The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-23-2003, 11:33 PM   #1
swervin ervin
You get what you pay for
 
swervin ervin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Cherryville, NC
Posts: 4,798
Electrical bug

Not on my pickup, but the 87 van.

When I turn on my lights or park lights, the turn signal indicators come on and stay on. Turn signals still work, but are a tad slower than they are with the lights off. It was only the left one until I changed both park light bulbs today, now it's both.

Like I say, they both flash, so I don't think it's the flasher. Some kind of wiring or grounding problem I'm guessing. I've never seen this happen in all my years. I guess there's always a first for everything.

Any ideas. I'm open to all suggestions at this point.

Edit: I forgot to add, I don't have any park lights. In other words, when the lights are on, no park lights. The turn signals work though.
__________________
Mike

1985 Chevy C-10

Last edited by swervin ervin; 05-23-2003 at 11:36 PM.
swervin ervin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 01:08 AM   #2
79Silv4x4
Workaholic
 
79Silv4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 1,589
Well, I say try a flasher anyways--had the same symptoms on my '83 and that was the fix. At least you won't be out any major $ to try it.
79Silv4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 01:13 AM   #3
1FaastC10
Account Suspended
 
1FaastC10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Elkhart, IN
Posts: 6,399
my grandpa's '79 Blazer had the same problem. he was told that it was a bad spot in teh printed circuit on the back of the cluster.
1FaastC10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 09:32 AM   #4
old Rusty C10
Robert Olson Transport
 
old Rusty C10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: recent transplant to NC USA
Posts: 20,310
on the old chevy wagons that was the problem when bulbs were out somewhere in the circuts by any chance is the lilght switch in the column could be a short in there if it is
__________________
Bob



1951 International running on a squarebody chassis


"If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board"
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!)


PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport

Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you...
I hate cancer!!
old Rusty C10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 12:00 PM   #5
Cole's 87
Registered User
 
Cole's 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 272
The ground sounds about right. I had the a simlar problem with my headlights one would always be dimmer that the others and when you would turn on the high beams it would go off . Come to find out there was only a couple of stands of wire connected at the headlight. Or you might have some wires grounding in the wire harness. Any 16 yr old truck/ car probably has some wire fatiuge.

Last edited by Cole's 87; 05-24-2003 at 12:07 PM.
Cole's 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 12:11 PM   #6
ElGracho
Gentleman Jim Driver
 
ElGracho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Poulsbo, WA
Posts: 1,553
Sounds like a grounding problem to me. It is probably in one of the bulbs themselves. I would change all of the marker light and turn signal bulbs first. If that didn't do it I would start looking at the wiring going to each of them, I don't think the printed circuit on the gauge cluster would do that. It definately wouldn't make extra lights come on, I could see it making them not work though.
__________________
Joe
'75 GMC Gentleman Jim
'84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter)
'85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans
also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed
ElGracho is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 07:55 PM   #7
swervin ervin
You get what you pay for
 
swervin ervin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Cherryville, NC
Posts: 4,798
Well, I pulled the gauge bezel today. I replaced the headlight switch too, but it didn't change anything. I checked all the instrument lamps and replaced any that was burned out. A couple holders were missing, the check engine light and oil light. I used two of the instrument lamp holders for these. I've done a complete turn up, so no check engine light came on, but the oil light did. I guess this is why someone pulled the lamp holder. Probably thought it was easier to do this instead of replacing the sender.

Anyway, messing with these lights didn't change anything with the park light/turn signal indicators. Both indicators come on when the lights are on. What's weird is I have no park lights at all, or side markers. I'm starting to believe it's a wiring thing. Man, I hate messing with someone elses mess.

Like the rear brakes. I have been hearing it scrub a little when on the brakes. I had real good brakes, but I could hear the rear shoes grinding a little. I go to pull the drums today, the passenger side came off easy, shoes were not worn out either. The drivers side would not come off. No place in the backing plate or drum for a knock out. I've never seen this before. Anyway, after 30 minutes of prying, I finally get to the drum to come off. Looks like some dumbass went to replace the shoes and couldn't get it off before, so they decided to leave it. The shoes were totally gone, all the way down to metal. The rivets had cut two 1/4" deep grooves in the drum. So, after replacing both drums and shoes, it doesn't grind anymore.

It never stops amazing some of the stupid stuff folks do. I'm slowly but surely getting it tip top shape. I guess it's time to start tracing some wiring now. Can't wait.
__________________
Mike

1985 Chevy C-10
swervin ervin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 08:30 PM   #8
Lester
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 84
Mike,

The individual light sockets are grounded and you have lost the ground in one or more of these sockets one on each side.

When this happens the parking light circuit will jump to the turn signal circuit then feedback to the dash seeking a ground on the indicator light before they ground in the switch. When you turn on the lights chack the turn siganl element in the bulg it will likely be glowing faintly.

Common problem for nearly all cars and trucks, eventually. Luckily GM circuits are simple to work with and are made of high quality copper and insulator.

Isolate it by removing one bulb at a time to find the faulty socket.
I'd start with the rear sockets they get this way first.
The fix will range from just cleaning the socket to replacing the ground wire or the socket. The socket can be cleaned with 7UP or Coke. Pour some in a small plastic bowl and dip the socket for a while. The acid will clean the contact points.

This problem can cause a break in the printed circuit in the dash but not usually, those things are tough.

Hope this helps.

Lester
Lester is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 11:06 PM   #9
bagged78
world class smart ass!
 
bagged78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Clinton Utah
Posts: 335
I had kind of the same thing happen with the 82 clip, just one light, bumper park light, had some corrosion in the socket, just popped the wiriing thruogh the socket, took some emery cloth and pen-lube to it, put it back together, added some diolectric grease, and the damn thing worked.
I got lucky finding it, but i'll take that.
Good luck..
__________________
Aric

75 2WD BLAZER (never ending project)
-some day maybe-
02 2500HD CREW CAB 4X (daily drive)
-8" lift 37s and 22s-




____ ____________________________
bagged78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2003, 11:13 PM   #10
swervin ervin
You get what you pay for
 
swervin ervin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Cherryville, NC
Posts: 4,798
Thanks guys.

I'll clean up all the sockets tomorrow. I do know when I first got the van, I had no brake lights or tail lights. The tail light fuse was blown and the brake light pedal switch needed adjusting to make them work.

I hope it's as easy as cleaning the sockets. I couldn't be that lucky though.
__________________
Mike

1985 Chevy C-10
swervin ervin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com