one blinker out
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 4
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one blinker out
79 .... right front nothing..... Left side rear and front work, all running lights work, the clicking sound under the steering wheel is clicking. The lights in the dash only work on the left - so when right turn signal is on I can hear the clicking and see the rear light blinking, but cannot see the arrow in the dash and no front blinker.
I changed the boots in the front to be sure it wasn't that and also tested the wires......the dark blue going to the right front is not getting any power all the way back at the firewall.
Any help please
I changed the boots in the front to be sure it wasn't that and also tested the wires......the dark blue going to the right front is not getting any power all the way back at the firewall.
Any help please
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,978
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From: Virginia
Have you tried swapping bulbs side to side?
Do you have any LED bulbs in the car?
Did you know that the rear sockets are prone to failure, and can even fail internally while looking perfectly fine?
Do you have any LED bulbs in the car?
Did you know that the rear sockets are prone to failure, and can even fail internally while looking perfectly fine?
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2023
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I did swap the front but not the back. I put new bulbs in all places and new fuses too. And I even swopped the sockets.
No LED, the thing is literally 100% original everything so these sockets and wires are definitely old, but they are working fine.
Would the rear socket cause the front blinker to not work? Even when the light its self and the rear socket blinker is working? - if so I guess I should change the rear sockets?
No LED, the thing is literally 100% original everything so these sockets and wires are definitely old, but they are working fine.
Would the rear socket cause the front blinker to not work? Even when the light its self and the rear socket blinker is working? - if so I guess I should change the rear sockets?
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 64
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From: iowa
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My problem in my "79 was the front right turn signal would come on but not blink. If I stuck my hand up under and moved the wire, coming off the back of the socket around, it would start blinking. As soon as I stopped moving the wire, the light would stay on without blinking. The wire was messed up leading from the socket. Changed out the socket and everything went back to working like it should. Sounds to me like your wire problem might go a little deeper in the loom.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2023
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I was thinking about that and so I took the socket off and wired directly to the boot and still no luck, but I have ordered new wiring for both fronts (they come as a set) so I will put that on and see. All threads I read are saying its a ground issue, so I am going to go one step at a time. A few have said its probably coming from the taillights, which is crazy, but I am going to have to go through each area until I figure it out. I cant get tags until I get it fixed - one stupid little thing after all of these years. Thanks for the reply.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
A too like this might help you. You can pierce wire insulation to test the circuit ahead of the bulb. If you get 12V just ahead of the socket, either the socket is at fault, or the bulb, assuming the ground path is intact (you can check that with a multimeter).
Piercing test light.
Piercing test light.
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Turn signal switch has a different contact for the front and rear signal. As rear also shares brake light. And front wire, (Dark Blue) also feeds the indicator light in your dash.
Soo, under your dash, on the right hand side of the steering column is a wiring connector commonly referred to as the harmonica connector. There. At the harmonica connector. With the signal switch turned on for right hand signal. And key on. Check for power on the dark blue wire coming out of the column.
your symptoms are indicative of a bad signal switch contact. As your dash indicator is not functioning and you say you have no power on the Dark Blue wire all the way back to the firewall.
I'm afraid new front sockets simply will not correct this.
If you have no power all the way back to the firewall, and your dash indicater is not working as well. Back up and check for power at the harmonica connector. No power there indicates a bad contact in the signal switch.
Soo, under your dash, on the right hand side of the steering column is a wiring connector commonly referred to as the harmonica connector. There. At the harmonica connector. With the signal switch turned on for right hand signal. And key on. Check for power on the dark blue wire coming out of the column.
your symptoms are indicative of a bad signal switch contact. As your dash indicator is not functioning and you say you have no power on the Dark Blue wire all the way back to the firewall.
I'm afraid new front sockets simply will not correct this.
If you have no power all the way back to the firewall, and your dash indicater is not working as well. Back up and check for power at the harmonica connector. No power there indicates a bad contact in the signal switch.
Last edited by 4-vettes; Oct 21, 2023 at 06:08 AM.
