<VV> Intermittent Turn Signal

[David Iverson]

Seth,

 

To answer your questions (in order) - 

 

First - Not sure.  I have plastic sockets that have spring loaded contacts.
I was down in Indianapolis for the weekend at a car show/swap meet when
someone suggested using all metal sockets so that there would be better
grounding.  I am in the process of replacing all four with these all metal
sockets.

 

Second - Neither side of the brake lights work.  In fact, they went bad just
a few days before the directionals went haywire.

 

Third - n/a

 

Fourth - As of today, no directional lights (front, rear, or even the
interior) are working.  At times when they do work, it flashes rapidly.  But
it hasn't been consistent.  They will work/not work quite a few times in
just a 30 min. drive to work.

 

Don't mind the questions and appreciate all the help.

 

Many thanks!

 

David

 

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From: Sethracer at aol.com [mailto:Sethracer at aol.com] 
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 5:07 PM
To: david.d.iverson at gmail.com; virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Intermittent Turn Signal

 

In a message dated 9/21/2007 6:45:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
david.d.iverson at gmail.com writes:

I have a '65 monza 140 4 spd, which I got in June.  The turning signals
worked when I got it.  Now, they are intermitten.  Sometimes they don't work
at all....other times when they work, they blink rapidly. 

Hi David, the turn signals can be frustrating, I know. First a little
tutorial.  The circuits for the turn signals, both front and rear, go into
the column as one feed wire (via the flasher under the dash. There are then
wires that exit the column to each of the four filiments in the four
corners. The two that go to the rear filiments are also used for the brake
lights. There is also a feed wire from the brake light switch under the
dash. During normal operation (no brakes on, no turn signals on) the wire
that would feed the power to the brake light filiments is connected - in the
very center of the turn signal switch to two outgoing wires - the ones that
feed the rear filiments. When you step on the brakes, the power is fed
through the switch and the two rear filiments light up. The turn signal
switch is used to interrupt that side's brake light feed and replace it with
an intermittent feed from the turn signal flasher - This feed also send the
intermittent signal to the front turn filiments and the indicators in the
dash. That is so that, even if you have the brakes on, the rear turn light
still flashes. To flash properly, all of the bulbs must be good. The flasher
relies on the load of the bulbs to interrupt the power feed. A solid on
means check all of the bulbs. 

 

Your problem. Back in the 60's GM used a complex series of springs and
connector posts to perform all this switching inside the switch. Over time,
the springs and the contacts can wear or be attacked by other parts of the
column or horn feeds. In addition, light bulbs burning out, contacts both in
bulb sockets and harness connectors wearing and tarnishing can add up to
exceed the capability of the system. The turn signal actuator has a tab that
sticks down into the switch to push the springs back and forth - it can
break as well. 

 

First - Are all the bulbs and sockets functional? 

Second - Check your brake lights. Do both sides work? They should turn on
independent of the ignition.

Third - Does turning on the turn signal left or right interrupt the brake
light on that side - (turning it off)?

Fourth - What turn lights DO work? Front/rear/indicator on the dash

If they flash, but too fast or too slow, do all the bulbs do the same thing?

 

What all these questions do is narrow down the problem. - Seth





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