Possible short in dash?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
Possible short in dash?
Replaced the speedo in my '72 stingray. Everything works but my hazard lights - the steering column switch never has worked. Now when I turn the ignition switch on the two turn indicator dashlights come on, but very dim. These two lights are the only ones that do this.
Turn signals work, headlights, brakes, etc. I've looked everywhere, checked wires, etc but don't see any shorts, loose connectors, or anything unusual.
Turn signal flasher gone bad?
Any ideas?
Turn signals work, headlights, brakes, etc. I've looked everywhere, checked wires, etc but don't see any shorts, loose connectors, or anything unusual.
Turn signal flasher gone bad?
Any ideas?
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Jim, You have two separate problems here. First the 4 ways, if they are not working try a new 4 way flasher. If that does not correct it the turn signal switch is bad. Not too expensive (available at NAPA, Autozone, etc.) and not too difficult to replace. Second, if you're seeing faint light in your green signal lenses, this is indicative of a lost ground. There are a couple of ground wires on the cluster that are easy to miss when reinstalling. If you can't find it simply add a new ground.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
Jim, You have two separate problems here. First the 4 ways, if they are not working try a new 4 way flasher. If that does not correct it the turn signal switch is bad. Not too expensive (available at NAPA, Autozone, etc.) and not too difficult to replace. Second, if you're seeing faint light in your green signal lenses, this is indicative of a lost ground. There are a couple of ground wires on the cluster that are easy to miss when reinstalling. If you can't find it simply add a new ground.
I probably need to replace the two side marker lamps to LED as well as they flash when the front signal lights flash. What do you think?
Thanks for the input
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Jim, this additional info helps. My first reply was assuming everything else was pretty much original.
The LED's change everything.
An LED bulb only consumes a very small amount of electrical current. The turn signal flasher (if it's a regular "thermal" flasher) was designed for bulbs that consume a lot of power: The power consumed by the bulb runs through the flasher and heats up a bimetal switch. When the bimetal deforms from the heat, it breaks the circuit (causing your lamp to go off), this causes the switch to cool down and go back to it's original shape (it will close the circuit again, the lights come on, the switch heats up, and the cycle begins again).
If the amount of power going though the switch is very little, not enough heat is generated in the flasher to cause the bimetal to bend. The most common symptom is that your turn signal lights simply stay on. If you run a MIX of regular and LED bulbs (say regular in the front, LED in the back), you may not notice it but if your incandescent bulb breaks, you're back to nothing-flashing.The mix of two types of bulbs can be an ongoing issue for you.
You will have to find an LED compatible flasher. It should look similar to your orig. flasher. Some are solid state, some have an additional ground wire added to them. Also some LED flashers will work only with LED lights. If you hook them up with an incandescent bulb they will go up in smoke.
Sorry, I wish I could give you more specific info but you're probably going to do a bit of trial and error to get this just right.
The LED's change everything.
An LED bulb only consumes a very small amount of electrical current. The turn signal flasher (if it's a regular "thermal" flasher) was designed for bulbs that consume a lot of power: The power consumed by the bulb runs through the flasher and heats up a bimetal switch. When the bimetal deforms from the heat, it breaks the circuit (causing your lamp to go off), this causes the switch to cool down and go back to it's original shape (it will close the circuit again, the lights come on, the switch heats up, and the cycle begins again).
If the amount of power going though the switch is very little, not enough heat is generated in the flasher to cause the bimetal to bend. The most common symptom is that your turn signal lights simply stay on. If you run a MIX of regular and LED bulbs (say regular in the front, LED in the back), you may not notice it but if your incandescent bulb breaks, you're back to nothing-flashing.The mix of two types of bulbs can be an ongoing issue for you.
You will have to find an LED compatible flasher. It should look similar to your orig. flasher. Some are solid state, some have an additional ground wire added to them. Also some LED flashers will work only with LED lights. If you hook them up with an incandescent bulb they will go up in smoke.
Sorry, I wish I could give you more specific info but you're probably going to do a bit of trial and error to get this just right.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
I've been searching the forum and have found a ton of info regarding LED lighting. I do think that is my problem. I'm ordering the new flashers and new side marker led bulb so everything is compatible.
Thanks again
