left turn signal problems, feel like i have tried everything Options

[jeff dodge]

I am having trouble with my left turn signal. Let me detail; ground tested and is good, replaced , replaced column switch, new relays, new bulbs, swapped housings from left to right, new fuses. noticed that when I clicked the emergency flashers it blew that fuse. Right works fine, the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything. I have spent two weeks trying to track this down. I have built entire harnesses for vintage race cars and this has me baffled. Please help! Thanks, Jeff

[Spoke]

I am having trouble with my left turn signal. Let me detail; ground tested and is good, replaced , replaced column switch, new relays, new bulbs, swapped housings from left to right, new fuses. noticed that when I clicked the emergency flashers it blew that fuse. Right works fine, the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything. I have spent two weeks trying to track this down. I have built entire harnesses for vintage race cars and this has me baffled. Please help! Thanks, Jeff

What was changed before this issue came up?

You may want to completely disconnect the front and rear light housings and test. At a minimum, remove both left side bulbs.

' the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything.'

The left side might have a near short which would allow just a little voltage to the bulb. Is the front dim and the rear out completely? The short may be in the rear housing wiring. Again it might be prudent to remove all wires from the rear and see if the fuse blows.

A guy brought his 911 to me where he had to put a 25A fuse in the left side turnsignal to keep it from blowing. The front turnsignal was dim and the rear was out. The fuse was getting hot. We disconnected the rear wire at the fuse panel and the front turnsignal got bright as expected and the fuse was cool. There was some short in the rear housing.

[scallyk9]

I am having trouble with my left turn signal. Let me detail; ground tested and is good, replaced , replaced column switch, new relays, new bulbs, swapped housings from left to right, new fuses. noticed that when I clicked the emergency flashers it blew that fuse. Right works fine, the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything. I have spent two weeks trying to track this down. I have built entire harnesses for vintage race cars and this has me baffled. Please help! Thanks, Jeff

What was changed before this issue came up?

You may want to completely disconnect the front and rear light housings and test. At a minimum, remove both left side bulbs.

' the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything.'

The left side might have a near short which would allow just a little voltage to the bulb. Is the front dim and the rear out completely? The short may be in the rear housing wiring. Again it might be prudent to remove all wires from the rear and see if the fuse blows.

A guy brought his 911 to me where he had to put a 25A fuse in the left side turnsignal to keep it from blowing. The front turnsignal was dim and the rear was out. The fuse was getting hot. We disconnected the rear wire at the fuse panel and the front turnsignal got bright as expected and the fuse was cool. There was some short in the rear housing.

That fellow's 911 experience is what happened to my 914 but on the right side. Dim right turn signal and the right rear was out, plus rear taillight was dim. It took time to diagnose but turned out that the right front fender side indicator light was wired in reverse causing a short. It took me time to realize the front electrical short's effect on the rear lights until i noticed the side light functioning as a dim turn signal.

[jeff dodge]

I am having trouble with my left turn signal. Let me detail; ground tested and is good, replaced , replaced column switch, new relays, new bulbs, swapped housings from left to right, new fuses. noticed that when I clicked the emergency flashers it blew that fuse. Right works fine, the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything. I have spent two weeks trying to track this down. I have built entire harnesses for vintage race cars and this has me baffled. Please help! Thanks, Jeff

What was changed before this issue came up?

You may want to completely disconnect the front and rear light housings and test. At a minimum, remove both left side bulbs.

' the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything.'

The left side might have a near short which would allow just a little voltage to the bulb. Is the front dim and the rear out completely? The short may be in the rear housing wiring. Again it might be prudent to remove all wires from the rear and see if the fuse blows.

A guy brought his 911 to me where he had to put a 25A fuse in the left side turnsignal to keep it from blowing. The front turnsignal was dim and the rear was out. The fuse was getting hot. We disconnected the rear wire at the fuse panel and the front turnsignal got bright as expected and the fuse was cool. There was some short in the rear housing.

That fellow's 911 experience is what happened to my 914 but on the right side. Dim right turn signal and the right rear was out, plus rear taillight was dim. It took time to diagnose but turned out that the right front fender side indicator light was wired in reverse causing a short. It took me time to realize the front electrical short's effect on the rear lights until i noticed the side light functioning as a dim turn signal.

Thanks for the info! I will check the front and rear housings. It will probably be something really simple and I will be kicking myself.

[jeff dodge]

I am having trouble with my left turn signal. Let me detail; ground tested and is good, replaced , replaced column switch, new relays, new bulbs, swapped housings from left to right, new fuses. noticed that when I clicked the emergency flashers it blew that fuse. Right works fine, the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything. I have spent two weeks trying to track this down. I have built entire harnesses for vintage race cars and this has me baffled. Please help! Thanks, Jeff

What was changed before this issue came up?

You may want to completely disconnect the front and rear light housings and test. At a minimum, remove both left side bulbs.

' the left turn filament is very dim and the read does not do anything.'

The left side might have a near short which would allow just a little voltage to the bulb. Is the front dim and the rear out completely? The short may be in the rear housing wiring. Again it might be prudent to remove all wires from the rear and see if the fuse blows.

A guy brought his 911 to me where he had to put a 25A fuse in the left side turnsignal to keep it from blowing. The front turnsignal was dim and the rear was out. The fuse was getting hot. We disconnected the rear wire at the fuse panel and the front turnsignal got bright as expected and the fuse was cool. There was some short in the rear housing.

That fellow's 911 experience is what happened to my 914 but on the right side. Dim right turn signal and the right rear was out, plus rear taillight was dim. It took time to diagnose but turned out that the right front fender side indicator light was wired in reverse causing a short. It took me time to realize the front electrical short's effect on the rear lights until i noticed the side light functioning as a dim turn signal.

Thanks for the info! I will check the front and rear housings. It will probably be something really simple and I will be kicking myself.

I sent a post which apparently did not go through so I will send the pertinent info. All of the housings checked out. every light works, (left front works, but dim. left rear turn does not). The wiring that I have checked good with the exception of the bk/wt at left rear. all bulbs and turn switch replaced.relays replaced. Could it be the emergency flasher switch? Thanks, Jeff

[Spoke]

All of the housings checked out. every light works, (left front works, but dim. left rear turn does not).

Please detail what you mean with 'every light works' but then you say the left front is dim and rear is out.

Are you using incandescent bulbs or LEDs. Shouldn't matter, just want to check.

At this point I'd remove every wire on the rear housing and see if the front becomes bright.

The front and rear turnsignals are powered in parallel although the rear has a lot more wire between the source (flasher relay + hazard switch) and ground.

Could it be the emergency flasher switch? Thanks, Jeff

Doubtful if the switch is at fault as all the turnsignal wires start at the switch. The front is getting some voltage but the rear is getting no voltage. Kinda points to the rear having some short circuit. It's easy to pull the wires from the rear housing to eliminate wiring to the housing and the housing from the equation.

[jeff dodge]

All of the housings checked out. every light works, (left front works, but dim. left rear turn does not).

Please detail what you mean with 'every light works' but then you say the left front is dim and rear is out.

Are you using incandescent bulbs or LEDs. Shouldn't matter, just want to check.

At this point I'd remove every wire on the rear housing and see if the front becomes bright.

The front and rear turnsignals are powered in parallel although the rear has a lot more wire between the source (flasher relay + hazard switch) and ground.

Could it be the emergency flasher switch? Thanks, Jeff

Doubtful if the switch is at fault as all the turnsignal wires start at the switch. The front is getting some voltage but the rear is getting no voltage. Kinda points to the rear having some short circuit. It's easy to pull the wires from the rear housing to eliminate wiring to the housing and the housing from the equation.

I'm sorry about the lack of detail in my post. I will try and fill in the blanks. Incandescent brand new bulbs, I tested both front and rear housings and they checked out even though the wiring behind the reflector looked suspicious. The only lights that do not work are the front turn which is dim and the rear turn does not work at all. With the left front and left rear both connected and the emergency switch pulled, the turn signal flasher relay gets hot. Keep in mind that the relay is new and I also have a backup which relay which I have tried with the same result. I opened the new relays and they I believe are not compromised. I do all of the connections with the battery disconnected and shut everything off when I feel the relay getting warm . I will try disconnect the rear housing and check the front turn. Thanks for your help