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Topic: Need help with electrical oddity

in Forum: C3 Electrical


Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 11/26/03 6:16pm Message 1 of 10
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Houston, TX - USA
Joined: 2/25/2003
Posts: 193
Vette(s): 1971 LS5 Convertible 4 sp
This is about a 1971 LS5.

The problem only occures when the headlights are turned on. As I drive, the right turn signal indicator turns on and off in a erratic manner. When it is off, all lights work as they are supposed to work. However, when the right turn signal indicator(on the dash)is on, the right turn signals (front and rear) don't work at all.
|headscratch|
Does anyone have a clue of where I should start looking?
Any help would be appreciated.

|UPDATED|11/26/2003 6:30:57 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|



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Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 11/26/03 6:59pm Message 2 of 10
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ATOKA, TN - USA
Joined: 9/25/2002
Posts: 120
Vette(s): 1975 Coupe, 1998 Coupe, 2000 coupe
I'm looking at my 68-71 wiring diagram and going by what you described. Does the right turn signals work at all, lights on and off? With the light switch on, you are powering the marker light circuit. I would start with the right bulb assemblies. You may have a wire shorted, or maybe corroded. Clean it first and check the bulbs. I once had a car that had water in the assemble and when I turned on the lights, or used the turn signal I had all kind of problems. Hope this helps. |thumb|


1975/L48/Coupe/4 Speed(1 of 1057)/Headers/true duals/aluminum intake/holley 750/MSD ignition/roller rockers/ |IMG|http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/1701_1800/1717/BSVette75d_sig.jpg |/IMG|

Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 11/27/03 4:35pm Message 3 of 10
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Houston, TX - USA
Joined: 2/25/2003
Posts: 193
Vette(s): 1971 LS5 Convertible 4 sp
Thanks Bill for taking the time to look at the diagrams for me. The turn signal works fine when the headlights are off. The phenomenon only occurs when the headlights are on.
I will follow your advice and keep you abreast.


Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 11/28/03 2:10am Message 4 of 10
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France
Joined: 7/16/2003
Posts: 45
Vette(s): C3 1979 L-48 th350 96000miles
Also check your ground (S255 is the same for turn signal and headlights)







|saluteflag|


|IMG|http://jerome.laurent6.free.fr/Ma%20Crovette/3%204%20avant%20signature.jpg|/IMG| |IMG|http://jerome.laurent6.free.fr/Smilies/la%20fance.gif |/IMG| I'm french so excuse me for my english

Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 11/30/03 5:31pm Message 5 of 10
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Former Member
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Houston, TX - USA
Joined: 2/25/2003
Posts: 193
Vette(s): 1971 LS5 Convertible 4 sp
Merci Jérôme,

A lot of detail indeed. I am not sure the electrical diagrams of a 1980 are a copycat of those of a 1971; still, I think the ground is a good thing to check.
This was thanksgiving week end in the US and I had little time to work on this, but I will.

Merci encore,


Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 11/30/03 11:01pm Message 6 of 10
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France
Joined: 7/16/2003
Posts: 45
Vette(s): C3 1979 L-48 th350 96000miles
|cheers|


|IMG|http://jerome.laurent6.free.fr/Ma%20Crovette/3%204%20avant%20signature.jpg|/IMG| |IMG|http://jerome.laurent6.free.fr/Smilies/la%20fance.gif |/IMG| I'm french so excuse me for my english

Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 12/1/03 6:05am Message 7 of 10
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Joined: 6/16/2003
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Turn signal wiring diagrams for all GM from mid 60s through the late 80s is the same. This is why GM steering columns are the ones of choice for street rod conversions.


Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 12/1/03 6:21pm Message 8 of 10
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Houston, TX - USA
Joined: 2/25/2003
Posts: 193
Vette(s): 1971 LS5 Convertible 4 sp
Don't apologize Jérôme,
Your English is good enough if not excellent.
English is not my first language either, so I do appreciate the effort.

Christian |cheers|


Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 12/1/03 11:07pm Message 9 of 10
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France
Joined: 7/16/2003
Posts: 45
Vette(s): C3 1979 L-48 th350 96000miles

|wink|

|cheers|


|IMG|http://jerome.laurent6.free.fr/Ma%20Crovette/3%204%20avant%20signature.jpg|/IMG| |IMG|http://jerome.laurent6.free.fr/Smilies/la%20fance.gif |/IMG| I'm french so excuse me for my english

Need help with electrical oddity

Posted: 12/26/03 9:15am Message 10 of 10
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!
This is a common problem on many cars, not just Corvettes. There is a bad ground connection at the turn signal, park light bulb, or the bulb is shorted.
With the park lights on, the bulb does not find a good ground and electric flows backwards through the turn signal section of the bulb. Now the turn signal cirucit is hot, so the indicator comes on. The indicator uses a very low amperage, so there is enough to light the bulb. The other bulbs do not light due to a higher amperage requirement. The turn signal bulb filiment reduces amperage enough that bulbs requiring higher amperage do not light up.
The bad ground can be in the harness commection, bulb, or socket.
I have seen people waste hours on this, but if you know where to look it is a fairly easy fix.

Ken Styer


in Forum: C3 Electrical


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