Turn signal indicator light
 

My 1960 1500 turn signal switch failed decades ago.
Maybe there was a way to fix the part that turns off the brake light while turning, but I could not figure it out, so I installed separate light fixtures in the back and ran the whole works with a three-way toggle switch.
That part still works just fine, and the indicator light did too for many years.
When it became intermittent, a little wiggle of the bulb fixed it. Until it didn't.
Then I pulled the dash out and found a small break in the printed circuit and managed to bridge it and enjoy several more years of a nice bright indicator and avoid the dreaded flashing away while driving (the noise in the cab is just a bit louder than the flasher).
A recent similar "fix" has proven transitory and resistant to further repair.
Maybe I could install a whole new light somewhere, but I would rather one of you has a magic approach I haven't thought of.

PS: It made three smooth trips with about 2500 lbs of hay each last week. One of them was on a three mile straightaway with the above mentioned flashing and the poor guy behind me wondering when the **** I was going to turn.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

The magic approach is either buy a new switch, like just the internal switch or..... buy a clamp-on-the-column switch. Time to upgrade your DIY game.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

I don't think I'm understanding, is it the cam (plastic C shaped thing) in the column that's broke, the circuit board again, or a wire, or the light socket?
Sorry its 9pm and its been a long dragging rear end type of day.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

The problem is the power feed through the printed circuit to the indicator light socket.
Sorry Ken, but ten new switches and three new "DIY games" would not help.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

That's the pits. I hate to say it but unless you're OK with soldering a jumper wire on to "jump over" the bad area, you're looking at buying a new PCB.

I guess Ebay is the best bet with that. Here's one for a 1967-72 (wont fit) to give you some search terms to look for.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186574794403

Oh wait, you know what? I've had soldering done at those "We repair CELL PHONES" stores pretty cheap. Like $20.00 and they have micro solderers to make it easy. I don't think you'd need that for this, but they might be able to fix it in a reliable way.

If you do that, post the results so we can see if there's a better idea than just poking a wire on it, which is what I'd do.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

I'm sure I can get you fixed. However the history and repairs story is VERY hard to follow as to what exactly is wrong now. So let's concenrate on what does or does not work.
1. Do front and rear turn signals operate OK?
2. What does the dash bulb do or not do? Is the dash bulb operation the only issue you wish to fix?
3. Probably should wait for me to suggest before doing any more repairs.
4. Does the canceler...cancel mechanically and return lever to middle? if not, does moving lever to middle fix whatever is happening.
5. It seems like right now the indicator bulb is flashing but not going off after turning, is that right?
6. it seems that turn signal bulbs front and rear also continue to flash after turn, is that right?
7. It would be helpful to just answer each question carefully without any of us, or you, analyzing the circuit or a fix.


"The problem is the power feed through the printed circuit to the indicator light socket."
I understand you are giving what you think is the general circuit problem. All I want to know is what the bulb is doing or what a component is doing or not doing.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Ken:
To help you in your commitment to "get me fixed," I'll just do what you say in #7.
#1: Yes
#2: Yes
#3: NA
#4: No Removed and discarded in the 1970's.
#5: No
#6: No

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Good progress

To help you in your commitment to "get me fixed," I'll just do what you say in #7.
#1: Yes
#2: Yes Part 1: Answer yes????: What does the dash bulb do or not do? Part 2: Answer Yes: Is the dash bulb operation the only issue you wish to fix? What is the issue?
#3: NA
#4: No Removed and discarded in the 1970's. Explain all the moves made from begining to end of a turn.
#5: No
#6: No

I believe, but not sure, you are using a combination of a toggle switch and the original column lever actuated switch. Whatever the situation, explain:
1. How you initiate a turn.
2. How you designate the direction of the turn to the correct bulbs.
3. How you end the flashing and return all switches to off.
Above is the physical moves to what devices, not the wiring or circuit.

Maybe all you are just saying is everything "works" OK.... Flashing at normal blink speed? Explain all the moves made from begining to end of a turn but you have to remember to shut the flash off and that is what you wish you didn't have to do? Is that right? But please answer the questions anyway.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Thanks for trying, Ken, but as has become evident over the years, you and I do not seem to speak mutually intelligible languages.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

As an Aerospace Electro-Mechanical Design engineer, I try to fully understand what a problem is. Trying not rush to judgement too early or recommend the wrong solution. I think you see from a few other comments that your communication skills are lacking in explaining a problem to a group who can't see it, test or know what you are talking about. That's OK, it's also OK for me to try and understand a very mixed up non standard turn signal/DIY/multi repair/flex print/toggle switch fix you did. Most importantly trying to know what is it that is an issue exactly. I see you started being sarcastic about answering questions. These answers are all we have to clarify what seems to you as a perfect explanation. What is your purpose of wasting time being limited as to information/clarification? You can carry this anger around with you and end up be alone someday. I don't keep track of who is who on here, I just focus on helping someone fix an issue. I'm not your daddy, I'm not baby sitting you. You are rude and ill-mannered. Your opinion of my "language" is wrong, you are being sensitive to nothing but ego. Wanting help but hating to be helped.
You had the right guy, who cared, and now you don't. That makes us both happy. Maybe I can remember who you are next time if i can learn to carry animosity towards someone around with me like you do. I do stick up for myself and always will.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Ken's tough to take sometimes, but engineers - Am I Right?
:detective:
You just gotta accept that he's not the socially adept type. He does have books and books of good info in his head though.

You said you fixed it once. do you have any pictures of that?

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Fetch can you explain where I was tough to take in this thread. I would appreciate it.

Also is it true with YOUR questions that you don't understand the issue either? So I can tell if it's just me. Not looking to argue, just learn to see changes I need to make specifically on this thread. If you take sides on a thread like this with no basis except a past comment, a person never has the chance to change and not be "hard to take". IT IS WHAT IS CALLED A WITCH HUNT. Nothing I've said in the main thread has any "socially unacceptable" nature.

The defense to a nasty "thank you" from poster is a defense to a nasty comment. You know that but your grudge of something prevents you from being honest....so you pile on.

I'm starting to wonder what statements like that do for your credability to criticize. Is there no one here that sees a unrelenting attack on everything I say? Picking every word and calling me a bad person? Adult males being hurt by cut-to-the-chase probem solving, diagnosis, troubleshooting...... without a latte first?

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

No offense intended, Ken! You just come across a little....coarse. I will PM you my response because frankly it's nobody's business how your brain works. They can either like you or not. I happen to like you but I have zero problems swerving past the blunt delivery system and enjoying the data. My youngest one, the little blonde? She's the same way as you. She's got an engineer's brain. Building robots now, if you can believe it, and flies quadcopters she builds competitively.

Everything that girl says makes you feel like an idiot. She doesn't mean it that way, but her delivery is WAY off. Still love her to death, and quick as a whip I tell ya. Half the stuff she comes up with I would never imagine. She's got a whole book of invention ideas that would blow your mind, but I digress.

In all sincerity I'd really enjoy having a beer together and discussing the world's problems, the flight patterns of UAPs (mathematically), and whatever else comes up without a filter (maybe a whiskey haha). Engineers are fascinatingly intelligent. You guys just think differently and it causes the delivery to be offputting.
Anyway, PM incoming. :rowdybeer:

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Better to explain what was off putting, tough to take and not Socially adept...in public, because they were said in public. No offense intended? really? Coarse? In this thread where you piled on me? Where? STOP the denial and PM's.... and explain what you see in the thread. This MUST STOP. I'm sick of it. Engineers have NOTHING to do with it. We are people. Members. Helpers. Good clear communicators. Interested in solving problems. Our methods may be foreign to you. Direct speaking avoids mistakes in communication. The poster was the off putting one and you know it.
I tried VERY hard to see what the issue was because I had some good ideas to fix whatevet it was. Yuo yourself are asking several times what it is?

I was trying to navigate: (quoting)

1. "A recent similar "fix" has proven transitory and resistant to further repair.
Maybe I could install a whole new light somewhere, but I would rather one of you has a magic approach I haven't thought of."

2. "The problem is the power feed through the printed circuit to the indicator light socket.
Sorry Ken, but ten new switches and three new "DIY games" would not help."

3. "Thanks for trying, Ken, but as has become evident over the years, you and I do not seem to speak mutually intelligible languages."

4. No interest in answering determinative questions. After asking for help.

5. My comment: "Time to upgrade your DIY game." was obviously a reference to buy real turnsignal parts after noting years of good intention band aids and now frustration and a reach out for help with a situation he characterizes as "resistant to further repair.". Then comes out with "Sorry Ken, but ten new switches and three new "DIY games" would not help." So I switched gears back to a "magic solution" study. This does not seem to be intelligible language to you or he. Then you both attack me. To continue some weird past feelings during a well meaning post. You have both been called out in PLAIN LANGUAGE.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

OK Ken.

Jim, do you have any pics of the previous repairs that didn't last?

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Sorry, no pictures.
To state the problem more simply, without the full story that I thought might be of interest to others here:
Years ago, (maybe 25) my turn signal dashboard indicator light began to occasionally fail to come on when the turn signals were working. I discovered that reaching under the dashboard and gently manipulating the area (lower right), the light would start to work.
As soon as it did so, I stopped nudging things and it world continue to work properly for extended periods, years in some cases. Then another failure would be easily "fixed" by another massage.
When this technique no longer worked. I removed the dash board and found a small break in the printed circuit leading to the indicator socket. I taped a small copper wire bridge across the crack and had no further problems for another extended period, years again.
If this is boring to you, think how I felt about it.
Same process again, but with obvious aging problems with the circuits and mounting board. I thought we had it working (with solder this time) well enough to re-install it, but the result has been unsatisfactory, with only short periods of acceptable performance.
I hoped someone here would have another approach to try, so I posted.
It is not life threatening, simply inconvenient. I check the actual signals before every trip and have never found a fault.
I do not think there is anything new here from my first post.
So, pending another dashboard dive, what I will do is come up with a reminding device to deploy when I want to turn.
I regret the uproar.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

Sound like to me the pins on the flexible printed circuit board are loose and need to be solder back on. I've had this happen to my truck and believe it or not it happen on my 97 Chrysler minivan. After the repair everything works and the problem has not returned. The flexible printed circuit board will need to be completely removed to solder the pins on the back side.

Re: Turn signal indicator light
 

This is much more detailed and gives a better picture. As James said, it could be the plugs. They often get loose over time or corroded and broken. My own truck has a loose ground.
The other thing may be broken solder from heat/cold temp changes or a new crack. If you can just touch or slightly wiggle the plug, that's probably it. If it doesn't fix, it's probably your old repair or a new crack.