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Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

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Old 08-21-2014, 01:48 PM
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Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Hey fellas, it's been awhile since I've been on here. Just finished swapping an 89 l98 into the 86z, and have been battling all sorts of issues since. Today, starting a few days ago, my turn signals on the left side of the car do not flash when the switch is pressed downward. They all light up, (Side marker, rear turn signal/etc) but don't actually flash, they just stay on until I turn the switch off. The right side works exactly as its supposed to. Any suggestions on where to start looking and what to test? I've heard the turn signal switch is a royal pain in the *** to change, but I do have a spare that's in fantastic condition that I could put on. I put in a 194 bulb in the front left marker, other than that I haven't touched the bulbs. One more thing, when I turn on my headlights, the left sides turn signal light on the dash lights up, but not the actual lights outside the car. This is really stumping me and I'm not experienced with a multimeter though I do have one.
Old 08-21-2014, 02:03 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Some things to check:

1) all your grounds and connections that have to deal with that part of the system
2) the relay that is connected to the turn signals (I don't know where they are on these cars...but if you follow the "clicking" you'll find it)
3) your bulbs, never hurts
Old 08-21-2014, 02:06 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Would you be able to point me towards some of the grounds? I'm working on removing the flasher right now to go have it tested, but while I'm down here it wouldn't hurt to check the grounds.
Old 08-21-2014, 02:10 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Check your brake/tail light bulbs. If one of the filiments is burnt/bad, they won't flash
Old 08-21-2014, 02:11 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Originally Posted by Oddie65
Would you be able to point me towards some of the grounds? I'm working on removing the flasher right now to go have it tested, but while I'm down here it wouldn't hurt to check the grounds.
I can tell you what to look for, but can't exactly point you there (never had any issues with mine).

Any short (usually black) wires that come out of the pigtail/connector or off the item itself that is then bolted into the body would be your grounds.

They're usually pretty close to whatever it is that they are grounding out (there are numerous ones under the hood for example).
Old 08-21-2014, 02:45 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Ok so the grounds all are nice and snug and aren't dirty, at least the one's that I found. Bob, by brake/tail lamp bulbs, I'm assuming you mean the turn signal bulb in the tail lamp housing? If so, that bulb is still good. In any event, I just swapped it with another 1157 bulb and it did the same thing. When the hazards are on, all of the turning lights flash like they're supposed to. It's only when the turn signal switch is depressed down, that the left side doesn't actually flash but rather just stays lit up. Maybe the flasher is bad?
Old 08-21-2014, 02:49 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Originally Posted by Oddie65
Maybe the flasher is bad?
Yeah, sounds like probably that's it.
Old 08-21-2014, 02:54 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Alright, so the grounds are all good from what I could find, the filaments in the bulbs are good, and the flasher still flashes the lights on the right side of the car. That only leaves the switch and the flasher itself right? I have 12 volts coming from the blue wires on the flashers connector, so I'm getting power to it. To me, that narrows it down to the flasher, but I'm not expert on this stuff haha. What's next?
Old 08-21-2014, 02:55 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Yeah, if the switch is sending power (which you've proven) then it's the flasher. Might be able to find one in a junkyard, not sure what the going rate for a new one is...
Old 08-21-2014, 03:00 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Had a Supra that did that; only one side and it too was a flasher
Old 08-21-2014, 03:01 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Not the flasher is the right side blinks. Same flasher for both sides. Do you have any LEDs installed? They don't draw enough load to operate a flasher. Try the bulbs and make sure they are in the right way. I know they shouldn't be able to go in 180* out, but a member has done it before.


Last edited by Joe Tag; 08-21-2014 at 03:18 PM.
Old 08-21-2014, 03:51 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Alright fella's, I went to advanced and picked up a flasher for $7. Turns out, that was in fact the issue. After going through everything except ripping apart the steering column just to change the switch, I decided to try a new flasher before attempting that horrible project. It fixed it, and my lights flash a little faster than they used to. Thank God! Haha, thanks for the help everyone, I greatly appreciate it. Now, anybody want to help troubleshoot a code 36?
Old 08-21-2014, 05:09 PM
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Re: Left Side Turn Signals won't flash

Well that is a strange one. The turn flasher works both sides. Might have been bordering a complete fail and there was a little more load on the right side, length of wire, different draw on the bulbs from side to side. Usually when a flasher fails it fails. Glad it's fixed.
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