by Richie Rich Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:01 pmi put in a new turn signal switch 3 months ago. Recently I realized something is wrong. When the lever is in the left position both front and rear lights on the left work properly. When the lever is in the right position both front and rear lights on the right work properly. When the lever is in the neutral position the left rear light flashes.
5 posters
turn signal issue
Richie Rich- Number of posts : 45
Location : MT. Prospect, IL
Registration date : 2010-11-26
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
wires crossed somewhere - might try where it plugs into another plug in checking for proper color codes -also could be in same are something touching another wire? Who makes this & whom from purchased & what van is the application in/for?
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Do you have 4 way flashers on that van?
Richie Rich- Number of posts : 45
Location : MT. Prospect, IL
Registration date : 2010-11-26
This is a 65 Chevy van and it does not have flashers.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
65 Sportvans would have have flashers,,,,,the switch is under the dash,,,,,Vanishes' 64 has 4 way flashers,,,,,how about brake lights,,,,do they both come on and work like they should with the turn signals on,,,,,,how about the tail lights,,,,are they dim while the turn and brake lights are the brighter filament?
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Left rear is the Yellow wire,,,,,,,check it with a test light,,,,,if it is blinking when turn signals are off,,,,,,switch is bad,,,,,wiggle the arm,,,,,see if you get it to shut off,,,,,,this plastic turn signal switch is not very good,,,,,,it could be cracked or warped,,,,,,if you pull off the cancelling collar, you can see where the wire connects to those contact springs in the switch and if it touches the purple wire from the flasher it would flash whenever you turned the key on.......
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
These turn signal switches are really primitive,,,,,,those pins are connected to the lights,,,,,3 bobby pins control the turn and brake lights,,,,,,the cancelling arm just pushes against them and makes the selected lights come on,,,,,,so everything has to be in PERFECT alignment or the turn signals don't work right
ChevyVanMan1- Number of posts : 425
Location : Your Nation's Capital
Registration date : 2009-07-19
Sounds like a short. If you look at the wiring diagram it shouldn't take to long to figure out by just unplugging things till no short. Then, you've narrowed down what to trace or jump. I've found I can run a jumper wire faster than I can find a short. I know it's cheating but I make some effort to use the same color wire as our vans have such simpler wire colors.
I've rewired most of my vehicle and don't use the auto cancelling cam as I never spent time to line it up. I can cancel them myself. My '65 didn't have 4 ways so I ran a jumper between the green and the yellow wires (in your pic) and ran them to a lighted switch on my steering column platform (the metal that connect the round column to the flat dash). When I flip the switch, it lights up when I have either blinker on or my brakes and blinks all the lights. So essentially I have 3 way emergency lights (2 rear, 1 front), simpler wiring as I didn't like the 4 way conversion and I can get a continuity check on lights and even have my brake lights blink when I hit the brakes. Somehow, it makes the tailgaitors back off. Odd I know yet I'm kind of odd. Good luck!
I've rewired most of my vehicle and don't use the auto cancelling cam as I never spent time to line it up. I can cancel them myself. My '65 didn't have 4 ways so I ran a jumper between the green and the yellow wires (in your pic) and ran them to a lighted switch on my steering column platform (the metal that connect the round column to the flat dash). When I flip the switch, it lights up when I have either blinker on or my brakes and blinks all the lights. So essentially I have 3 way emergency lights (2 rear, 1 front), simpler wiring as I didn't like the 4 way conversion and I can get a continuity check on lights and even have my brake lights blink when I hit the brakes. Somehow, it makes the tailgaitors back off. Odd I know yet I'm kind of odd. Good luck!
ChevyVanMan1- Number of posts : 425
Location : Your Nation's Capital
Registration date : 2009-07-19
P.S. If it's a 3 pin jumper switch you'll need to ground it to get it to light up (if it can). Otherwise a 2 pin switch will work okay too.
ChevyVanMan1- Number of posts : 425
Location : Your Nation's Capital
Registration date : 2009-07-19
Addenda. Actually using the jumper doesn't make my brake lights blink as I thought they would. However, since I 3 wired the lighted switch (3rd wire is just grounded) I now can see--from the switch--if my taillights are getting power. So, in my book, without the factory 4 way lights I'm pretty happy to have easy 3 ways.
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
[i]Heres one for the Governor-Donnivan- as I have a origional 67 sportvan- there are no existing 4 way flashers origional to this van - there are no 4 ways shown in any electrical skematic i have from 64-67- I believe from my old memory 4 way flashers were installed in all vehicles in 1968 up - same time they required the side marker lights on all vehicles= also note - many people did install aftermarket 4 way flashers on the older vehicles-ive seen a bunch of that done - please correct me if im wrong about this as Im searching the electrical skematics & none are shown-Thanx=Happy Vannin
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
The optional 4 way flashers are a separate unit that plugs into the existing turn signal wiring harness,,,,,and then they started building the switch into the steering column and adding button on the collar. Now the question is can you add the newer turn signal switch with the hazards built into it? How many wires are in the switch and will it fit the original connector?
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
[i]Are we sure this was an option on these vans - looks like an add on unit to me ?
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,,,,I have seen 3 of them with that same switch on them,,,,,Wideload and Vanish have put them on their 1st Gen vans also,,,,,it just hooks up in series with your existing harness,,,,,,and that same switch fits Corvettes and Corvairs, so the connectors are the same,,,,,,A guy could get one and maybe modify his 2nd Gen wiring connector and have 4 ways IF the connectors were different,,,,,,,the 1st Gens have 2 semi circular connectors on their turn signal switches,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,,are you saying there is no button on the shift collar for the hazard flashers on your 67? Are there 2 flashers in the fuse block?
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
[i]Yes no flasher switch in the column and onlt 1 flasher in the fuse box - and ive also bought another complete witing harness from a 67 that is exactly the same -only 1 flasher in fuse box for turn signals only
seems like 68 was the 1st year ever for factory installed flasher 4 ways ?? just from my old memory??
seems like 68 was the 1st year ever for factory installed flasher 4 ways ?? just from my old memory??
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
A parts store shows that a 68 turn signal switch also fits a 67,,,,,so there is a possibility that since the button comes off, a guy might install a newer turn signal switch with a hazard switch in his 67 and just drill a hole in the collar to screw the button on,,,,
Richie Rich- Number of posts : 45
Location : MT. Prospect, IL
Registration date : 2010-11-26
OK, I've fooled around with this turn signal switch long enough. I want to go with a genaric strap-on turn signal switch. My local stores can't find anything in their books. Does anybody have suggestions, or part numbers?
savage- Number of posts : 2632
Location : Where Rust Never Sleeps in Ft Wayne IN
Registration date : 2008-05-15
Rich,Classic parts (www.classicparts.com ) got one in there 1960 -66 cat for $19,95. No fashers Part #53-551. Hope ir helps.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I got a universal one on my van with a 4 way button on it,,,,,only thing is that it don't automatically cancel after turning,,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,,and there looks like there are almost 100 universal turn signal switches on EBay right now....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Heavy-Duty-Turn-Signal-Switch-Chrome-Universal-/400247151155?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3096da33
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Heavy-Duty-Turn-Signal-Switch-Chrome-Universal-/400247151155?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3096da33
