Turn Signal Lamp Indicator Glow?

Discussion in 'Technical' started by kboldin, Jan 18, 2013.

  1. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    Has anybody experience a turn signal lamp indicator with a slight glow when the lights are on?

    My left turn signal has a very slight glow (and I mean slight) when the lights are on. It goes black when the turn signal is used, then about 15 to 30 seconds later it will flicker on with a slight glow. Does not appear to be a bleed from the surrounding lights, it just happens within the turn signal indicator lamp. Has anybody else had this happen, it’s likely a short, I just wanted to see if anybody else might have experienced it and could point me in the right direction.
     
  2. simple man

    simple man Member

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    Check the grounds at both the front and rear lamps on the side the indicator lights up on. Actually, it wouldn't hurt to check all of them! :)
     
  3. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

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    i agree. that definitely sounds like a ground problem. look at a wiring diagram and see what share ground with the turn signal bulb. then check that circuit over carefully.
     
  4. MSmithPDX

    MSmithPDX Member

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    I had it happen in my 71 comet while my voltage regulator was allowing it to overcharge, after I replaced it they stopped doing it. Happened in my 74 comet, the VR was overcharging so I replaced it, it was still happening, but stopped after I replaced the Headlight switch.

    Still not sure how either of those would cause one of my turn signals to stay on. With both cars it was the right turn signal indicator. It would come on and stay on, using the turn signals would make the light turn off. The turn signals worked correctly the whole time.

    Actually now that I think about it the headlight switch makes sense at least, since they share the ground.
     
  5. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    Thanks fella's, I'm going to look at this weekend. Got my honey dues done this afternoon so I should have plenty of time :) It's not a huge deal but it bugs me a little!
     
  6. qicvick

    qicvick Member

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    Mine did that it was the front turn signal ground, ( the signal light holder) that the lens screws to, 2 bolts hold it on, you don't even have to take the lens off, I fixed mine first by just tightening them slightly, next time I took bolts out and lightly sanded contact area and worked perfect since.
     
  7. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    I checked the driver side turn signal lights, pulled them out and put them back in. The front was a bugger to twist out. The two soft metal contacts have become concave over the years (or made that way). I think it’s somewhere outside of the cabin, when it rained last Friday the flicker never happened on the hour commute home. I think the water facilitated a ground causing the flicker to go away. By Monday it was sort of back and by Tuesday everything was dry and it was all the way back and worse. I was hoping for rain just to test my hypothesis!

    I’ll keep checking and let everybody know what I find. I appreciate the input and apologies for the delay. Got caught up at work and the new nightly exercise regiment the wife has me on J
     
  8. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    Here's a pic for giggles :)

    [​IMG]
     
  9. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    One other tid-bit, the dimmer is not connected. I can turn the dimmer and it does not effect the flicker. I forgot to mention earlier!
     
  10. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    what does this mean?
     
  11. mavgrab302

    mavgrab302 MCCI Florida State Rep

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    I have the same problem, I changed every thing to custom gages and LED's... It works fine, left turn indicator only comes on when I turn on my head lights... I figure its a ground issue...
     
  12. schroensr

    schroensr knight Runner

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    You may want to check each bulb on that side of the car. Ford was known to use this as a indicater that a bulb was out. You may have a faulty bulb with the ellement just bairly making contack
     
  13. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

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    Your dimmer only works for the dash lights so it shouldn't have an effect on the turn signal issue. I agree that you have a ground issue.
     
  14. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    The dimmer does not effect the brightness of the flickering turn signal. I can turn the dimmer all the way down or all the way bright and it does not change the brightness of the flickering turn signal light. (Apologies, that was not clear on the first post!)
     
  15. kboldin

    kboldin Alain De Cadenet Has My Job!

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    Same, the left turn indicator only flickers when I turn on my head lights...
     

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