The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay turn signals now what should I do?

My turn signals quit working. Actually they would work every once in awhile. So I checked the turn signal switch and found bare wires from the previous owner. So I replaced the turn signal switch and the wires down the steering column. Also replaced the flasher. now they don't work not even every great once in awhile. what should I check next? I am considering rewiring the whole truck it is a 59 1/2ton stepside.

In replacing the flasher, check to make sure that you did not dislodge the connector that goes over to the back of the ignition switch that provides power to the turn signal circuit.

Secondly, check the connector at the engine side of the firewall that supplies power to the front and rear harness assemblies.

Good Luck,

I forgot to mention my park lights still work but just when I put the blinker on they don't light up on the dash nor do the blinkers them self light up

Sounds like a short is happening somewhere?

Rewiring the truck is a great idea ... after all these years, it's good to know the electrical system is at full power.

[b]Check Out My Rewiring Project Checklist[/b]

[b]Check Out My Rewiring Project | Photo Diary[/b]

Turn signal lights work the brake lights in the rear and their own filiment in the front. Any thing from no power in to bad wires to bad grounds at the bulbs will stop the signals.

Do the brake lights work? If they do, the wiring from the turn signal switch to the rear of the truck is OK and the problem has to be in the flashing circuit itself.

It sounds like a short or a bad ground.

I'd rewire any lights that you feel NEED to work.

I had a similar problem with my truck. Blinkers didn't work very well at all, nor did the brake lights.

I rewired my turn signal switch and the entire rear end, and redid the parking lights. Everything works great now.

There would be something else coming on or smoke or a blown fuse if there was a short. More likely an open circuit. The brake lights and/or the parking lights usually won't work well with a bad ground.

Use a wiring diagram, a test lamp or VOM and logic before changing components.

brake lights work fine every other light works just not the blinkers that is why I thought it was in the switch. It had alot of bare wire in the switch so when I changed it I thought for sure they would work fine but you all know how that goes.

One other thing should the park lights light up when the headlights are on? mine don't the park lights come on when I pull the switch out to the park light position but when pulled out for the headlights they go off. I know that some of the newer models they both are on headlights and park lights but don't know enough about my 59 yet. But I am getting to learn alot.

Your 59s parking light are supposed to go out when the headlights are on.

check your brake light switch too.

One thing I've dicscovered over the years is the bulbs. Over time, the vibration and movement will wear the soft metal contacts on the light bulb. The bulbs will go on and off and the bulb will test good.

Look at the contacts on bottom of the bulbs. If they are "concaved" instead of "convexed", replace them.

Other weird problems with lighting many times also have to do with bad grounds.