dash turn signal light won't work

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flyboy2610
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dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

I pulled the instrument panel off to change the indicator bulb for the left turn signal. Put a known good bulb in and tried it. The left turn indicator still won't work. The right side works fine, all exterior turn signals work, I get a sound when the turn signals for either side are working (click, click, click, just like it should sound. I have power coming out at the dash panel plug, the wire from the plug on the instrument cluster to the indicator bulb socket has continuity, the socket checks good, the bulb checks good. I have replaced both flasher units.
But the left turn indicator on the dash won't work! :x
Any ideas? :? :hmm:
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by Ford_Doctor »

Is the socket a single wire type? If it is it has to be grounded to the cluster. If it's a two wire type, you verified that you have power at the socket, but did you check for ground?
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

It is a sinlge wire socket, and it's got good ground.
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by FORDification »

Sounds to me like maybe your bulb just isn't seated properly in the socket, completing the connection. :hmm:
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

Update:
Pulled the instrument cluster out, replaced it with the one from the '68, which I know worked properly when removed.
Nothing. :x
Turn signal on the right of the dash, none on the left side. Still hear the click for both sides, outside lights do work. Dash bulbs check good, light up when touched to a 9v battery.
Could a faulty turn signal switch be the culprit? :?
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by Ford Junky »

On my 71,I have to put pressure on the signal lever,pull it toward the steering wheel a little to get my right side dash light to flash.When its not flashing,I have no front signal on that side.The rear works fine,but no front,unless the dash light is flashing.Mine is because of the signal swith.I would be awful suspicious of the same on yours.
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by 68F250 »

Ford Junky is right, if your left front turn signal is working, the dash indicator should be working too because they are both connected together at the plug that connects to the cluster. See diagram http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... _81-85.jpg where wire #50 and #3 come together in connector #T. #50 is the left indicator and #3 is the left front signal.
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Post by wildcard »

I agree with Keith. Or maybe try a new bulb.
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

Bulb is good. It won't work with a cluster out of a different truck, which worked fine when removed.
When it's not so hot outside I'm going to use a mutil tester and track it down. I think it might be the wire from the column plug to the instrument cluster.
I'll get it going. :wink:
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by fordhombre »

I had this problem with my pickup also. The exterior lights would come on with the left turn signal, and I'd hear the "click click", but no light on the dash.

But when i looked at all the wiring closely underneath the cab, there was a bad splice heading to the rear end. I repaired and taped the splice and its never done it since.

So what you might try is looking for a bad connection to any of the exterior bulbs, or any joints. Hope that helps. :)
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

Thanks. I'll give it a thorough check when it's not so hot!
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

Well, I got the indicator light working.
A PO has done a rewire job using electrical tape splicing in a new connector from the column. :x :x :x :x :x
He had the wrong wire going to the indicator light. I got that fixed, but now I have no brake/turn light in the right rear.
I checked the bulb by substituing a known good one, and still nothing. It was working just before I got into the PO's hatchet job, so it's back to the wiring diagrams! :(
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re: dash turn signal light won't work

Post by flyboy2610 »

As Gilda Radner used to say when portraying Emily Littela after her well intentioned but consistently botched TV commentaries on the old Saturday Night Live shows:
"Oooooooohhhhhhhh......... never mind."
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."
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If you're going to live like there's no hell...............
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