Right turn signal stops when lights turned on

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:23 pm

Hey Everyone,
Back on a Spider forum. I used to be on one in the early 2000's run by John? I think it is offline now unless this is it revamped?

My issue today after pulling her out of the barn is with my right turn signal. It goes on, flashes the green light once, then the ticker goes quite and slowly flashes only the turn signal lights and not the green light. When I turn on my headlights the signal stays glowing orange but won't flash.

I had a similar issue with the left side so I replaced the rear left circuit board about 8 years back when International auto sold them for $50. Now they are $150! I did order a right one at the same time but they were back ordered and I was never sent one.

I have checked all the grounds and cleaned and checked all the bulbs and they clean and not corroded.

The front flasher bulb has two filaments. A large and small. I take it one is the running light and one is the flasher. I did notice they are both using the smaller filament and the big filament is not used for running light or flashing. To me this means that the running light and flasher are using the same circuit to the front right signal light and one has hijacked the other circuit.

Anyone see this before? To me something is shorting and I don't want to shell out $150 for a rear circuit board to have the same issue.

Thank you

vandor · Post by **vandor** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 12:09 am

It sounds like a bad ground or poor connecting in your front light.

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:25 am

Agree sounds like a ground. Especially if you are sure it only happens when the headlights are turned on.

Have you replaced the bulb?? Sometimes one bulb will make better connection than another.

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 12:14 am

I swapped out the 1157 tonight to another 1157 bulb at the front right and no difference.
I swapped out the 1156 in the trunk and now I get the green signal light to flash on the dash every time (New)
But turn on the lights and it stops the signal again.
I un plugged all the grounds at the ground post on the inside of the right fender and the left side fender as I assume this is where it grounds to, no corrosion and cleaned all the connections again.
Also cleaned the rear ground in the trunk for the rear lights circuit. I think there is only the one ground in the trunk?

Very odd.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 12:56 am

bad grounds, definitely

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:14 am

So Cal Mark wrote:bad grounds, definitely

Hey Mark, I have checked both front grounds (Inside right 1/4 and Inside left 1/4) as well as the one in the trunk. Is there a ground for the parking light circuit or signal light circuit I am missing?

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:39 am

even when the rear ground is clean, it is still not great. Move that ground to a chassis ground rather than a tail light stud. (if the stud base in the taillight is in cracked or old plastic, you cant tighten the ground nut enough for a good connection. Also the circuit board itself can be an issue. I found that all the mechanical connections between the board and the sockets on mine were bad....and not just the ground side. I had to solder each connection. Visually they looked it top shape.

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 12:17 am

So I moved my rear ground to a stronger bolt to the body and same result.

I did notice than when I put my hazard lights on the front right flashes very dimly compared to the other 3.

I suspected this as the trouble spot as both the parking lights and signal use the one small filament instead of one using the big filament (Signal?) and one using the smaller filament (Parking light?)

So somewhere the circuits have crossed and both hijacking the one filament in the bulb instead of using the two filaments.

The question is where can this happen?

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 2:01 am

make sure you dont have a dual filament bulb in a single filament socket. This is usually a ground issue as the correct ground isnt functional so the power seeks another ground through one of the light bulbs.

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:05 am

Check yours but it should be a dual filament as well. The factory bulb is a 1034 and I have an 1157. They are suppose to be compatible but I might try and chase down a 1034 just in case it makes a difference.

What I found on the net:

Primary Filament Operation at 12.8 Volts

The primary filament is used for normal marker-lamp (the rear light that comes on when you turn on your headlights) operation. The 1157 lamp can sustain 2.10 amps at 12.8 volts, and will last an average of 1,200 hours. The 1034 lamp can handle 1.80 amps at this voltage, and will last an average of 200 hours.

Secondary Filament Operation at 14 Volts

The secondary filament is used for turn signal operations. The 1157 lamp can sustain 590 milliamps of electrical current at 14 volts, and lasts an average of 3,000 hours. The 1034 lamp lasts an average of 5,000 hours under these conditions.

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 7:41 am

The ground for the right rear board is made through the harness that connects the drivers side board to the right side board. You might check/clean the connections on that harness.
I think if you have printed circuit boards for taillights your battery is in the trunk. The best ground in the trunk is the point where the battery ground is made to the chassis.

bobplyler · Post by **bobplyler** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:04 am

I had a similar problem once. I connected the driver's side ground on the rear turn signal to a new sheet metal screw.

DanD · Post by **DanD** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 7:47 pm

Check the printed circuit board , particularly where the socket is riveted to the board, and where the board plugs into the harness.

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:47 pm

Swapped out the rear right circuit board with a buddies and no go. Same issue. So not rear circuit board related.

Comes down to only a few things. I replaced the Hazard switch last year. Wonder if I hooked it up incorrectly? Looking at a wiring diagram there is a ground location under the dash on the right side. I am going to try and find that one and check those grounds. Anyone seen where that one is? Suspect I have to drop the computer tray to see it?

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:06 am

Pull the hazard switch out tonight and it was quite corroded. I then found this great link on how to rebuild them instead of paying $100 for a switch: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 33&start=0

My old one was very clean inside and out and once the pin was straightened then the old one was back in place.

Also found the main negative cable to the battery was corroded. Bought a new one.

So summary of today, swapped out right rear circuit board, replaced hazard switch and put a new negative battery cable on and still the same result.

Slowly running out of options but still have to find the mystery ground pod under the dash.

Right turn signal stops when lights turned on

Right turn signal stops when lights turned on

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