Turn Signal Doesnt Work?

El Monstero · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: Turn Signal Doesnt Work?

Hello, my 1978
turn signal does not work.
How do I start in finding the problem?
I have done a lot of electric work on my car,
and I understand basic electrics so I tested the lights
for a voltage reading nothing, I replaced the flasher and fuse,
still nothing. Is there a way to test the turn singnal on the steering colum.
Thanks for any help, I have a hard time with no signal's on the freeway, watch out here I come i let people know I comming by opening up my secondaries for a screaming loud exaust, it gets people attention that Im lane changing.

464elky · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the site. On the home page on the top right click on electrical systems and then on the 59-60 wiring schematics click on "Read More". Scroll down to your 78 and you have two pages that cover the entire vehicle which you can click on to open up and download/print.
Here is a link to page one which has the turn signals. click here
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Another 3 to 9 years should finish it.

El Monstero · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:31 am Post subject:

When I got the car non of the wires were stock, ok maybe a couple.
but most of the car was at some point completley disasembled.
I have replaced many many wires to get every thing to work,
allmost nothing worked on the car when I got it, I am trying to trace the electric problem you know no electric power is getting to the turn signal lights and Im not shure how to test the colum lever for the turn signal.
Im at the point were I going to just start replacing all the parts in the turn signal systm. Thanks for your help.

464elky · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

Look at the wiring diagram and see what wires go to what. Where does it get power? Two places. One from the fuse box and one when you apply the brakes. Green - right rear, yellow - left rear and etc.
Are you getting power in? and then activate the switch and check if power is going out to the proper location you selected - left or right - front and rear.
Don't forget there are two flashers. One normal TS and emergency.
_________________
84 Elky with 455 Buick, Tremec TKO600 5 speed, 8.5 3:42 posi -
My Members Page Album
Another 3 to 9 years should finish it.

El Monstero · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks for trying to help,
but my car is highly modified
it does not have the stock engine
it does not have stock OEM wiring.
There is no diagram for who put my car together,
it's a matter of electrical power source but I
cant find were the power is coming from because
its not running off the OEM diagram, alot of the wires in my car are
red and the same gauge, inless I unwrap and remove all the wires from non oem fuse bow and ignition, I cant trace the wire all the way to its source. Elecrtic problems are a pain because you cant see the problem because its a matter of current or faulty mechanical problem.

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

SORRY ~~~ To tell you this ~~~ But if what you say is true, and the car has been re-wired, and not to factory specs, useing the same gauge wire that's the same color. Your options are as follows >>>>>>>>> 1 / obtain a new wireing harness and re-wire your Veh. >>> 2 / Obtain an ohm meter or signal tracer and start tracing the wires that are there. >>> 3 / Trace each wire by hand following it from one location to it's ending. >>>>> Or 4 / Take it to someone that specializes in Elactrical trouble shooting and let them do what they do best. All in all it is going to take a fair amount of time / labor , and most likely expense to correct it. And finely, you could do it the lazy mans way, and do the same as the previous owner and run your own wires, and hook them up just any old way. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but it's the bottom line, and there is no sense SUGAR COATING IT. Good luck, and be patient, remember ~~~ you said it ~~~ electrical can be a big pain, more so if one is not well versed in it.
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Keep the Shiney Side Up
The Rubber Side Down !!
aka Larry

El Monstero · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject:

I have rewired a lot in this car
from the starter to the rear tail
lights stereo I could go on with electric repairs,
I have several toggle switches
because of past electric trouble.
I could just rewire all of it, it's cheaper than taking it to a shop.
I have tried to trace the wires, with no luck.
But they did work for a short time when i first got the car.
So there must be a way to fix it, with out rewiring.
Thanks for your advice.

El Monstero · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

I have rewired a lot in this car
from the starter to the rear tail
lights stereo I could go on with electric repairs,
I have several toggle switches
because of past electric trouble.
I could just rewire all of it, it's cheaper than taking it to a shop.
I have tried to trace the wires, with no luck.
But they did work for a short time when i first got the car.
So there must be a way to fix it, with out rewiring.
Thanks for your advice.

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you have it under control then! Just another section to re-wire. As stated before >> Good Luck, just time and paitience is all you need.
_________________
http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_CoyoteOn2s77Cage.html

Keep the Shiney Side Up
The Rubber Side Down !!
aka Larry

El Monstero · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Paitients is vital, being the only car I own with no garage.
If I had two cars and a garage I would take the car off the frame and do a complete restoration, of the body frame suspension drive train and then the body. Then I would be happy, I have paid for shops to custom build a 1965 impala, but when I was over 20,000$ into it I had to learn how to
do it my self. Since then I have been self teaching through sites like this and people like you that have the experience, Ive now done and sold a '81 corvette, a '72 caprice, & now the '78 el camino is current project.
Thanks for your help.

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

Your on the right track, You have the PASSION, and that my friend is 80% of it. I've done several ElCaminos, My driver, which is on going cause it's my driver, whitch is also a 4th gen 77, there are work in progress shots in my album, (link at bottom)

_________________
http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_CoyoteOn2s77Cage.html

Keep the Shiney Side Up
The Rubber Side Down !!
aka Larry

El Monstero · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:58 am Post subject:

Nice '77 I had a 454 in my '72 caprice does your '77
have a th400 or is it manuel? The red elcamino
looks like a real show car, is that a custom bumper?

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:47 am Post subject:

Paul,
The 77 has a built TH350 with shift kit. And yes, the bumper was removed, installed a Roll Pan and Cadilac Tail Lights. Three years in the making.

Oh ~~~~ and welcome to the site
_________________
http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_CoyoteOn2s77Cage.html

Keep the Shiney Side Up
The Rubber Side Down !!
aka Larry

El Monstero · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:10 am Post subject:

Looks like Im going to have to was my car,
& take a picture to post it, I will look for other pics
of cars Ive owned.
Nice rides.