How can a ground issue at the fender prevent the panel bulb from illuminating, when it has a separate ground (which is common to all other items on the instrument panel)
Help with Right Blinker not working...
- Thread starter NYIronPig
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
FJ40Savvy
SILVER Star
I think there are a number of issues. I'm betting the instrument panel blub is bad and there is a ground issue on the fender. Which is why I suggested to check the blubs first.
Last edited:
FJ40Savvy
SILVER Star
Here is the issue I found with the High Beam light in my gauge cluster.
forum.ih8mud.com
Builds - Louie - 1973 FJ40 - A OEM work in Progress
Little Repairs - High Beam indicator was not working. I pulled to the dash to try and troubleshoot the problem. The blub was loose in the housing. It looks like the PO did a repair using a piece of plastic to have spring tension because the black plastic piece on the wire was black and...
forum.ih8mud.com
Yea my high beam indicator was also dim - it now has a blue LED.
Switching the hazards on will certainly narrow it down.
Switching the hazards on will certainly narrow it down.
Oops, accidental post. Not used to looking at the forum on my phone.
I think many are trying to say “start with the easy stuff before assuming it’s something more complicated”. Check the bulbs. Just taking a bulb out and putting it back made my turn signal indicator in dash start working again a couple weeks ago.
I think many are trying to say “start with the easy stuff before assuming it’s something more complicated”. Check the bulbs. Just taking a bulb out and putting it back made my turn signal indicator in dash start working again a couple weeks ago.
Last edited:
Yes, I believe there is more than one issue here. Be methodical, complete one issue at a time. Try to follow @FJ40Savvy procedure in post 19.
- Thread starter
- #27
Any idea what bulb size is correct for the dash blinker light? Does the light housing just pop out of the dash to replace the bulb?
FJ40Savvy
SILVER Star
Based on your description, this is my assumption of instrument cluster currently in your vehicle.
forum.ih8mud.com
The blub housings come off the back of the cluster with a push and turn. The blubs are T53.
You could also replace these with LED version to make the indicator brighter.
Clusters, Gauges, Speedo & Odo meters
There seems to be a lot of questions about Clusters, Gauges, Speedo and Odo meters, so I thought why not set up a page as a reference guide / database / knowledge center? Over time I collected a lot of pictures. I created a Gallery with all the photos I have, which you can see here...
forum.ih8mud.com
The blub housings come off the back of the cluster with a push and turn. The blubs are T53.
You could also replace these with LED version to make the indicator brighter.
Last edited:
Before you pull the instrument panel out though... do the hazard warning lights all work, and is the rear right working?
Be wary if you're testing the lighting circuits with the "continuity" function on your meter - some meters will buzz continuity through a cold bulb filament of a few ohms, giving the illusion of a ground when actually no ground is there.
Always use your low ohms range to be sure.
Be wary if you're testing the lighting circuits with the "continuity" function on your meter - some meters will buzz continuity through a cold bulb filament of a few ohms, giving the illusion of a ground when actually no ground is there.
Always use your low ohms range to be sure.
nabbasi
SILVER Star
I hate commenting when I feel I can’t add anything of value, but having been exactly where you are, I’ll add my $0.02.
I’d start with new bulbs in the dash and at the turn signal. Then, grounds. Then hazard switch.
I had the same issue, but even my hazard switch resulted in solid lights all the way around. Ultimately, I re-wired my entire rig and threw in all new bulbs, and new combo lights for the rear and new turn signals in the front. Probably not necessary for you, but I had other (melty) issues.
I’d start with new bulbs in the dash and at the turn signal. Then, grounds. Then hazard switch.
I had the same issue, but even my hazard switch resulted in solid lights all the way around. Ultimately, I re-wired my entire rig and threw in all new bulbs, and new combo lights for the rear and new turn signals in the front. Probably not necessary for you, but I had other (melty) issues.
Not intentionally trying to revive old threads, but post #19 is the one that helped me fix my blinker issue on my 66 FJ. I spent a LOT of time undoing the PO's electrical work-a-arounds (renegade wiring, wires that dont go anywhere, bulbs that were soldered to the housings, wires clipped into wires clipped into wires, etc). Found out the (original) alternator wasnt charging, as soon as I installed a new one the passenger side blinkers started working. Drivers side was very weak, and only the front actually worked. The front housing was rusted completely out, and the bulb was soldered to a wire that was soldered to the housing. Bought new sockets (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXSZVFV4?tag=ihco-20) and ran a ground wire direct from one of the mounting screws to the chassis. Booom! Everything now works correctly.
Not to rehash everything, 1) Make sure you have enough power coming from the battery, 2) Check all bulbs (no LEDs), 3) Check all grounds at the bulb housings.
One last thing - I have a green/white wire in the rear that doesnt really go to anything. I tried all different combinations of brakes on/off, blinkers on/off, lights on/off and it never shows any power. Would anyone know what that might be for? Again, 1966 FJ. Thanks in advance.
Not to rehash everything, 1) Make sure you have enough power coming from the battery, 2) Check all bulbs (no LEDs), 3) Check all grounds at the bulb housings.
One last thing - I have a green/white wire in the rear that doesnt really go to anything. I tried all different combinations of brakes on/off, blinkers on/off, lights on/off and it never shows any power. Would anyone know what that might be for? Again, 1966 FJ. Thanks in advance.
Did Coolerman have a wiring diagram for your unit? Perhaps a back up light. Or maybe a trailer ground threw the plug. Aux tank signal. Rear cab light or load bed light. Cap it off and don't worry over it.
Yeah, i used this one https://globalsoftware-inc.com/cool...1963-67_FJ40/pre1972_FJ40_wiring_diagram1.png and this one https://globalsoftware-inc.com/cool...1963-67_FJ40/pre1972_FJ40_wiring_diagram2.png printed out and laminated on a 11x17 sheet. I see the GW looks like it goes to what looks like a rear combo light, but mine only has 2 wires going in - 1 for headlight switch on, 1 for brakes. The magic happens further forward where the blinker interrupts the brake signal, all that is working fine now. I will just follow your advice and not worry about it for now.
nabbasi
SILVER Star
Does the right rear stop/directional light up and blink? If so, switch and flasher work.
Does the front running light work? If so, ground is likely good.
Note that the front lamp grounds through the hollow connecting to the fender. The ground path must be free of corrosion; the socket to the bolt, the old to the fender, the fender to the chassis, and the chassis to the battery ground.
That pic would have definitely saved me a bit of wire tracing. Good to know, thanks for confirming!