooked up due to a change when PO switched out engine and tranny. So he used a standard 3 position switch to run the blinkers with a separate powered wire from the fuse block
I hooked up the wires per notes above and it leaves me a yellow power from fuse which I need to wire into the switch(and remove his) and natural which I am not sure what to do with.

Now when I put on right turn signal front and rear work fine. But when I put on left turn signal both rear taillights click on too. What would cause this.

BTW I have completely brand new OEM style(classic parts) wire harnesses from the cab to rear taillights so nothing could have been crossed since its just plug and play so to speak.

Any ideas? The natural wire?

[VetteVet]

Here's a wiring diagram of your harness. It's for a 1964 but they are very similar to a 61. Now if I understand you correctly you are saying that when you put the left turn signal on both rear tail lights come on with it.

If you look at the left side of the diagram about the middle you'll see a rear stop/ turn signal connector with the green yellow and brown wires in it. The green is the right turn wire, the yellow is the left turn and the browns are the two tail lights.

If you have a short between the yellow and the brown wires in the connector it will give you the symptoms you describe. You should also get the left rear brake light to come on when you turn on the headlight switch.

[G8rN@te61]

thats very helpful. Im going to print it out! from that connector where it connects under the drivers seat all the way back to the tail lights is brand new. So it must be from there to under the dash somewhere. I did also notice that when the lights are on I get no blinkers at all. really weird

[VetteVet]

.........................

Originally Posted by G8rN@te61

thats very helpful. Im going to print it out! from that connector where it connects under the drivers seat all the way back to the tail lights is brand new. So it must be from there to under the dash somewhere. I did also notice that when the lights are on I get no blinkers at all. really weird

There is a possibility that your rear light sockets are not grounded well and the left turn light is grounding through the tailights and when you turn the headlights on the poor ground is causing the blinkers not to work. Clean up all the sockets and maybe run a new wire from the light mounts to the frame rail.
If you look closely at the diagram you'll see that the brown wires for the tail lights do not come close to the turn signals wires except at the connector and from there back to the rear lights. If they are touching each other it has to be in the harness.

[G8rN@te61]

Good point but the tail lights are brand new along with chromed brackets. I will fiddle with them all to see if that is it.

[G8rN@te61]

so it ended up being a bad splice in the tailight harness. Thanks again for your help!

[VetteVet]

..............

Originally Posted by G8rN@te61

so it ended up being a bad splice in the tailight harness. Thanks again for your help!

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.