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Turn signal problem, Please help me!

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Old 11-02-2019, 09:22 AM
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Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am
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Turn signal problem, Please help me!

Hi Guys, I got my 1988 Pontiac Trans Am a few months ago and this week it started acting funny when it comes to the left turn signal light. I tried to search the forum but I couldn't find a topic/problem similar to mine. Anyway the problem is that my left turn signal light works when all the exterior lights are off. When I turn all the exterior lights on, the left turn signal light remains off and doesn't blink at all. I'd appreciate any tips or help that you guys can give me, thank you so much in advance!
Old 11-02-2019, 09:38 AM
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Re: Turn signal problem, Please help me!

Sounds like a bulb in the socket wrong such that it's touching both contacts. Or, a damaged socket with the contacts touching, even without a bulb in there.
Old 11-02-2019, 04:49 PM
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Re: Turn signal problem, Please help me!

I had issues intermittent in both front turn signal/running light sockets,new sockets cured it.
Old 11-02-2019, 04:53 PM
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Re: Turn signal problem, Please help me!

new sockets


I've done that in numerous such situations as well. Pretty much ends the problems.

Once some PO has fornicated the socket, it's almost impossible to get it to work reliably again. Best thing to do is almost always, new ones.
Old 11-04-2019, 05:44 PM
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Re: Turn signal problem, Please help me!

Thanks for the tips guys, I will try to change the socket and see if that will work.
Old 11-09-2019, 04:00 PM
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Re: Turn signal problem, Please help me!

Guys, thank you so much! you guys were right on the socket problem. The bulb was getting lose from the socket from time to time so I replaced the socket and voila, good as new!
Old 11-10-2019, 05:41 PM
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Re: Turn signal problem, Please help me!

This is a really valuable lesson. So many people start to go into it thinking the switch is bad or over think it and tear into harnesses and such. My favorite auto class teacher in high school used to setup diagnostic lessons for us. Once he soldered the two terminals together on an 1157 tailight bulb. When the brakes were applied all the dash light came on and lots of weird combinations of exterior lights. Took days for us to figure it out,
I'll always remember it when I finally found it.
Thanks to all those Great teachers out there! What you do is important. Sometimes for a lifetime.
Old 11-18-2019, 04:27 PM
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A smart teacher it sounds like.

Yup, the first thing I usually state when people have signal problems is "First check all bulbs to make sure they are the correct type, and installed correctly."

Then when they look at the bulb they would have seen the bulb with the contacts soldered together.

HappyRacing!

Headlight Goofs By Designers #29; POOR PATTERN: Most "modern" headlights have a poor pattern - the sharp cuttoff causes it to look like the oncoming driver is flashing his brights at you whenever he goes over any road undulation.
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