I need an electrical magician
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 1
From: aurora
I need an electrical magician
I have an 81 stock car and no bubba to be found on this car but here is the problem ,right front and rear signal wont flash, new flasher, rear brake light is very dim and no signal,
Light on the dash for signal lights up. I have all new bulbs all around the car and the ground on the left rear has been re done . all of left works fine.
Help I have ripped out all my hair at this point.
So is there a magician out there !
Ps.. I have the 81 shop manual and have gone though the steps to find the problem and no luck.
Todd
Light on the dash for signal lights up. I have all new bulbs all around the car and the ground on the left rear has been re done . all of left works fine.
Help I have ripped out all my hair at this point.
So is there a magician out there !
Ps.. I have the 81 shop manual and have gone though the steps to find the problem and no luck.
Todd
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Not a magician but do like electrical puzzles.
Take a long piece of wire and and strip both ends and ground one end to the alternator case.Remove the RF turn signal socket with bulb in it from the lens assemby.Now take the other end of the wire and stick the stripped end in and touch the outer brass part of bulb.This will give the light a temporary ground....it it starts working that socket is not grounded.If this is the case follow the wires from the socket back to the connector and pull it apart and clean and see if that takes care of it.
Try this in the rear also if needed.
Take a long piece of wire and and strip both ends and ground one end to the alternator case.Remove the RF turn signal socket with bulb in it from the lens assemby.Now take the other end of the wire and stick the stripped end in and touch the outer brass part of bulb.This will give the light a temporary ground....it it starts working that socket is not grounded.If this is the case follow the wires from the socket back to the connector and pull it apart and clean and see if that takes care of it.
Try this in the rear also if needed.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
DW is correct, on my '72 the rear light grounds are all tied to the frame on driver's side...black wire/loop......
but ALL lights must be grounded or the blinking blinker will not blink.....
you also may fiddle with the turn signal switch long flat harmonica connector under the steering column.....and hope it's not that T/S switch up top....
but ALL lights must be grounded or the blinking blinker will not blink.....
you also may fiddle with the turn signal switch long flat harmonica connector under the steering column.....and hope it's not that T/S switch up top....
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
Not a magician but do like electrical puzzles.
Take a long piece of wire and and strip both ends and ground one end to the alternator case.Remove the RF turn signal socket with bulb in it from the lens assemby.Now take the other end of the wire and stick the stripped end in and touch the outer brass part of bulb.This will give the light a temporary ground....it it starts working that socket is not grounded.If this is the case follow the wires from the socket back to the connector and pull it apart and clean and see if that takes care of it.
Try this in the rear also if needed.
Take a long piece of wire and and strip both ends and ground one end to the alternator case.Remove the RF turn signal socket with bulb in it from the lens assemby.Now take the other end of the wire and stick the stripped end in and touch the outer brass part of bulb.This will give the light a temporary ground....it it starts working that socket is not grounded.If this is the case follow the wires from the socket back to the connector and pull it apart and clean and see if that takes care of it.
Try this in the rear also if needed.
The right rear light on mine was the ground right at the socket.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,131
Likes: 4,154
From: Kannapolis NC
The ground wire for the socket connects through a contact to the metal casing on the bulb. The connection where the wire makes contact to the bent connector in the socket is probably corroded. Run a new temporary wire from a good ground and touch it to the metal casing on the bulb and try your turn signals. Also, as stated before, make sure you have the correct two pronged bulb and that you don't have it in 180 out so that the contacts don't line up in the socket.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Navigator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I have bought a flasher, brand new, and found it not to work. It might be easier to throw a few bucks towards a new flasher, or take the cover off the one you have and make sure everything that needs to make contact does.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 1
From: aurora
The ground wire for the socket connects through a contact to the metal casing on the bulb. The connection where the wire makes contact to the bent connector in the socket is probably corroded. Run a new temporary wire from a good ground and touch it to the metal casing on the bulb and try your turn signals. Also, as stated before, make sure you have the correct two pronged bulb and that you don't have it in 180 out so that the contacts don't line up in the socket.
Thats it got it
the ground wire inside the socket was broken and was not making contact with the ground side of the bulb. made up a new plug and its good to go , funny thing is i check it wiggled the wire and it still didnt work the first time but its all good now now i can start growing my hair back 
thanks all
Todd
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Fort Drum New York
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 1
From: aurora