First off, I'm a car alarm/audio installer and have been for the better part of a year so I know the basics of automotive electonics, but the latest problem with my blinkers has me stumped.

The problem is that with parking/headlights off... my left blinker works fine but is very dim. My right blinker just comes on and does not flash. With parking/headlights on... the left and right both just stay on when activated but you can tap them to get the effect. HOWEVER, this only works on the rear lights, the front ones only dim from the lower power during all of these positions. Also the arrows inside the car always show what the rear lights are doing except with the parking lights on then the right arrow is very bright even when it is not activated.

I was first thinking flasher, but the left side works with the parking lights off. THen maybe a bad ground from being dim, but would this have anything to do with the right side??? Do you think this is a combination of problems or one that is causing all this havoc?

Thanks for the help in advance,
Matt

 

u need to change ur flasher relay, its under the dash on the driver side. but go to the parts store and ask for the heavy duty one if u go to the right parts store

 

Change the Flasher first, its cheaper and faster, then go from there.

I think the problem is with one or more of your bulbs. I would just replace all of them, its not hard to do. The front bulbs are all dual element, the ones in the rear are not. While youre replacing the ones in the rear blinkers, change the park, park/brake/, reverse, and liscense plate lights, it will save time in the future.

 

the symptoms you are describing sound like a high/resistence or low voltage in the lights...real common GM issue. Make sure your alt and battery are putting out enough to support the rest of the car....and then check all your bulbs, use some dielectric goo when you replace them...make sure all your grounds are clean and rust free...especially the one that grounds to the body under the left rear taillight cluster. If there are any spliced connections in your lights redo them with good connectors and or solder....if some or all of the above dont fix it..then I am stumped too.

 

I agree with IROC. I had the same problem with blinkers. It got really weird with all sorts of effects. But what it comes down to is the indicator flasher relay will only work properly when there is about I think 5.4 ohms resistance between it and ground when the indicator switch is moved to turn position.

Much more and it won't flash any less and it flashes too fast.

It does this on purpose, with the intention of letting you know one of the bulbs has gone out, or is too dim. Like they needed to invent electrical mysteries.

Anything can cause the wrong resistance, and from the tapping working and the dimness, it sounds like you have loose and or corroded bulb connectors. It also sounds as if you have a developing problem with the headlight earth.

It does not take much to fix this, just concentration and patience.

 

Cool, thanks for the tips. Are the rear side marker lights on a T/A supposed to flash with the blinkers? IF so they are out and both of my front side markers are out, but the front and rear parking/flashers work.

Thanks for the help,
Matt

 

replace em! use dielectric grease on the socket to keep them sealed against water. I don't know about the T/A but I am pretty sure the front side markers on my IROC are part of the flasher system, even if they aren't that resistence in the circuit can cause problems. Not to mention replacing them keeps some bored donut muncher from writing you up for having lights out

 

Check your sockets for lose/missing contacts as well as checking the bulbs.

 

The 83 Camaro front sides flash, and if they don't because of bulbs out etc, they stop the flasher from working and the lights just come on.