Club Cobra - Need Help, Turn signals

Club Cobra (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/)

- Shop Talk (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/shop-talk/)

- - Need Help, Turn signals (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/shop-talk/49070-need-help-turn-signals.html)

Need Help, Turn signals

I have never been very good with anything electrical ( I regularly find my arm numb when working on 110V) and so now my right turn signals have decided to torment me.

The turn signals work just fine when the headlights are not on, but as soon as I turn the headlights on they won't work.

This is a new problem created by me undoubtedly screwing something up while trying to figure out why the turn signal had stopped working.

Is there a possibility I have some wires crossed, mounted wrong, or that I shorted something.

I would certainly appreciate your help.

First, a few questions and then a guess..........

When you turn on your head lights, do the front parking lights also come on? If not, are they susposed to?

Do the brake lights work? Do the brake lights and turn signals share the same bulb, or do you have seperate brake light and turn signal bulbs?

I'm thinking that maybe the ground from each turn signal/parking light bulb share a common connection to ground, and this maybe where the problem is..... poor or no groound.

If the ground were missing, the turn signal lamps could work by seeking ground by way of the headlight filiment. Turning the headlights on would cause this "ground" to disappear. Another symptom of this would be that the turn signal bulbs would not appear as bright as you would normally see.

Easy check for this is to take a length of wire, ground one end to the battery negative post or engine/frame and hold the other end to the metal body of one of the turn signal bulb sockets. If they work then, trace the vehicle ground wire back to where it is susposed to be grounded and make the repair.

Let me know how you do.

- Jim -

I concurr about the ground.

If the ground actually checks out, check the voltage at the signal light switch and the flasher. Because of a bad connection (or low battery), you may not be getting adequate voltage. Some flashers are quite sensitive. ;)

Lone Star uses a light socket that some times when you put the bulb in the wires will touch in the little black boot area. Just turned on the lights and see if one parking light is brighter then the rest of them. i have a lone star car if you want to you can email me at DR4FW@aol.com

Dino