Need Help with Turn Signals

[drivefaster83]

Ok I have my fathers 1983 280zx and need to get the turn signals to work now I have changed the Relay on the drivers side. And went all through the car tracing wires from the back. They all look good. Now the hazards work but I can't get the turn signals to work. Please help I don't know what to do. My husband thinks it is funny when I am working on cars but I want to do it my self. He sits with me and rally just watches. Now I will be getting in the repair manual tomorrow but not sure it will cover this repair.:stupid:

[Nissanman]

The fact that the Hazards function OK is reassuring, at least you know that the wiring and globes at all four corners is OK.

That gets you back to the individual turn signals.

You say you changed a relay.

I assume that it is the flasher relay?

Is the relay is clicking when you operate the indicator stalk?

If it does then you need to look in to why the relay isn't powering the indicators.

If it is not then the fault is likely to be the column indicator stalk.

Make sure that the replacement relay you used is a proper replacement part.

Just because it may fit into the wiring socket doesn't mean it will perform the correct function when powered on.

The attached pic. is a diagram from the 810 Nissan FSM and shows the principal of turn signal and hazard flasher operation.

It is intended as a guide on what to look for and where to look when trouble shooting this system.

Note that the Hazard switch, when OFF, needs to connect two wires together for normal turn signal operation.

Unfortunately, the wiring diagrams in a lot of aftermarket Manuals are absolute crap.

That is why I prefer the Nissan FSMs, they tend to break things down into nice little schematics like this one:classic:

[drivefaster83]

Thank you for the information and I will check it when there is daylight. And yes it was the flasher relay that I changed.

[RogerZ]

probably the column switch has something amiss. The 82-83 i believe used one flasher relay for both systems whereas the earlier cars had two one for hazard one for turning. It is kinda hidden up under the dash behind the steering column not readily visible.

[drivefaster83]

Yeah that is the one I found with out a problem and changed. When I say without a problem I well took the t's off and put my feet up in the air and head in the floor board. Thought i would get stuck a few times but i couldn't see anything else undone and that is when I found that Relay. But I did notice that the relay clicks when the car chimes that the keys are in and when it says that the lights are on. I have been having trouble getting my photos of the car uploaded here so i loaded them in my my space. www.myspace.com/liquid_candycane. No I forgot to take photos of the engine and I will and get them posted too. But I have a mystery wire in mix of it all. Not sure where this repair came from but not worried about it now I have unplugged it and it didn't do anything and so I plugged it back in. The car is mechanically sound I should be able to drive it all over. Just cant cause I need the turn signals here small towns.

[drivefaster83]

The relay is not clicking when I operate the switch. And the Emergency Flashers keep blowing the fuse. the mystery wire that I have no clue what it is is attached to the yellow with black stripe.

[drivefaster83]

OK I found some burnt wires and repaired them. Taking her to one of the guys that come to my bar to help me trace down the short. I have been spending at least 3 hours a day tracing wires down and repairing the ones that shorted out. I have gotten from the back to of the car to the fuse box. Now I will be going from the fuse box forward. Now for the dash and Fire wall. But that will be next week. Have another regular that will teach me to paint her and do custom fiberglass work on the inside. As I do more to her check my myspace page to see my progress. Thank you guys for the advice I have checked all that was told to me but I have come to the conclusion that it is a wire that is shorting out. At least that is what Dwane said and he has a FSM on her he use to be a mechanic and will be the one tracing the short in the front of the car early next week.

[drivefaster83]

I have replaced all burned out wires and still no turn signals. Well I say no turn signals they will flash once and burn out the fuse. And I have noticed that all the cars lights flash All Of Them Inside and out. Giving up and taking her to a mechanic and that is that It is too hard for me to trace a wire when my husband is at work and chase down my 3 year old too. I gave it as much time as I could just getting too frustrated with it right now. And as of today I haven't taken her to my friends house so that he can help me but really dont have the time to do that.