turn signal not blinking, 72 cutlass
turn signal not blinking, 72 cutlass
October 28th, 2014, 04:26 AM
#2
Old School Olds
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Marble Falls TX
Posts: 8,957
You may try switching your turn signal rheostat with the one from the
emergency flashers 1st. Next thought would be the small black ground wires
on the front of the core support, remove, clean & reattach. Make sure to
check the sockets for corrosion as well. Good luck with it.
emergency flashers 1st. Next thought would be the small black ground wires
on the front of the core support, remove, clean & reattach. Make sure to
check the sockets for corrosion as well. Good luck with it.
October 28th, 2014, 06:28 AM
#4
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,595
Well, a rheostat is a variable resistor. The turn signals use a flasher module.
Usually, if the turn signals light but do not flash, that's a sign of a burned out bulb. Does this happen on both sides or just one? If one side works, it isn't the flasher. If neither side works, it may be the flasher, or it may be two burned out bulbs (it happens). Keep in mind that the four-way flashers use a different flasher module than do the turn signals, but they use the same bulb filaments, so as suggested above, that's a good test of the bulbs. If all lights flash with the four-ways, the bulbs are good. If not, fix those bulbs.
The flasher module for the four ways is the one on the fuse block. The turn signal flasher module is on a pigtail under the dash.
Usually, if the turn signals light but do not flash, that's a sign of a burned out bulb. Does this happen on both sides or just one? If one side works, it isn't the flasher. If neither side works, it may be the flasher, or it may be two burned out bulbs (it happens). Keep in mind that the four-way flashers use a different flasher module than do the turn signals, but they use the same bulb filaments, so as suggested above, that's a good test of the bulbs. If all lights flash with the four-ways, the bulbs are good. If not, fix those bulbs.
The flasher module for the four ways is the one on the fuse block. The turn signal flasher module is on a pigtail under the dash.
November 3rd, 2014, 09:38 AM
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 178
4ways work with the exception of the back left blinker. Front blinker lights up but doesn't flash ... Back light used to light up but not flash. Now the back light does neither so yes it could just be a bulb. I'll change it out and see what happens. In the meantime and between time, can you guys give me a more detailed description of where the ground wire is? Also, what does a rheostat look like, & where would it be located?
Last edited by Oldskool84; November 3rd, 2014 at 09:40 AM.
November 3rd, 2014, 09:58 AM
#6
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,595
A rheostat is located nowhere in the turn signal or parking light circuits. Please go back and re-read my post above.
The ground paths vary. In the case of your 72, the ground path is formed by the socket being crimped into the tail light housing, and from there through the bolted connections from housing to bumper and bumper to frame. Unfortunately, that means dropping the bumper and wire brushing all the bolted connections to fix a ground problem. You can test for this before you get in to all that by connecting a jumper wire from a good ground to the metal socket. The best way to do this is to remove the lens and use a test probe to make contact with the top of the socket next to the bulb. See if that fixes the bulb problem. Also, be sure the inside of the socket isn't corroded.
The ground paths vary. In the case of your 72, the ground path is formed by the socket being crimped into the tail light housing, and from there through the bolted connections from housing to bumper and bumper to frame. Unfortunately, that means dropping the bumper and wire brushing all the bolted connections to fix a ground problem. You can test for this before you get in to all that by connecting a jumper wire from a good ground to the metal socket. The best way to do this is to remove the lens and use a test probe to make contact with the top of the socket next to the bulb. See if that fixes the bulb problem. Also, be sure the inside of the socket isn't corroded.
November 3rd, 2014, 10:09 AM
#7
Connoisseur d'Junque
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
Also note that if the bumper is grounded properly on one side, it will be grounded properly on the other side. It is a single piece of conductive metal.
Now, if the bulb, the socket, or the taillight housing on one side isn't grounded to the bumper, that's another story, but you shouldn't have to take the bumper off.
As for rheostats, this is why some of us are stuck-up pr%$cks about language.
A rheostat is a variable resistance - you turn the **** or slide the lever, and the resistance changes.
The dash light dimmer in the headlight switch is an example of a rheostat.
The volume control on your stereo is almost an example of a rheostat, except that it has three wires (occasionally four), and is a potentiometer.
One person here used the word incorrectly, he was corrected, but now a second person, having missed the correction, is also using it incorrectly.
Inaccuracy spreads faster than accurate information. This is what Joe calls "truth decay."
It is our job to reduce truth decay to the absolute minimum, so we nitpick, because otherwise misinformation spreads through the interwebs at the speed of light.
Rheostat = Dash light dimmer
Flasher = Thing that makes signals blink
Signal-Stat = A brand name of some flashers, sometimes used generically, like "Kleenex" or "Scotch Tape."
- Eric
Now, if the bulb, the socket, or the taillight housing on one side isn't grounded to the bumper, that's another story, but you shouldn't have to take the bumper off.
As for rheostats, this is why some of us are stuck-up pr%$cks about language.
A rheostat is a variable resistance - you turn the **** or slide the lever, and the resistance changes.
The dash light dimmer in the headlight switch is an example of a rheostat.
The volume control on your stereo is almost an example of a rheostat, except that it has three wires (occasionally four), and is a potentiometer.
One person here used the word incorrectly, he was corrected, but now a second person, having missed the correction, is also using it incorrectly.
Inaccuracy spreads faster than accurate information. This is what Joe calls "truth decay."
It is our job to reduce truth decay to the absolute minimum, so we nitpick, because otherwise misinformation spreads through the interwebs at the speed of light.
Rheostat = Dash light dimmer
Flasher = Thing that makes signals blink
Signal-Stat = A brand name of some flashers, sometimes used generically, like "Kleenex" or "Scotch Tape."
- Eric
November 3rd, 2014, 05:56 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 2,357
Hmmm
4ways work with the exception of the back left blinker. Front blinker lights up but doesn't flash ... Back light used to light up but not flash. Now the back light does neither so yes it could just be a bulb. I'll change it out and see what happens. In the meantime and between time, can you guys give me a more detailed description of where the ground wire is? Also, what does a rheostat look like, & where would it be located?
Last edited by Gary M; November 4th, 2014 at 03:41 AM.
>
November 4th, 2014, 05:58 PM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
I find this effective at checking a vehicle's lights:
Key on, engine off
Put it in R so the backup lights come on
Parking lights on
4-ways on
Walk about the vehicle and verify that all lights are working.
Obviously the headlamps are tested separately.
For -some- years/models, the park lights may not be on all the time? Maybe it was PL off when headlights went on.
Key on, engine off
Put it in R so the backup lights come on
Parking lights on
4-ways on
Walk about the vehicle and verify that all lights are working.
Obviously the headlamps are tested separately.
For -some- years/models, the park lights may not be on all the time? Maybe it was PL off when headlights went on.
November 6th, 2020, 05:24 PM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 15
Also note that if the bumper is grounded properly on one side, it will be grounded properly on the other side. It is a single piece of conductive metal.
Now, if the bulb, the socket, or the taillight housing on one side isn't grounded to the bumper, that's another story, but you shouldn't have to take the bumper off.
As for rheostats, this is why some of us are stuck-up pr%$cks about language.
A rheostat is a variable resistance - you turn the **** or slide the lever, and the resistance changes.
The dash light dimmer in the headlight switch is an example of a rheostat.
The volume control on your stereo is almost an example of a rheostat, except that it has three wires (occasionally four), and is a potentiometer.
One person here used the word incorrectly, he was corrected, but now a second person, having missed the correction, is also using it incorrectly.
Inaccuracy spreads faster than accurate information. This is what Joe calls "truth decay."
It is our job to reduce truth decay to the absolute minimum, so we nitpick, because otherwise misinformation spreads through the interwebs at the speed of light.
Rheostat = Dash light dimmer
Flasher = Thing that makes signals blink
Signal-Stat = A brand name of some flashers, sometimes used generically, like "Kleenex" or "Scotch Tape."
- Eric
Now, if the bulb, the socket, or the taillight housing on one side isn't grounded to the bumper, that's another story, but you shouldn't have to take the bumper off.
As for rheostats, this is why some of us are stuck-up pr%$cks about language.
A rheostat is a variable resistance - you turn the **** or slide the lever, and the resistance changes.
The dash light dimmer in the headlight switch is an example of a rheostat.
The volume control on your stereo is almost an example of a rheostat, except that it has three wires (occasionally four), and is a potentiometer.
One person here used the word incorrectly, he was corrected, but now a second person, having missed the correction, is also using it incorrectly.
Inaccuracy spreads faster than accurate information. This is what Joe calls "truth decay."
It is our job to reduce truth decay to the absolute minimum, so we nitpick, because otherwise misinformation spreads through the interwebs at the speed of light.
Rheostat = Dash light dimmer
Flasher = Thing that makes signals blink
Signal-Stat = A brand name of some flashers, sometimes used generically, like "Kleenex" or "Scotch Tape."
- Eric
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