turn signal

[SteveL]

OK I finally have to ask for help I have a 81 that I bought a month ago and have done a fair amount of work to get it going and have found all the answers I needed by doing searches.Now I have a problem with the turn signal fuse blowing.The hazards lights,brake,parking and headlights all work. I can put a fuse in and the turn signals work for a while then for some reason the fuse pops
Thanks for any help
Steve

 

[SteveL]

Nobody has any ideas what it could be? This is driving me crazy. Here is some things Iv'e done to try to find the short. I put a 20 amp fuse in and start the car the turn signals work I tilt the steering wheel up and down,turn the wheel from side to side, move the car back and forth in the driveway,get out of the car and shake the car by hand (pushing the four corners to move the suspension) and still the turn signal works.Then I drive down the road about a mile and the fuse pops.The the turn signal does not have to be on for the fuse to blow.I thought it would be the power going to the switch but I can't seem to make it pop by moving the wires. can anyone make any suggestions on what else I could try?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[cscarlson]

Do you have any lose wires not connected that could ground out?
have you connected anything new to your fuse box?

 

[SteveL]

I haven't added any thing electical but I did put in a new speedometer cable. Is their anything else that could be tied into that fuse? I can't tell by the wireing diagrams I have been looking at.
thanks
steve

 

[JonM]

I don't have an 81, however it seems like something else that is connected to that fuse is causing the short. I say this because you are not using the signal and it is blowing. You need to find out what else is connected to the signal fuse and disconnect them one at a time and see if it blows or not. As in the case with my car the turn signals are also connected to the fog lamps, backup lamps, my transmission neutral switch. You may want to spend a couple bucks and just change the flasher...I doubt you know how long its been in there and perhaps a little moisture got into it and caused some corrosion.

 

[SteveL]

Thanks JonM I did try replacing the flasher .What else could be on that fuse? This is the last thing I have to get fixed so I can get it inspected and it's maken me crazy

 

[Robin7TFour]

first thing to diagnose. take all the turn signal bulbs out. if it still blows problem will likely be in the column. if not,add one bulb at a time. this should narrow down the offending circuit

 

[81vetter]

SteveL, I have the exact same problem on an 81 that I have been chasing. Exactly the same.

The back up lamps are also on this circuit but when the fuse blows I am not using them either.

Its been suggested to follow the wiring out of the fuse block up the steering column for a short. I have not been able to put my car down for a day or two to get into this project.

Let me know what you find and if I can find mine first I'll get in touch with you. I may be able to dig into it this weekend.

Darryl

 

[SteveL]

Darryl I just found the problem. It was the red wire going to the backup light switch on the transmission. It had broken off at the switch and was shorting out on the linkage.I just disconected them and took it for a ride and I HAVE TURN SIGNALS !!! Thanks for all the suggestions.

steve

 

[JonM]

 

[Stallion]

This red wire goes straight to the transmission? :confused

 

[81vetter]

Steve
Do you have a manual or automatic? I have an automatic with the backup switch on the center console.

Can't find any 'red' wire to the transmission in the wiring diagram. Nor on the tranny yet.

 

[SteveL]

I have a manual trans and the red and green wire go from the fuse box to the switch on the transmission. It doesn't show it in the wiring diagrams but it there. I kept thinking it was in the steering column. I just came back from a 1 hr drive and the turn signals are still working.

 

[mfendley]

I have it in my wiring diagrams, but the wires are pink and green. The pink comes off the directional signal / backup light fuse (pin 339) to one of the posts of the directional signal flasher and then to the switch on the transmission that gets activated by the reverse lever (manual only). Once the switch is closed by the reverse lever moving, the power runs from the pink wire to the green wire to the backup lamps. The pink wire is always hot when the key is in the "on" position, so if there is a path from the pink wire to ground, it will blow the fuse. If there is a short from the green wire to ground, the fuse will only blow when the transmission is in reverse.

 

[81vetter]

I wish mine had been as easy as yours. My car has a second blue wire with the backup circuit that goes to some air switch relays and air control valves for the emissions stuff. Apparently I have a 'california' version. I found my short under the hood in the air wiring. Go figure....the turn signal/backup lamp fuse blows and the short isn't related to either. At least I didn't have to tear apart the steering column. Found a loose ground on my cruise control too so now I'm stylin with turn signals aaaannndd cruise control . I hardly know what to do with my right foot now. Thanks for the help everyone. :Roll