turn signal help please, for the electically in-experienced.. Options

[MrHyde]

Background:
The PO of my 73' 2.0L said that he never actually drove the car. He picked it up to restore and then got more involved with his MG's ( he has a sweet MGB with a mustang drivetrain in it , and a couple more under covers) .. anyways.. the turn signals dont work.. in the glove box i found an extra relay socket, and a 4 prong relay... hanging out under the fuse board is another of the same socket I found in the glove box.. I'm assuming that some PO wired this thing in to get the turn signals working.. the signal lights all come on when I turn the headlights on ( tail lights AND all the turn signals ) when fliping the turn signal switch, nothing happens.. no dash lights.. no flashing...

question...
I've never really needed to use a multimeter before, so i'm totally inexperienced with this.. I want to know how to find out if this socket is infact for the turn signals ( so I can just get a turn signal relay ) or find out where to check the wiring with the multimeter to see where the disconnect is happening..


Since My shoulder is out of commission right now, I cant do any heavy work at all, but testing a circut with a multimeter is doable. I've downloaded a couple wiring diagrams, but it all looks a bit greek to me right now...

Thanks in advance for the help !

[MrHyde]

I've had some success....

I pluged that relay i had into the socket to " give'r a whirl "... hazard lights work... perfectly... all lights flashing in sync... the cliker going.. perfect... turn signal still no worky... making me thing it is just the relay now.. part of it working for the hazar lights and not the turn signal ? or maybe the turn signal switch..

[pcar916]

I've had some success....

I pluged that relay i had into the socket to " give'r a whirl "... hazard lights work... perfectly... all lights flashing in sync... the cliker going.. perfect... turn signal still no worky... making me thing it is just the relay now.. part of it working for the hazar lights and not the turn signal ? or maybe the turn signal switch..

Now you're on point. It could be the relay, but to eliminate the turn signal switch test it. I had the same exact problem recently on my car. There are two connectors at the base of the steering column.

I used the diagnostic sketch I posted above to make sure the turn signal switch was working properly. It wasn't. When taken apart, the contacts inside the switch were broken. However there are redundant contacts attached to grey wires that trigger the European feature! What's that you ask?

When you turn on the turn signals and the car is off, the turn signal bulbs will come on solid (no pulsing).

I took the connector (the one at the base of the steering column that you may not have noticed yet) apart, swapped the grey wires with the "real" signal wires and put the connector back together. I got my turn signals back but lost the trigger for the feature noted above. It won't satisfy the concours crowd (and shouldn't) but I can live with that.

Now I could have spent $50 on a new turn signal but this was more fun. You'll use your meter in continuity mode to use that sketch.