No right turn signal did some searching and replaced both flashers.

[ihiryu]

Okay so haven't had a problem until late last night. My left turn signal works fine, when I go and hit my right turn signal I can hear the flasher relay buzzing like crazy. I hit the hazards, and the arrows on is bright on the left, but dim on the right.

This morning, same thing, so I checked my hazard switch (turned it on) and now the arrows don't come on. Still works when I hit the left turn signal though. All the other lights are working (parking, head, reverse etc), just no right front or rear turn signals.

Every time I hit the hazard switch it immediately kills the 10a fuse now.

I replaced the flasher with one I found at the autoparts store and some smoking came up from my steering column. So I immediately removed the flasher and put the other one back in. Does anyone have a clue? I figured with the hazard fuse blown the turn signals shouldn't work at all. I stuck my head underneath and the wiring appears to be all stock.

[EScanlon]

It's your Hazard Switch that needs refurbishing.

E

[ihiryu]

Hey E,

Thanks for the quick reply! I was thinking that too, it seems the only way to refurbish one is by taking it out and cleaning the contacts? I think I may also try to purchase a used one as a just-in-case type of measure.

What gives you the idea that it may be the hazard switch itself?

[EScanlon]

1) You mention that it kills the Flasher fuse (which incidentally covers several of the gauges as well.

2) you have turn signals on one side only

This points to a problem (short) inside the switch itself and possibly a mis-connection in the steering column, which your "puff of smoke" doesn't make me feel too good about it. That is a sure indication of a short or a bad connection (things plugged into the wrong circuit that in turn cause a short).

Remove the switch and carefully unbend the tangs holding the contacts in place. When you remove the contact board, be careful as there are a couple of small springs inside that toggle a pair of see-saw contacts. Check the condition and placement of all.

Clean off any schmutz from the contact surfaces and re-assemble.

Then check where the smoke escaped from.

FYI, the Turn, Stop, Hazards all get routed through BOTH the T/S and Haz. Switches, and as you've noted there ARE two flasher units involved. As to why you would have had a problem replacing one of them... hard to guess at.

FWIW

E

[ihiryu]

E,

Thanks for your help.

The smoke only came out when I plugged in the new flasher (which I just grabbed one from the autoparts store). I've already removed the steering column cover and can't find where the smoke came from. The wires look intact and none of the covering has been burnt off. I can clearly smell it from the turn signal switch. I've already put the original flasher back in, and back to how it was before (left turn only, no right, weird buzzing from the original flasher when I switch it to right turn signal, no hazards).

I'm going to send my switches to Dave to rebuild them when my car goes down for the engine swap. I just hate knowing there's something wrong with my car. I just wanted to cover my bases just to be sure. I might still take apart the switch, doesn't seem too hard to take out of the car.

[ihiryu]

I removed it cleaned it up, and nothing. I cleaned it with aerosol electronics cleaner. I smelled the hazard switch and it had a slight burnt smell to it, but nothing on the inside seemed bad. I tested it as described in the FSM (pretty checking continuity) and it passed it. I replaced the fuse, and same thing. I was able to get the hazard to click on for a few seconds, but I wasn't able to inspect it on the outside before the fuse blew.

I have my PLH that came in today, I was going to go ahead and install it today and take out the turn signal switch too and try to see if I can clean it up or something.

[djwarner]

When I bought my 71 series I, the PO said the left turn signal was inop. During the test drive, all turn signals were inop but the hazard flasher and lights were working. Troubleshooting isolated down to the turn signal switch. I very carefully opened up the switch by bending back the tangs, and burnished the contacts with a woman's finger nail buffing board. All has worked properly since then.

Opening the switch is not for the faint hearted, though. Very easy to screw up. There are switches available from the vendors posted on this sight, but it would be nice to troubleshoot down to the switch first. If the hazard flasher and lights are working properly, it would prove out the lamps and associated wiring.

On another level, verify you actually have 12 volts going to the switch. I recently had a problem with the running lights that traced to corrosion on the back side of the fuse block that reduced voltage coming out of the fuse block.

[ihiryu]

Opening the switch is not for the faint hearted, though. Very easy to screw up. There are switches available from the vendors posted on this sight, but it would be nice to troubleshoot down to the switch first. If the hazard flasher and lights are working properly, it would prove out the lamps and associated wiring.

You are totally right, I just broke mine just now, the tab (that holds the wires to the turn signal part) broke off and I can secure the wires to it anymore....great

[ihiryu]

SOLVED!!

Guys I want to thank everyone so much for giving me a hand. Ultimately I found this out via search, but still I was dumbfounded on what to find. Corrosion was actually building up on my front and rear turn signal sockets. I never removed the bulbs (since I've only had the car a few weeks and they were working). Took some electrical cleaner to them, and all is well. Hazard comes on without blowing the bulb. Everything works....too bad I butchered up my turn signal switch (trying to clean it) before I figured it out

[grantf]

The exact thing happened to me, including the puff of smoke. I took the contact assembly apart and it disintegrated. All I can say say is that I lucked out on ebay. and bought a whole new switch.

[EScanlon]

And I must tender an apology to you as well.

I "A...ssumed" that you had already checked the light bulb sockets for schmutz.

It just goes to show that you should always start at the SIMPLEST method and work your way out.

Glad you found the problem and had it resolved.

I don't know whether Dave can repair or replace the switch, but it's worth a try.

Good luck

E

[SteveJ]

If Dave can't fix your switch, look for one at this website or call them. http://www.datsunstore.com/

Oliver has a good reputation in the Z community.