Blinker quits working
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Hi Dave, Welcome to FTE 
The best truck show on the net!
I suspect corrosion is the culpret. I think I would start around the bulb sockets. I have used a battery terminal brush in the past to clean up the area, and found it worked well.
Should that not do the trick, start at those sockets and inspect the wiring. Folks over the years cut and splice for trailer connections and those areas could need to be redone.
It's ususally something simple, sometimes a little tuff to dig out but a simple fix.
good luck
John
The best truck show on the net!I suspect corrosion is the culpret. I think I would start around the bulb sockets. I have used a battery terminal brush in the past to clean up the area, and found it worked well.
Should that not do the trick, start at those sockets and inspect the wiring. Folks over the years cut and splice for trailer connections and those areas could need to be redone.
It's ususally something simple, sometimes a little tuff to dig out but a simple fix.
good luck
John
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Thanks for welcoming me to this forum it is so cool. Anyway, I used my battery cleaner and scraped away the socket real well. Now, as before, the blinker works fine until I turn on my headlights. The difference is that the blinker bulb turns on, but their is no flashing going on. So, what it seems is that the headlights somehow are cancelling out the fasher's ability to blink. Any further suggestions????
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Same answer, corrosion causing bad connections and grounds. When you put on the headlights it lowers the current flow and the corrosion is overcoming the power flow. It is something that you will have to work to find. No book answers. Bulb connection, splices, and ground connections usually is the culprit. Also look for wires that have the insulation rubbed through and the wires exposed to metal.
You may have to clean the bulb connectings more too, tis possiable.
John
You may have to clean the bulb connectings more too, tis possiable.
John
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Thanks. I have done more research and will continue. First, I have found out why the right blinker isn't working with headlights on. With the headlights on, both filaments in the bulb are on (right, side only) When I put my brakes on, all four elements in the bulbs come on. When I unplug the flasher can, just the bright filiaments come on with brake pressure (that is correct) and then with no brakes and just lights on (with flasher can unplugged) tail lights are the low light filiament. This makes me believe that the flasher unit is the culprit. However, with headlights off the blinkers work just fine. With that insight, do you think that my flasher can is good/bad. Still think just search down all the wires for wear or broken or grounded, maybe headlight switch.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Dave, There are only 2 filiments in the 1157 bulb. There are only three wires coming to the back of your truck. One for the tail lights (both sides) One each left and right brake and turn signal (brake and turn signal share the same wire).
If the light is pulsing when the flasher is on it is working. Turning on more lights shouldn't effect that at all.
That takes me back to my previous, corrosion or bad connection. You can look under your dimmer switch for corrosion too. Flashers are cheep, buy a new one if you like.
John
If the light is pulsing when the flasher is on it is working. Turning on more lights shouldn't effect that at all.
That takes me back to my previous, corrosion or bad connection. You can look under your dimmer switch for corrosion too. Flashers are cheep, buy a new one if you like.
John
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: nevada
I'm with jowilkers plan, if you are running the old stock flasher, buy a new one. I tow a boat, so i went with the electronic HD unit. About 8 bucks. 9 times out of 10 it is either the bulb or the flasher. check the easy stuff first before you get into pulling wires.
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Thanks you guys. While I was waiting for a response, challenged by your response to search out the wiring and not wanting to spend unnecessary money that I don't have, I chased the wires underneath the truck and found that my muffler had an extra hole in it (it is a noisy bugger that I need to replace soon) but what I found is that the 4 wires were melted together by the heat from the muffler. I cut those out, spliced in new wires and zip tied it away from the muffler. Everything works perfect. Thanks to your persistance on chasing wires, I got my dillema fixed. I love this place.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Dave, I thought I was gonna have to look you up, come to your house with a ball bat, and with a whack get your attention, because you were not listening.
Glad you got it fixed.
John
Glad you got it fixed.
John