puzzling turn signal problems 79 f350

[mazdamama]

my hazard lights work but my turn signals dont, and when the hazards are on they work intermittently and the front passenger turn signal never flashes at all. also only the driver arrow on the dash blinks.

so far i have replaced the bulbs, and flasher relays for the hazards and turn signals, i have also checked the fuses, and partially scanned all the wires for shorts.

none of these made a difference and im having trouble understanding which of these are the cause and which are just symptoms.

oh yeah, and im not sure if this is important but the turn signal flasher relay doesnt make the click noise.

the only other thing i havnt got to check yet is the directional switch on the steering column.

so im thinking it has something to do with the fact that the front passenger light never blinks, but where should i begin to look for the problem at??
thanks

 

[martin]

I would start at the hazard light switch. There are three circuits involved and they are all are present at that point. Do your brake lights work? A wiring diagram would help you diagnose the switch.

 

[ASMODEAN]

I'm betting it's a clock spring issue in the column. My wifes van was doing almost the exact same thing but it was the drivers rear signal that didn't work. We replaced the clock spring assembly and all is good!

 

[MountainMike]

My expertise is pointing towards the multi function switch in the column.

 

[mazdamama]

I would start at the hazard light switch. There are three circuits involved and they are all are present at that point. Do your brake lights work? A wiring diagram would help you diagnose the switch.

its kind of hard for me to check right now but i dont think the brake lights were working either. so the hazard light switch is different than the multifunction switch in the column ? my hazard lights do work just not my turn signals and it does a few other wierd things. i looked at wiring diagram but its get a little confusing where the wires go into the multifunction switch.

 

[gwaii]

on the 79,the hazard switch will be built into the turn signal switch.you won't have a multifunction switch on this truck,those are the later ones where one switch controls turn,wiper,and high beam all in one.

i would think a replacement of the turn signal switch is going to be in order.

 

[MountainMike]

on the 79,the hazard switch will be built into the turn signal switch.you won't have a multifunction switch on this truck,those are the later ones where one switch controls turn,wiper,and high beam all in one.

i would think a replacement of the turn signal switch is going to be in order.

Oh, 79. I read it as 99

 

[gwaii]

Oh, 79. I read it as 99

that's ok....we'll let it go this time.

just grab a duff and sit yourself down to some mexican comedy.

 

[mazdamama]

ok, i replaced the turn signal switch, but that didnt fix anything , so im still pretty puzzled.
im thinking i have a short somewhere or something, because the blinkers on the dash never light up together when the hazards are on, and sometimes they dont work at all, and sometimes they will alternate, one side will work but then it will stop working and the other side will temporarily work.
should i look into replacing the hazard light switch?
any input?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I have a 78 and good luck figureing out what it is....

Honestly, sounds to me like you have a bad ground, also, if you have a the stock taillight harness on it check the connections there, and the grounds on the rear taillights, these things will do all sorts of goofy shit if the grounds arnt right....

Right now mine blinks both back lights when the signals on, due to a bad ground.

later,
Dustin

 

[adsm08]

My money is on turn signal switch. My 78 olds did something similar, except that it wouldn't stay locked into a turn position either because the directional cam was busted.

Anyway, the two vehicles are wired very similarly for turns and hazards. Thus my bet remains, switch.

 

[mhughes165]

My money is on turn signal switch. My 78 olds did something similar, except that it wouldn't stay locked into a turn position either because the directional cam was busted.

Anyway, the two vehicles are wired very similarly for turns and hazards. Thus my bet remains, switch.

thatd be cool and all but it has already been said is the signal switch has been changed already lol, everyone is having doh moments around here

my guess is the ground at the tail lights, considering how bad these trucks rust there grounds goto shit in a hurry, its the same problem my 78 ford had with my old bed LOL....but that was more rust then metal

 

[adsm08]

thatd be cool and all but it has already been said is the signal switch has been changed already

Not seeing that. I see where he checked the signals themselves, but I don't see where it says the switch was replaced.

I do see where the flasher isn't making noise. That tells me the gate isn't closing, which usually means the coil isn't energizing. That is either a bad coil, or a fault in the coil circuit (switch, power, coil, ground). The light grounds don't make up any part of that circuit.

If it's there and I'm just missing it, someone please point it out.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The turn signal switch is easy enough to change on these, pull the steering wheel, unscrew the stalk, unplug the harness (which thats kinda a bitch) and 3 screws....i changed the one on my 78 when i first started these goofy problems....10 bucks from a junkyard....

If its not clicking i would def change the switch...

later,
Dustin