All Turn Signals Blink at Once!, But only in one direction...

[pdub67]

This is my first post, so I'll try to make sense. I have a 92, LT1. When I turn the blinker to the right, all right lamps work except rear side lamp, however when I swicth to left side, all left side lights blink, and the right tail lights blink, but dimmer than the left. Now the right rear side lamp (which is a pain to change BTW) decides to work. I see previous post indicating a ground, but not exactly sure where to start.
I tried to remove one bulb at a time to see if I could isolate the problem, but had no luck.

Could it be the flasher solienoid itself?
I have the Haynes manual, but the electrical schematic is rather difficult to follow and I have an electrical background.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Pat​

 

[Mac]

This is my first post, so I'll try to make sense. I have a 92, LT1. When I turn the blinker to the right, all right lamps work except rear side lamp, however when I swicth to left side, all left side lights blink, and the right tail lights blink, but dimmer than the left. Now the right rear side lamp (which is a pain to change BTW) decides to work. I see previous post indicating a ground, but not exactly sure where to start.
I tried to remove one bulb at a time to see if I could isolate the problem, but had no luck.

Could it be the flasher solienoid itself?
I have the Haynes manual, but the electrical schematic is rather difficult to follow and I have an electrical background.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Pat​

I'm going to move your enquiry to the C4 Section and hopefully someone will point you in the right direction.

I've had something similar that was caused by a turn signal bulb that was shorted out internally but it also caused my dash lights to flash as the short was energizing the ground side of the circuit. Troubleshooting is a methodical process. Start with basics; confirm power and ground at each point.

-Mac

 

[pdub67]

Thanks Mac. I just found a copy of electrical chassis gound points, so I will start there and revisit the returns.

Pat

 

[boomdriver]

Pat,

you need to get rid of that haynes manual asap. It has NONE of the updates or bulletins that came out over the yrs and its famous for being flat out wrong.

You desperately need the REAL FSM that has one book in the set dedicated to nothing but electrical. There is a drawing and great detail to EVERYTHING. Thats first.

Next,. this system is designed to hang or pause when a bulb is bad so you know to check it. If the bulb on the rt front or rear is burnt out the flasher won;t flash...the green indicator will lite but no flash. Thats your notice that there is a bad bulb. Simple yet effective.

Your grounds are the nervous system to this car. The lighting grounds are located where they are needed, nearest their componant. Your drawing will help you locate them all. However, a bad ground won;t cause a cross-over condition like this.

You have a short in the column TS switch plate OR in one of the plugs. Possibly the harness but thats kind of odd unless the car has had some damage somewhere that could have included the harness....
These wire harnesses were made of the cheapest worst wire that GM could find. This was so cheap that there was even a bulletin from the DOT regarding the ability of the insulation to last the min 10 yrs for automotive parts/products on production cars. Its junk. The insulation cracks away easily. It dries out and shrinks away exposing wire. In a bundle thats big trouble. I've already had to chop out over 1/2 of my engine harness and solder in new sections...I look at the cabin harness and see that its dried out and ready to start peeling but as long as its undisturbed its ok..for now.

So...
you really need that detailed drawing(S) to show where these things all meet in the same place. My best guess is the TS switch. Hell, a screw laying in the right place could cause all this weirdness...The FSM will describe how to access the switch plate and what tools are required.

I believe there is a link somewhere on this website to order new FSM copies in paper or CD. If not here, go to FleaBay for sets that are used and new.

 

[pdub67]

Thanks, I'll have to invest in the up-to-date manual. I did find a broken ground wire coming from rear tail light(left), now i have to figure out how to gain access to it by trying to remove the tail light assembly. I guess I could remove the back wheel, etc... but think i will have more than enough access to inspect the rear light sockets to se if a short has also occurred.
I'll post my findings.

Thanks again for everyone's help to this point.

Pat

 

[pdub67]

Making headway, but still scratching my head. here is the latest.
1. When I remove the two left rear bulbs, problems go away with the exception of the right rear side marker not lighting.
2. With the all bulbs in, and turn switch in the right position, all lights blink, including the right rear side marker.

the good stuff...
Based on the electrical diagram I have from azutozone web site(yes, I know, I will get a FSM asap).
3. When hazard lights activated, everything works as normal.
4. When head lights on, everything works as normal.
5. With left rear bulbs in and brake depressed, audiable tone activated, and cluster illuminates, but dim.
6. With left rear bulbs removed, and brake depressed, no audiable tone, and cluster does not illuminate.

So this is where I am headed next.
I removed the under dash cover and remembered why I don't like this area.

I believe the turn signal switch is shorting out inside the steering wheel.

Any suggestions? Am I on the right track?;help

One other note, I have found two ground wires in the rear behind the tail lights that are not connected to anything. Nothing besides the lights seems array. I did connect these two grounds together(yes, risky, but i checked for power just in case), but all existing problems remained.
?????

Pat

 

[LLC5]

Making headway, but still scratching my head. here is the latest.
1. When I remove the two left rear bulbs, problems go away with the exception of the right rear side marker not lighting.
2. With the all bulbs in, and turn switch in the right position, all lights blink, including the right rear side marker.

the good stuff...
Based on the electrical diagram I have from azutozone web site(yes, I know, I will get a FSM asap).
3. When hazard lights activated, everything works as normal.
4. When head lights on, everything works as normal.
5. With left rear bulbs in and brake depressed, audiable tone activated, and cluster illuminates, but dim.
6. With left rear bulbs removed, and brake depressed, no audiable tone, and cluster does not illuminate.

So this is where I am headed next.
I removed the under dash cover and remembered why I don't like this area.

I believe the turn signal switch is shorting out inside the steering wheel.

Any suggestions? Am I on the right track?;help

One other note, I have found two ground wires in the rear behind the tail lights that are not connected to anything. Nothing besides the lights seems array. I did connect these two grounds together(yes, risky, but i checked for power just in case), but all existing problems remained.
?????

Pat

If the wires that you found behind the two tail lights are actually ground wires, try running both of them to a known good ground source (go right to the neg cable of the battery if you need to) and see if the problem goes away. If your not sure that they are actually ground wires, then run a small 5-7 amp in line fuse in series with the test wire for protection. The problem you describe in your original post does sound like a possible ground related feed back problem. Good luck with it.

 

[pdub67]

Thanks. Since those wire are close to the rear ground point near the antenna, I'll attach them there at the Chassis ground point. I am also going to look at the large terminal block where the turn signal switch connects to ensure something has not shorted out, etc...
But since it is brutelly hot today, might not get to it till this evening, but I will list my findings.

Pat

 

[G Winter]

Are you reinstalling the old bulbs. In other vehicles I have had the bulb short out internally and cause strange seemingly unrelated issues.

 

[pdub67]

problem solved

Thanks all for your help. After scratching my head and studying the electrical diagrams, I figured it had to be the turn signal switch. So I bought one, but before removing the stering wheel, I connected it at the terminal and found that it was NOT the problem. After another hour looking at the diagram, I figured it was one of the left rear stop light sockets. I had a plan to remove one at a time and look for grounds. before i did that, I finally noticed where i went wrong...


I had previously replaced the rear bulbs and others around the car. Low and behold, I had mistakenly inserted single element bulbs in the left rear sockets. Changed them out with the right and the problem was solved!

I did notice the ground connected to the steering colum that goes nowhere. I'll research that at a later date, based on some of the previous posts I found regarding that issue.

Thanks again to all...I'll pay c;loser attention next time.

 

[Mac]

At least you found the issue!

Troubleshooting is fun (theoretically) but I always end up scratching my head and wondering how I overlooked something basic!

-Mac