electrical going crazy

Status
Not open for further replies.

87gbody

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Apr 25, 2009
12
0
0
Long time reader, first time poster. It started last fall when I was making a left turn and the blinker didn't reset itself so I pushed it back to the middle. I heard something break and from then on my signals didn't work right. If the headlights are off and making a left turn nothing happens. If the headlights are off and making a right turn the right signal stays solid and only the front signal light is on. When the headlights are on the same thing happens but the left turn signal is always illuminated on the dash and when making a left turn both signals are shown on the dash and solid. I replaced the flasher today but it didn't work. I took off the wheel to see if I noticed anything wrong inside the column and found a broken spring thing that looks like it had no purpose to begin with. I put everything back together and realized that my brake lights don't work. The only time they work correctly is if the headlights are on...but the headlights only work when the car is not running. I had to leave it at a friends house because it was dark. Whats even stranger is when I hit the brakes with the headlights off the left signal comes up on the dash . checked all the fuses they all look good. the worst part is that I could have been driving all day with no brake lights . anyone else have anything happen to them? any advice would be appreciated.


EDIT: the car wasn't driven over the winter, and while it was parked I changed the alternator, changed my amp and sub(already had amp and sub before so no wiring was changed), and removed the 3rd brake light. All of them were done after the blinker problem started.
 
Look under the dash for broken/damaged wires. It is definitely some type of short circuit. Is there any indications that mice may have been living in your car? They can cause some damage with the electrical system.
 
dan2286 said:
Look under the dash for broken/damaged wires. It is definitely some type of short circuit. Is there any indications that mice may have been living in your car? They can cause some damage with the electrical system.

didn't see anything wrong with the wires. Definitely no mice... I posted this up on another site and someone there seems to think it is the turn signal switch. He said the power runs through the tail lamp switch then through the turn signal switch then to the tail lamps. I'm gonna replace the the signal switch tomorrow or as soon as I can get the part then go from there.
 
Blake442 said:
Your turn signal switch inside your column is broken. That's what you heard breaking inside.

that's what I figured, but when I took everything apart the only thing that looked broken was a spring. there's 2 of these springs the lower one broke. anyone know what these do they seem like they are in there for no reason.
 
Blake442 said:
Your turn signal switch inside your column is broken. That's what you heard breaking inside.

I didn't know they could cause those problems! Now I know 🙂
 
Yeah, they can make the lights go crazy.

Take your wheel back off, and you'll need to replace this assembly... I just so happened to have my column apart...

31736620043_medium.jpg
 
Blake442 said:
Yeah, they can make the lights go crazy.

Take your wheel back off, and you'll need to replace this assembly... I just so happened to have my column apart...

31736620043_medium.jpg

LOL nice :wink: right on time. Yeah a bad signal switch will mess with everything else in that circuit. Start there
 
Blake442 said:
Yeah, they can make the lights go crazy.

Take your wheel back off, and you'll need to replace this assembly... I just so happened to have my column apart...

31736620043_medium.jpg

do you know what these springs do? I found one broken inside there.
lighta.jpg
 
Those are for the signal canceling switch. When the wheel returns to it's correct position, it trips the canceling switch and those springs reset the switch.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor