The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 58 Apache 3200--Turn Signals

Since I got the truck (6-8 months) all the lights have worked properly. Yesterday while out for a cruise I foun my left turn signal did not work. The rear light was on and ot flashing the front was not on at all. The passenger side lights work fine. I assumned the front bulb on the left was burned out. Replacing the bulb did not solve the problem. I do have a wiring diagram. What am I missing

Lee Beckman

might be a bad ground on that light [does the park light work?] - could be a bad connection, where the park light pigtail connects at the core support or in the big plug out of the column - could be a bad switch .... a meter or test light could be used to track back from the front socket to see where you pick up a reading

Bill

No, the parking light does not work either. I guess I will have test along the line for current. The turn signal housing on the stearing column continually gets loose and has to be repositioned. Back in the day my father had a 55 3200 with the same loose signal housing--is there a good fix. Thanks Bill

Lee

yes, sounds like you may have a bad socket or connection at the core support .... the screw that tightens the signal cup pushes a small wedge against the column tube - you can either replace that wedge [available at the vendors] or try slipping a thin piece of rubber between the wedge and column to keep it tighter, they tend to get too smooth to hold after slipping a few times

Bill

Thanks Bill

It is a mystery to me--the parking lights on both sides work today, but the left turn signal still does not work--no current to the plug in the engine compartment. If the bulb that flashes on the instrument panel burns out, will it shut down the front flasher?? When the turn signal is engaged, the rear light comes on but does not flash. I thought maybe the switch in the apparatus on the column, but it must be OK because the rear light comes on. Really not trying to be too lazy, would appreciate any help. Thanks

intermittent park light function sounds like a ground problem .... I've never seen a burned out bulb affect the operation of the rest, but there may be modern solid state flashers that would do that due to load change .... with the rear light on steady I'd suspect the flasher itself or a wiring problem, the signals serve to interrupt the brake light

see if you can hear the flasher clicking when either side is selected, it may only be getting power in one position. which I'd think would mean a bad switch .... I know signal malfunctions can be frustrating!!

Bill

Thanks Bill--this turn signal issue is seriously testing my problem solving skills.

Lee

I found the problem--the wires comming out of the stearing column go into a plug. The blade contact attached to the light blue wire (left turn signal) was slightly pulled back and not making contact---easy fix.

Lee, That's the kind of thing that can drive you crazy. I'm glad you found it. I'm sure that your truck has factory turn signals because Lt Blue Left, Dk Blue right, Brn Parking lights is the same color coding as my 1971 and a 1977 I was working on today for a friend. I am pretty sure 1958 is when signals became standard because I have seen 1957s that had to have them added. I'm sure Bill knows and can tell you. No value to knowing, just interesting side information.

best wishes,

Les

the wiring color codes were standardized industry wide by 1950 when they started to specify it on the diagrams, and stayed so to today except for the addition of colored runners because of all the extra electrical junk added over the years .... signals were optional for all the TF years, not standard issue until the mid-late 60's - whenever it became a federal requirement

Bill