Turn Signal and Gauge issues...etc...

hell.camino

I have an 80 El Camino with a cluster of wiring problems. The weirdest thing that it does is when the left turn signal comes on, my temperature gauge clicks in time with the signal. Then when the turn signal is off, it goes back to normal. Also, my turn signal fuse blows constantly and I've had to stock up on 20A fuses since I can't figure out where the short is.
Another issue is that sometimes when I turn off the car, the power locks won't work.
Other times, I completely lose power and the car won't start, but the battery is new and always shows a good charge. I just have to wait awhile, and then it will work again.
To wrap up the problems, the dash lights sometimes flicker and for the longest time, didn't work and now they work, but occasionally they flicker and turn off.

I know that these are a lot of issues in one post, but I don't know if these problems would be related and I'm kind of at my wits end. I don't know if its worth it to take it to someone to have it done.

Steve81OR · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 3:27 am Post subject:

You definately have a short somewhere. Try removing one fuse at a time when the problem starts. If it stops, at least you'll know which curcuit is causing it.

Have you had the speedo cluster out lately?
I took mine out one time and as soon as I had it back in, my headlights would pulse on and off with my turn signals (even with the headlights in the off position), and my interior lights kept blowing fuses. Turns out when I put it back together I accidently folded part of the wiring connection on the back of the cluster and it was shorting (I hate the way GM designed those stupid connections). I took it apart again and carefully straightened out the idiotic tape-like connector and everything worked fine.

I'm thinking of figuring out a way to mount aftermarket gauges in the factory cluster and seeing if I can do away with that connector.
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1981 Chevy El Camino
1991 Chevy S10
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greywolf · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject:

Right on, Steve. My '84 has the gage package, and temp/volt/pressure did wierd things although the gas gage worked OK. Just little crud and corrosion on that tape connector on the back of the instrument cluster -- though it drove me crazy, and blew some serious $$$ to get a mis-diagnosis from the dealer Mad

The solution was contact cleaner from radio shack. Then for insurance I stuck a little piece of foam weather strip on the instrument cluster under the printed circuit to push it up against the wire harness plug. Not a problem since....

Also when I got the car power locks and windows didn't work. The windows problem turned out to be frayed wire where the wires jump from the body to the door. And the power lock switch looked like it held the remains of a spilled drink. Another place to use the contact cleaner -- but watch out for those little springs when you pull the switch apart.

Steve81OR · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 2:56 am Post subject:

Glad you got it figured out. I'm not sure if my advise helped, but at least you were able to fix it. Nice work.
_________________

My "Hell Camino" Homepage
1981 Chevy El Camino
1991 Chevy S10
"Attitude is everything"