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My 1977 corvette’s turn signals work fine, so do the hazard lights and just about every light on the car turns on, the problem is when I turn on the headlights the blinkers no longer work.
as soon as I pull back on the headlights lever my hazards and blinkers no longer flash.
I can only find 1 ground in the rear of the car with all the tail lights.. it’s not loose but the metal is all rusted.. could that be the issue? Assume his is the right ground.
I had the same problem on 1979 vette and cleaning the rust off at that ground solved it.
This is the only rear ground I could find These are the 2 grounds in the front by the headlights, I have them on top of eachother because the screw for the original ground was broken. Cleaned it up a tad bit. Still didn’t fix the issue.
The bolt that broke off when you replaced the FLH should have bolted to the LH fender support area.
That support should be bolted to the main chassis and would be your common ground path.
Where you bolted the 2 ground wires to the center support may not be the best place for the larger #12 ground wire. I could be wrong...
Is there any chance you could drill a new hole near the broken off bolt so you can put that wire back close to it's original location?
ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!!
It is important that you purchase the correct external tooth star lock washers as they bite into the metal as they tighten.
If you choose to try this take the center bolt out to match and drill the same size new hole.
Match the same size for new bolt, nut and star lock washers for the new hole.
So you would be using just a bolt nut and the correct star washer to secure that #12 ground wire eyelet.
Also, you want the lock washer installed just like the diagram shows, against the metal.
This is why the Assembly Manual is a MUST!!!
Last edited by bmotojoe; Mar 11, 2021 at 08:20 AM.
Sounds like it must be a ground problem because you definitely have power. The problem occurs when you take the front side marker lights out of the current flow by turning on the headlights. You then aren't flowing enough current to heat up the bi-metal strip in the flasher. I take it you have the same problem with both left hand and right hand indicators? Since you say that all the bulbs are working when the headlights are off, there is probably a high resistance on one of your earths or bulb holders (it can't be completely open circuit if all the bulbs are lighting up). Do any of the front or rear indicators, or the dash board indicator lights look a bit dim? Have you changed any bulbs recently?
Sounds like it must be a ground problem because you definitely have power. The problem occurs when you take the front side marker lights out of the current flow by turning on the headlights. You then aren't flowing enough current to heat up the bi-metal strip in the flasher. I take it you have the same problem with both left hand and right hand indicators? Since you say that all the bulbs are working when the headlights are off, there is probably a high resistance on one of your earths or bulb holders (it can't be completely open circuit if all the bulbs are lighting up). Do any of the front or rear indicators, or the dash board indicator lights look a bit dim? Have you changed any bulbs recently?
I didn’t change any bulbs no, I changed my whole front lamp harness though. Also my lights aren’t dim and I just reattached the ground I previously said was broken off and still nothing.
Like in your other thread, you must make sure the little loop wires on the front side marker lights (bulb #168) are pulled away from the glass.
If it's a used bulb and even a new bulb I'm replacing I always bend that little loop wire out a little.
They MUST make a good contact inside the socket.
Again:
I think your close to resolving your turn signal problem.
It's just like Ukjohn said it's about current flow and if these loop wires are not making good contact that will do it.
I took a little video yesterday showing front turn and side marker lights, see how they pulse differently when the headlights are off and then on?
Its a cold start first time since January...Fast Idle up around 1250rpms
Like in your other thread, you must make sure the little loop wires on the front side marker lights (bulb #168) are pulled away from the glass.
If it's a used bulb and even a new bulb I'm replacing I always bend that little loop wire out a little.
They MUST make a good contact inside the socket.
Again:
I think your close to resolving your turn signal problem.
It's just like Ukjohn said it's about current flow and if these loop wires are not making good contact that will do it.
I took a little video yesterday showing front turn and side marker lights, see how they pulse differently when the headlights are off and then on?
Its a cold start first time since January...Fast Idle up around 1250rpms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj-heLk_ZSQ
when I get home I’ll post a picture of my bulbs
also you said-
“I took a little video yesterday showing front turn and side marker lights, see how they pulse differently when the headlights are off and then on?”
I will still provide a picture of the bulbs but assuming the problem is still due to the metal loops not making contact I don’t have a syncing blinker problem. They don’t flash in general after I turn the headlights on BUT if you’re also saying it could cause the tail and front marker lights to not flash at all that’s good too.
Last edited by ChristineTheVette; Mar 14, 2021 at 11:38 PM.
Yes I understand, It's when you turn your headlights ON is when you have a problem.
To be clear, your rear side marker lamps (RED) never flash when the turn signals are on, just the front (AMBER) side marker lights flash.
You can see on this drawing that the current flow is different (circuit #9) when your headlight switch is pulled.
That's why it's critical that the side marker lights and front turn/park signal light bulbs are making good contact and are the correct bulbs side markers #168 and turn/park #1157 .
Also you know the ground wires are good because you have been there and the results are labeled below.
Yes I understand, It's when you turn your headlights ON is when you have a problem.
To be clear, your rear side marker lamps (RED) never flash when the turn signals are on, just the front (AMBER) side marker lights flash.
You can see on this drawing that the current flow is different (circuit #9) when your headlight switch is pulled.
That's why it's critical that the side marker lights and front turn/park signal light bulbs are making good contact and are the correct bulbs side markers #168 and turn/park #1157 .
Also you know the ground wires are good because you have been there and the results are labeled below.
Turn signal problem.
