So in light of being completely broke, I was able to scrounge up the money for some 194 LEDs for the sidemarkers on the bird. I have a weird problem! No flashing side markers with the headlights/parking lights off. Everything else still flashes, and the LEDs flash once the parking/headlights are on but not when off. Makes no sense other then I need to upgrade to an electronic flasher. I didnt think that side markers would cause a non flashy kind of issue.

 

Sorry tp hear you're broke. But I fear you'll have to get an LED flasher. I had the same problem even when I only replaced the turn signal bulbs in the dash.

 

I did some searching and it looks like GM in 1983 still didn't graduate from the 1960's tech. The sidemarkers only flash when the headlights are on because with them off the polarity is reversed and the current can only travel one way through the bulbs. I'll have to find a solution that doesn't include retiring the whole car...lol Also I had no problems with replacing dash bulbs?

 

Electronic flasher may/may not fix it & if you ever upgrade to LEDs in the front &/or rear.Youll back in the same boat.You can make them work with a relay too, but youll need one for each LED.

 

Sorry, I was just referring to my 91 FB. Yes, I once replaced all the bulbs in the analog dash with LEDs, keeping all the exterior incandescent bulbs and the turn signals wouldn't flash anymore. Had to switch back to bulbs in the dash for the turn signals.

One solution to your problem could be to use LED bulbs that can be put in in both directions. Some from superbrightleds dot com have that feature. Don't know if they are strong enough for turn signals though...