Turn signal stuck on

[Inf]

Hi guys,

Driving home last night ('72 240z), the right turn signal light became stuck on.

When the turn signal switch was returned to the center position, the right indicator in the instrument panel stayed on (without ticking on and off).

I tried signaling left and right, flipping the hazards on and off, and it stayed on. After a minute or so it went back off, but did the same thing again the next time I went to signal a right-hand turn.

My switch was rebuilt my Dave last year (and I installed both of his relay kits), but I have a feeling the problem is not in the switch itself...

Has anyone had this problem before? I am looking for some info before I start poking around, but I couldn't find anyone else having the problem with the search function.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Mike B]

It sounds like it may be the turn signal flasher relay. It is the silver cylinder under the dash on the drivers side. It normally makes a clicking sound when the turn signal operates. I believe the hazard flasher uses a different relay.

-Mike

[Inf]

Hrmm, I should also mention that it only happens when signaling right. Signaling left works normally. Isn't the same T/S relay used on both left and right?

[beandip]

Sounds like the switch is the problem

[EScanlon]

Check the behavior of the lights on the outside (front/rear) of the car.

See if they do shut off after you return the turn signal stalk back to center.

If the exterior lights behavior matches the dash light, then I would suspect the turn signal switch.

And in thinking about it, even without the matching behavior. That's because the dash light receiving power when the switch is purportedly off means that it's getting power from somewhere.

2¢

E

[zbane]

Perhaps the rocker/saddle switch spring is not returning to it's normal position.

[e_racer1999]

if it wasn't returning, the relay would still engage, meaning that it would blink. i think that it's in the flasher relay.

[EScanlon]

Jason;

Did you note where he said the other side functioned normally?

E

[Inf]

New info:

The left turn signal works fine on the outside too.

When the right turn signal is active, the rear light seems to work right; As the flasher relay "ticks" it goes on and off in sync with the arrow indicator in the tach.

The front under-bumper light is another story - when the tail light T/S comes on, the front goes off, and when the rear light goes off, the front light comes on, if that makes sense. In between pulses, the front right T/S is still lit by the running light bulb (i.e. it the lamp does not become completely dark)

Then, when the T/S switch goes back to the center position and the right side T/S indicator is stuck on in the tach, the rear light appears normal, but the front T/S lamp is completely dark (i.e. not even the running light lamp is on).

[ddezso]

My turn signal switch is shot. I searched yesterday and didnt find anything. Has anyone done an article on how to clean and refurbish the turn signal switch? All I can find is the combo switch on the other side..

[Zs-ondabrain]

And now Daves take on the subject. Yeah

First, The switch IS the most likely culprit. (Problem) If the rear is blinking and the front is not, The "Teeter totter" switch in the turn signal body isn't making contact completely. I know this for fact because my Z is doing the exact SAME thing at the moment. I rebuilt mine a long time ago, before I had spare parts to do it correctly.

So it sounds like the switch needs to be rebuilt. Newer switch or not, using it will cause it to slowly slip out of alignment and possibly bend the rocker plate just enough for the rears to work and not the front.

Second, The only other possible answer would be moisture or a bad ground at the right connection or corrosion in the light's socket. (ie: corrosion is stopping the ground from completing the circuit and allowing the light to blink?

But I like the first explanation best.

After you send me the turn signal, Pull the front bulbs and clean the bulbs and sockets with some red or green scotch-brite. It's a surface prep pad but it works beautifully on corrosion in the sockets and on the bulbs. Hell, If I were you, I'd take some time and do that to EVERY exterior bulb on the car. (side markers, tail lights and front turn/markers )

Afetr you clean then smear some DI-ELECTRIC grease on the bulbs and sockets. It's available in $.99 packets or 2 OZ tubes, at your local auto parts store. It's one of the cheapest things you can do to protect your lighting. 2 small packets will do the whole car.

That's all I can tell ya for now, I'll know more after I rip into your T/S switch.

But I still want you to check all the bulbs and connections up front. Look for corrosion and moisture. That di-electric grease can also be used on your plug connections, just like I use on the Headlight upgrade harness's terminals.

Dave.

[Inf]

Well, it's not that one of the blinkers DOESN'T blink, it's that when the passenger side indicators are flashing, they are blinking at opposite times. I will take a video and post it tomorrow night when I have time.