Bad Turn Signal Switch
03-18-2024, 02:44 PM
#1
2nd Gear
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Bad Turn Signal Switch
Hello! I have been helping my neighbor with her 82 SC. We have been told the turn signal switch needs to be replaced, have not done that yet. However the car is starting to cut out some, mainly when I activate the turn signals. Tach goes down, warning lights come on, and the engine cuts out for just a moment. I also catch a whiff of an electrical smell. It’s not all the time, just random. Is it possible the bad switch is causing that? I have been searching online without much luck! Thanks!
03-25-2024, 07:52 PM
#2
I had the same issue. I thought that the notorious headlight switch was the problem.
I changed out the turn signal switch and all is well. There must be a symbiotic relationship between the all of the wiring.
I changed out the turn signal switch and all is well. There must be a symbiotic relationship between the all of the wiring.
03-26-2024, 11:09 AM
#3
Team Owner
Hello! I have been helping my neighbor with her 82 SC. We have been told the turn signal switch needs to be replaced, have not done that yet. However the car is starting to cut out some, mainly when I activate the turn signals. Tach goes down, warning lights come on, and the engine cuts out for just a moment. I also catch a whiff of an electrical smell. It’s not all the time, just random. Is it possible the bad switch is causing that? I have been searching online without much luck! Thanks!
do not install the new switch without relays would be my recommendation.
03-26-2024, 02:44 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
The turn signal / high beams switch (and also the wiper switch) are known weak points on these cars. I replaced both on my '85 many years ago.
If you take the turn signal switch apart, you'll see bendable copper contacts in there. They can get dirty, bent, deformed, etc. I think I tried to clean and shape mine back into form, but probably failed and went for the replacement. But some people with more skill and patience do tune theirs up (this is all from memory about 20 years ago).
I think I remember the main symptom I had was that the headlights stopped working. And the only lighting I could get was to pull and hold the stalk in the "flash high beams" position rather than to push and click it into the high-beams position. That of course elevated the priority of getting a fix here.
As @theiceman says, relays are another issue, easier to swap, and cheaper too, so checking / replacing those first makes sense. I'm still on my originals there.
If you take the turn signal switch apart, you'll see bendable copper contacts in there. They can get dirty, bent, deformed, etc. I think I tried to clean and shape mine back into form, but probably failed and went for the replacement. But some people with more skill and patience do tune theirs up (this is all from memory about 20 years ago).
I think I remember the main symptom I had was that the headlights stopped working. And the only lighting I could get was to pull and hold the stalk in the "flash high beams" position rather than to push and click it into the high-beams position. That of course elevated the priority of getting a fix here.
As @theiceman says, relays are another issue, easier to swap, and cheaper too, so checking / replacing those first makes sense. I'm still on my originals there.
03-26-2024, 02:54 PM
#5
Team Owner
The turn signal / high beams switch (and also the wiper switch) are known weak points on these cars. I replaced both on my '85 many years ago.
If you take the turn signal switch apart, you'll see bendable copper contacts in there. They can get dirty, bent, deformed, etc. I think I tried to clean and shape mine back into form, but probably failed and went for the replacement. But some people with more skill and patience do tune theirs up (this is all from memory about 20 years ago).
I think I remember the main symptom I had was that the headlights stopped working. And the only lighting I could get was to pull and hold the stalk in the "flash high beams" position rather than to push and click it into the high-beams position. That of course elevated the priority of getting a fix here.
As @theiceman says, relays are another issue, easier to swap, and cheaper too, so checking / replacing those first makes sense. I'm still on my originals there.
If you take the turn signal switch apart, you'll see bendable copper contacts in there. They can get dirty, bent, deformed, etc. I think I tried to clean and shape mine back into form, but probably failed and went for the replacement. But some people with more skill and patience do tune theirs up (this is all from memory about 20 years ago).
I think I remember the main symptom I had was that the headlights stopped working. And the only lighting I could get was to pull and hold the stalk in the "flash high beams" position rather than to push and click it into the high-beams position. That of course elevated the priority of getting a fix here.
As @theiceman says, relays are another issue, easier to swap, and cheaper too, so checking / replacing those first makes sense. I'm still on my originals there.
the relays have to be added to the system
read this thread, there is some good info here on it.
https://rennlist.com/forums/911-foru...ir-thread.html
03-27-2024, 01:14 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
OK then I'm still on my original lack of having lighting relays. 
Nothing has blown up yet. Thanks for the lead though - I do believe they will be a good addition one day.
Nothing has blown up yet. Thanks for the lead though - I do believe they will be a good addition one day.
03-27-2024, 04:13 PM
#7
Team Owner
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03-28-2024, 05:51 PM
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04-02-2024, 06:27 PM
#10
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Thank you! Yes, the high beams are on all the time now. But, I never drive it at night!! LOL
I guess I will just see if she wants to go ahead and spend the $500
I guess I will just see if she wants to go ahead and spend the $500
Last edited by Hogbus; 04-02-2024 at 06:30 PM.
04-03-2024, 10:10 AM
#11
Team Owner