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Electrical Problem!

1K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  thorjeep 
G
#1 ·
In my 83 Cj7, when I turn on the lights, the dash left turn signal is constantly lit. The outside grill and side lights don't turn on. When i left turn signal, the outside lights come on, but dont blink. The right works fine. Any suggestions? Thanks

 
#3 ·
Sounds like a bad ground and/or a crossed element in one of the parking light/turn signal bulbs (1157 or the modern day equivalent). Try changing out the left turn signal bulb first ........well get one and look at the turn signal bulb .......you'll see if the elements are cross/burned out. I could be wrong .....that is, I can't quite be sure if I've sorted out the electrical flow in my head but.......if your turnsignal/parking light bulb has a bad ground .....but is still common (joined) at the elements .......then your parking lights would "back feed" through the turn signal element ...that lights the thingie on the dash (since that's has a ground) ......now when you turn on the turn signal.....it can't ground ......so it back feeds throught the parking light element and lights itself and the side marker. ........I think that's it. Change the left turn signal bulb ......that should do it. Beyond that .......it's a bad ground to the turn signal .....

Anyone else have an alternate school of thought?

GeeAea

 
#4 ·
/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif GeeAea is brushing up against the problem but isn't quite saying the words.....GROUND YOUR JEEPS! Did I say Jeep(s)....yep...you have THREE of them sitting there. The engine/tranny group....the chassis group....and the tinware group. I bet you thought those little braded ground wires you see all over were just fer extra didn't you? Hmmmm...? And when you and cousin Leroy jerked the engine last year and broke 'em all off, you probably didn't think it was necessary to put some back on? Hmmm...? Well, the Jeep engineers thought it was so important that they put them on new, rust-free, clean Jeeps. Do you think you need them NOW....now that the rust, the grease, and the dirt have isolated the three Jeeps good and proper? Do your jeep a favor, and run a nice HEAVY ground circuit from the battery to the engine to the tub, to the front tinware, and to the frame. You will be amazed how well the stuff works after that....bright lights...GAS gauge, and even a turn signal or two./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
 
#6 ·
Ya know, Dave, this reminded me of when I was in auto school ..... we changed a lens on the lady in the front offices 69 Impala ......to do that you have to take off the bumper. Well she came in a little early and wanted her car .........we weren't quite done.....she left......and every time she stepped on the brake all the parking lights including the dash lit up..........she was mad.......we said.......next time let us finish. Needless to say.....the bumper had a poor ground. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

GeeAea
 
#7 ·
Bad ground left side (front or rear), could be corroded bulb base to socket. Bad bulb front right (parking
lamp filament) probable, possible bad bulb or connection side marker lamp.

Both filaments in the front parking/signal bulbs must be good for the front side lights to work. These are a
single filament bulb and have no ground. One side of the side lamp connect to the parking lamp filament
the other to the turn indicator filament. If the parking lights are on the side lights feedback through the
turn indicator filaments to ground. If the signal lights are on the side light feedbacks through the parking
lamp filament to ground. Check it out, turn on a signal lamp and the side markers flash in sequence
with the signal lamp. Turn on the parking lamps with the signal still flashing and the front side marker
flashes out of sequence.


 
#8 ·
CJDave,

Did you send the little moon guys over to fix it while we were composing our replies?

There were no replies shown when I started mine, by the time I finished I was sixth. This is like a chat
room.

 
#9 ·
/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif Nobody runs cable like a moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif crew. ....The mere fact that it 'fixed" itself tells me that it is a ground problem./wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

CJDave
 
#10 ·
I really doubt it "fixed" itself, just layiing there waiting to come back again at the worst possible time
like when making a turn in the dark and the cop across the street notices you didn't signal. Be cheaper
to fix it now.

 
#11 ·
CJDAVE: Electrical Problem!

Dave,
Where are all three on my CJ7? My gas guage is not working right. The shop said it was a bad ground. As I have never re-done them, I will start there.

Thanks!!

Scott
'85 CJ7______T.H.O.R.
/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif"To Her, OutRageous"
/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif"To Have Off Road"
 
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