I was checking my lights tonight and noticed that the left turn signal wouldn't blink. Also the arrow on the dash just stays on while my headlights are on. Could this be a short to ground somewhere? All other lights worked fine.

 

Yes, a bad ground can cause this. Had it happen a couple of weeks ago on a Chevy van. Problem was right in the bulb holder...it had an open to ground.

Art

 

Thanks, when I get time I'll check the wiring and the bulb holder. I think I'll take the bulbs out first to see it the arrow on the dash goes out and if not start probing. I have the FSM to help with this. Any mre suggestions?

 

Always happens to me when the bulb burns out.

 

Just wanted to say that all the tail lights work. My brake lights come on, but the left want flash. The front turn signal will flash if I manually use the signal lever, but not if I push it down and it stays. It might be a wiring problem in the rear.

 

The flasher works on heat caused by lamp current. More current, faster flashing. Low current, slow or no flashing. You have a lamp burned out, check your sidemarker lamp in the front, compare lamp brilliance on both sides. Your left side lamps aren't drawing enough current to allow the flasher to cycle. Could be a poor ground too which will dim the turn signal lamp and reduce the lamp current.

 

What's interesting and what I'm interpreting from your post is that the indicator light is on even when the turn signal is not on and the headlights are on. Is that right? What happens when the lights are off? Usually a bad bulb causes a solid turn signal with no flashing due to what was previously posted...the flasher works when the filiments are not blown. But if your dash light is illuminated when driving then from my experience there is a grounding/wiring problem. If you have a meter, probe the ground of the connector to chassis ground. You should have very low to no resistance. If you have checked the bulb or replaced it and the ground is good then the FSM should be used to troubleshoot the problem. If you turn on your signal and the bulb illuminates then the bulb is good. Some turn signal wiring utilize the clearance lamp ground when the bulb is bad causing the symptoms you describe. Most C4 alternate the side marker off when the front turn signal bulb is illuminated. Same thing with the rear, the side marker flashes on and off alternately with the taillights. Find out what yours is doing, it's a good start. If the side markers don't alternate with the front and rear signals it's a clue. Good luck.

Art

 

Yes Art, the turn signal indicator light on the dash stays on when I turn my healights on (never flashes) whether I'm using the turn signal or not. The indicator light arrow doesn't blink but the right one does. But all the brake lights work when pedal is pressed just no blink. The front left signal light doesn't blink either unless I move the lever up and down but the left rear doesn't blink at all. Soon time to troubleshoot!

 

The tail lights have two filaments, one for the brake and another for turn signalling. The front lights also have two filaments, one for turn signalling and one for parking. You have the turn signal filament burned out in the front or rear lamp on the left side. Actually from your description, your rear lamp, left side has a filament burned out. If you have a poor ground connection on the black wire from the LH front park/turn lamp, the LH turn indicator lamp on the dash will light when the headlights are turned on. The poor ground connection on the front LH park/turn lamp also decreases total lamp current and contribute to no flashing when you attempt to signal a left turn.

 

Thanks guys, I have to work for the next couple of days and I will get it looked at soon. Tuesday I plan to take my car for a scan for other reasons but am up for inspection pretty soon and just wanted to see what everyone thought before diving into it. If I run into any problems I will keep you guys posted. Thanks

 

Replace the bulb.

 

So what you're saying is you can get the left front turn signal to blink manually, and all 4 bulbs illuminate when you press on the brake but the rear ones don't blink when you use the turn signal? And this is done with the lights off and the lights on. If so, then your turn signal bulbs are good.

 

Yes Art, this is correct. Every light on the car works except for the left blinkers front and back. I can manually get the front to blink but not the rear.

 

Sounds like a rear grounding problem and it's common to both rear turn signal filaments. But I've had plenty of weird stuff thrown at me. I once had a turn signal problem. I finally chased it to the column where the turn signal switch plugs into the main dash wiring harness. There is a connection on the lower end of the column. One of the wires was broken in the connector. Chasing an open or a ground is a pain especially when one thinks the problem is more localized around the bulb holder or ground. So expect anything. Replacing bulbs is a good idea, but once in awhile you might get a bad new bulb and end up chasing your tail. If your bulbs are good then proceed to look for a problem, if in doubt, replace them and run your tests again making sure both filaments work. Also, check the side marker lights and grounds.

Art

 

I will start with checking the wires at the bulb connectors with a test light. If both are good, I will check the volts then check the signal lever at the steering wheel. Light bulbs are cheap, but like everyone says don't throw money at it unless it is the problem. I will get it working on way or another. I will also read back through this thread and follow the advice given by all. Thanks for everyones help. This forum is great, it is a tool in itself.

 

Alright, I started by taking the inside left tail light out. I tried to take the bulb out and it broke. There are two black wires and two yellow wire in the light harness. I tested with a light tester and have power one one ground but not the other. Then I noticed the lights went out. I checked the fuse an its blown. I put another 10a fuse in an went back to work and I noticed it blew that one. I have put 3 fuses in now and haven't touched anything to make it blow. I wonder if just pulling the light harness out a little made it touch ground somewhere in the loomed wires. I can't get the fuse to stay good long enough to test. I looked in the FSM and see where the wires all go too, but am thinking about just cutting the ground wires and grounding them near by the lights. Would this be a huge mistake or what?

 

You can replace the fuse with a 12v lamp which will light full brilliance if the stop light circuit is shorted to ground and will go out when you wiggle wires, etc. and the short goes away. You can more easily find the short using this method. You won't hurt anything by cutting your ground wires and grounding near the lamp, but I would do that as a last resort if it becomes difficult to find the short or the poor OEM ground.

 

Thanks, does anyone know where exactly on the car the tail light ground wires ground on the frame?

 

Get a factory service manual. Worth the $$$

 

Got one thanks, But I can seem to find this ground in there. I will look again tomorrow.