74 turn signals don't work!!! please help!!

[DustyFJ]

Cant figure out why my turn signals don't work. Any help or places to look would be greatly appreciated.

When I try to turn the signals on I don't hear anything and don't get any lights at all. When I turn on the hazards all four corners flash normally.

If I unplug the turn signal flasher the hazards stop working, so I'm thinking that is not the problem?

There is a loose green/white wire coming from the steering column.

most of the gauge cluster doesn't work not sure why or if its related.

 

[Pin_Head]

First thing to check would be the fuse for the turn signals. It is different than the one for the hazards.

 

[sggoat]

I have a similar green/wht wire non-connected on my 77. My sigs work fine. Check fuse as Pin-Head suggests

 

[DustyFJ]

I checked the only fuses I know about and they are all solid. Any idea about the wiring harness dangling in the pic of the fuse block?

 

[tyama]

Hiya, you need a test light or multi meter and a wiring schematic. Start at the fuses like everyone sez and test current coming into and across the fuse. If that's good, check where the current comes in at the switch and then out from the switch. If you got current coming in and out of the switch, work to the wiring that feeds the turn lights. You should be able to isolate the problem by working from the fuse to the lights. Your wiring and fuse block looks good so I'd be surprised if there was a short. You may just have a bad ground.

Good luck, ty

 

[Pin_Head]

I assume you mean that none of the turn signals work. If you also tested the fuse with the turn signals on with a volt meter on both sides of the fuse, then then next thing to test is the hazard switch. Run a how wire to the flasher and if the turn signals work then the problem is likely in the hazard switch, which is a common problem. It can be rebuilt by careful dissasembly, cleaning the contacts and reassembly.

 

[DustyFJ]

pinhead-correct, none of the turn signals work. I used my volt meter to confirm 12v on both sides of the fuses. If I understand, you are telling me to run a hot wire to the turn signal flasher. (pictured above to the right of the fuse block) Which of the two spade terminals would I apply the 12v to? What should I expect to see? I'll look at the hazard switch tomorrow, the assembly seemed to be a bit loose in there. If thats a common failure point I'll bet you're right and thats it.

tyama-I haven't been checking for current, only voltage. I don't have any voltage on the switch located behind the steering wheel on the column. Near as I can tell (and I had a hard time with the wiring diagram) the hot wire is a green/white that is shared with the brake switch. Sure enough there is a green/white there that has 12v (brake lights work) although there was some corrosion on the terminals. I am hesitant to take apart the harness since it seems to be in pretty good shape. My guess is if it was wiring or a ground the hazards wouldn't work?? I'm a bit flustered, have to look at it again tomorrow.

 

[Pin_Head]

It doesn't matter which terminal. On one side, it will flash, on the other side, it will be continuous. It will allow you to test the turn signal switch. If the switch is OK, then the hazard switch is probably the issue.

 

[tyama]

Hiya, go with what pinhead says as he's well versed in all of this and much more knowledgable than me. For this, Checking voltage is the same to me as current. You don't have to pull the harness apart, just pull the connectors apart and check the spades in them for voltage. If ican't do voltage at a switch, I usually set the multimeter to read resistance and check the switch at the connector, while cycling through the stops. That should tell you if the switch is bad.

Best, ty

 

[Aalien]

here's a wiring diagram in .pdf

 

[JohnVee]

Read this, too. Pay attention to post #29. Check the connections at the hazard switch and I bet you'll find something interfering there, just like pinhead said in #6 above.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/fj40-turn-signal-trouble-shooting.403493/

 

[shawnfj40]

Yep what Pinhead said. everything with the lights goes through that hazard switch.

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

I had the same issue on a roadtrip two summers ago. Check the hazard switch, mine was ok but full of old dirty contact grease, simple to clean the contacts here. My issue was the flat connector the switch plugs into at the main harness above the heater. I cleaned the connections in that connection and the lights are much brighter now and work perfectly. If you're rebuilding the hazard switch you have to disconnect it from the harness anyway.
I hope this helps or gets you in the ballpark.

 

[DustyFJ]

thanks guys, cleaned the hazard switch and the turn signals work like magic!

 

[DustyFJ]

couple pics "before"

 

[DustyFJ]

couple pics "after"