turn signals no work

rdlkxprs

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Oct 5, 2022
7
0
1
Newbie here,
1986 MCSS 4 way flashers work, turn signals do not. Have replaced the switch 2X..
swapped the 4 way flasher with TS flasher - still do not work. any thoughts?
Thanks for reading!
 

gdouaire

G-Body Guru
Supporting Member
Aug 7, 2013
626
439
63
Québec City, Québec CANADA
I suppose you also checked the fuse? If I remember correctly, the hazards and turn signals are not on the same circuit.
 

rdlkxprs

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Oct 5, 2022
7
0
1
I suppose you also checked the fuse? If I remember correctly, the hazards and turn signals are not on the same circuit.
Thanks for responding - we have checked the fuses. My son is going to have a mechanic at his work check it out.
 

rdlkxprs

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Oct 5, 2022
7
0
1
Update - what are the chances we have gotten 2 bad switches?
Mechanic thinks that could be the issue......
 

Dayzedandkonfuzed

G-Body Guru
Feb 9, 2010
971
1,268
93
Anglemont, BC
Does this car have LEDs installed? Are the turn signals lighting up solid and not flashing, or are they not lighting up at all? what are the indicators on the dash doing?

If you have LEDs, hazards will work because there is enough load with all the lights to kick the flasher, but not enough with just a turn signal.
 

LeftLaneOnly

Master Mechanic
Mar 20, 2020
293
486
63
Could always move to MA. we don't use them up here
 
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Reactions: 1 users

rdlkxprs

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Oct 5, 2022
7
0
1
Newbie here,
1986 MCSS 4 way flashers work, turn signals do not. Have replaced the switch 2X..
swapped the 4 way flasher with TS flasher - still do not work. any thoughts?
Thanks for reading!
Does this car have LEDs installed? Are the turn signals lighting up solid and not flashing, or are they not lighting up at all? what are the indicators on the dash doing?

If you have LEDs, hazards will work because there is enough load with all the lights to kick the flasher, but not enough with just a turn signal.
yes, they are LEDs,
My son has the car and I will have to get him to answer the questions .
 

Dayzedandkonfuzed

G-Body Guru
Feb 9, 2010
971
1,268
93
Anglemont, BC
yes, they are LEDs,
My son has the car and I will have to get him to answer the questions .

Go buy this, ground the pigtail wire coming out of it, and you'll be good to go.

1666732800539.png
 
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rdlkxprs

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Oct 5, 2022
7
0
1
Newbie here,
1986 MCSS 4 way flashers work, turn signals do not. Have replaced the switch 2X..
swapped the 4 way flasher with TS flasher - still do not work. any thoughts?
Thanks for reading!
update DEC19
Have replaced flasher again and turn signals still do not work. Any other ideas?
 

Dayzedandkonfuzed

G-Body Guru
Feb 9, 2010
971
1,268
93
Anglemont, BC
update DEC19
Have replaced flasher again and turn signals still do not work. Any other ideas?

Did you replace it with the one I mentioned? And did you ground the wire coming out of it to a verified good ground?

I'll give you the run down here. A flasher is built to recognize when a light is burnt out. It does this by sensing the electrical load passing through it. LED bulbs require much less power, therefore much less load. When you install LEDs, the stock-type flasher senses too little load and lights the signal up solid (or makes it flash faster in newer cars,) to warn you that a bulb is out. Because of this, you need to add resistance to the circuit. There are many ways to do this, but if you have too much resistance then you won't have a warning when a bulb is out. If you don't have enough resistance, you will still have a solid turn signal. Because of this, it's easiest to use an LED compatible flasher, because it takes all the guesswork out.

So, saying that, does your turn signal light up solid? Or nothing at all? If it lights up solid, you have a resistance issue and NEED this flasher, no question. If it doesn't light up at all, then you have a bad connection somewhere. Could be the switch, although very unlikely at this point. You will need to do some hunting with a voltmeter.

Or just give up and put incandescent bulbs back in.
 
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