QuestionVehicle: 1972 Buick LeSabre
Question: When I hit my hazards switch, my lights do not blink. (There are 2 side marker lights - the big one has two filaments and the small one has one) Instead of blinking, both filaments in the large bulb remain on, and the small bulb remains off. How should I fix this.
History: I am in the midst of redoing much of the wiring; the 72 Buick had an electrical fire at one point, the prior owner replaced the harness with what looks like an Oldsmobile harness, some of the components (eg. instrument panel) are from the Oldsmobile and will not work with a Buick harness.
Situation: At this point all of the lights in the car work properly except for the hazards. I know that the flasher unit works properly (I tested it in a small circuit with the battery and a light - the light blinks). To the flasher unit there are two wires: the power (orange/black) and the signal (brown) that goes to the steering column to feed the four corners of the car (front & rear, left & right).
My attempts: It seemed to me that while the circuit is connected properly, the four signal lights recieve power not only from the flasher (brown wire) but also from some other constant source. When I checked for continuity between the orange power wire on the flasher and the brown signal wire to the steering column, I found that they were connected somewhere, but only when the hazard button was engaged. When I disconnected the wiring harness from the steering column to isolate the issue, the orange and brown wires were no longer continuous. So the issue seems interior to the steering column. With the wiring harness still detached I moved to the now isolated steering column. When the hazard button was disengaged, there was no continuity with the other wires (makes sense). When I engaged the hazard button, the brown wire was continuous with each of the four corner blinkers (makes sense), but also had a near continuous (10 - 15 Ohm Resistance) connection to a black & white wire, a black & purple wire, and another one I think.
My Solution?: I think I need to rip apart my steering column (which up to this point has been a "black box" to me) and somehow detach whatever connection is bleeding into my hazard switch and feeding the blinker lights with a constant voltage. Do you have a better suggestion?
AnswerHello Brendon,
A couple of things come to mind here. The stop light switch will give the 4 way flasher constant power when it is on. So, when you have the 4 way flashers on, and the brake pedal depressed, the lights will go into "stop light" mode and remain illuminated (all lights in the 4 way circuit). Are you sure the stop light switch is not alway on?
The other thing I can think of is the turn signal switch assembly has shorted.
Since you've already traced your signal lights, you may want to double check the stop light circuit too because they work with one another. If you can't find the problem there, pull your steering wheel and remove the turn signal switch assembly away from the column seat and try it then. I have seen these assemblies give all kinds of different problems. The wires in the column are pretty straight-forward, just a string of wires running from the switch to the harness plug. The plastic switch unit can crack and deteriorate causing the little contacts to fall out of position.
I hope that helps.
Have a great day!
-Jay
