My blinkers still don't work

[Rooster's82]

So my steering column was trashed (there was a short thread about it) well it got fixed this weekend and a new turn signal switch was installed, tilt was tightened up (yeeha!), and a new ignition switch was installed.

Previous to this i thought that it was the signal switch in the column that was the reason my blinkers were not working, thats because i replaced ALL the light bulbs all the way around, put new "flasher fuses" (the fuses that make the lights blink) in. My emergency lights work and i have switched the "flasher fuses" back and forth between the emergency lights and the blinkers and it doesn't make a difference....so the both work.

One of my friends here said that there is a 2nd "flasher fuse" for the blinkers that is behind the ashtray in the middle of the dash. I spent about 20 mins digging around back there and can't find ANYTHING to looks like a "flasher fuse".

I should add that the directional will light up when you turn on the blinker...but only like 1/2 the time...almost like it is trying to flash but each cycle is 2 minutes long.

Does anyone have any ideas? Is my friend crazy? is there a second fuse? What should i try next?

[Rooster's82]

Come on...someone has got to know something about this! I'm stumped!

[slug]

try replaceing the indicator bulbs in the dash

[Rooster's82]

Slug, your alway good for a reply! Thanks.

Hmmm...i haven't done that yet...but they seem to work. all lights, including dash work properly when i turn on the 4 way hazard lights. it is just the directionals that aren't working.

[slug]

only other thing i can think of is maybe you have a bad socket some where

[454HO]

Originally Posted by Rooster's82

Slug, your alway good for a reply! Thanks.

Hmmm...i haven't done that yet...but they seem to work. all lights, including dash work properly when i turn on the 4 way hazard lights. it is just the directionals that aren't working.

The turn signal flasher is nothing more than a thermal switch. Pull it out of the fuse panel and then use a wire to short the two terminals in the fuse panel together. Now turn the ingition key to the run position and turn the right turn signal on. Do all the lights on the right side light up??? Try the left side... results??? If nothing lights up, check all the fuses. I don't have a schematic for these trucks yet, but it is concievable the turn signals use a different fuse than the emergancy flashers.

Here is a rudimentary schematic I found that shows typical wiring. Not sure is this is 100% acurate for your truck, but it may give you an idea where to look.

[Rooster's82]

SWEET...i will give it a try and let you know what happens tomorrow.

[86 GMG]

what about the internal parts of the signals that are in the column that make the switch return to neutral could that cause this problem? im not sure just trying to help.

[Rooster's82]

Originally Posted by 86 GMG

what about the internal parts of the signals that are in the column that make the switch return to neutral could that cause this problem? im not sure just trying to help.

I just had my steering column apart and everything looked good. I do have a switch from a donor column, that i could try but i don't think that is it, and taking apart the column isn't fun...but neither is not having blinkers on a daily driver. I may have to give it a try if all else fails.

[Rooster's82]

Originally Posted by Rooster's82

One of my friends here said that there is a 2nd "flasher fuse" for the blinkers that is behind the ashtray in the middle of the dash. I spent about 20 mins digging around back there and can't find ANYTHING to looks like a "flasher fuse".

does anyone know anything about this?

[454HO]

So what did you find out?

[BLE 'BURBAN]

There are 2 flashers on your truck. One is for the turn signal circuit and the other is for the hazard(4 way) flasher circuit. As to which one is which I can never keep straight.
One is located in the lower Right corner of your fuse block and the other is located either just to the right and above the accelerator pedal or mounted in a bracket on the backside of the lower portion of the dash near your headlight switch.

Here's what I do when checking for burned out bulbs on my ride or customers rides.

1. Key in ignition, turned on, engine off.

2.Turn on headlights and do a walk around making note of all lights the are inop. And while your at it hit your highbeams and check them as well.

3. Turn on hazard lights and do another walk about again making note of which bulbs are inop.
4. set parking brake or block wheels and place the truck in reverse and check the bak up lights again making note of inop bulbs.

5. IF all bulbs are working properly, then swap the flashers around-hazard to turn, turn to hazard. Again check your four corners. If they aren't all flashing then replace the flasher unit.

Also you may want to make sure that the bulbs are all of the same basic part numbers and are not intermixed. Up front if you have clear/white park/turn signal lenses the bulbs will be either 1157A/NA (A/NA = amber/natural amber) and the rear should be 1157 for the park/brake/turn signal circuit and 1156 for the reverse lamps with 194's for the side markers front and rear. A 2057 bulb looks the same as the 1157 but the wattage and candlepower are different between the 2 and can cause operational problems when intermixed with the 1157's. So go either all 1157 or the stronger longer life 2057's.

If this doesn't solve the broblem then you'll have to start looking into the condition of your wiring and look closely at the ground leads at each corner.

[Rooster's82]

Well, I did the walk around and all light bulbs are working. I have switched the two flasher units back and forth in between the turn signals and hazard lights. They both work in the hazards, but neither work in the turn signal. I have not opened them up to see if the correct bulbs are in the correct sockets (i ran out of daylight and my GF made me come in for dinner). I am going to my buddy's shop on Saturday and i am not going to leave until they work...so i will let you know what it is when i figure it out.