drivers signals work, pass side solid at front

[mechjames]

Just picked up a 1993 New Yorker Fifth Avenue. Nice luxurious car. The only problem worrying me (safety) is the drivers side turn signals blink front and back, but the passengers side just stays on solid at the front, but not at the back. If I turn the 4 ways on, all the signals blink front and back, so I believe that rules out a burnt out bulb.

I believe the signal relays are behind the glovebox somewhere?

Has anyone had this issue before? Is it possible one of the passengers side bulbs doesn't have enough voltage draw to activate the normal flasher, but the 4 way flasher works?

Its weird because with the 4 ways, the lights look all nice and bright.

 

[RD400]

You could have a bad ground at the right front. Take the bulb out and check for any corrosion and inspect the wiring.

 

[punisher]

You need to look at your bulbs again and make sure thay are all working. Sometimes you have multiple bulbs in the same housing, and eventhough they look operational, they aren't.

99% of the time, the symptoms you describe are due to a burned out bulb. The 4 way flasher will work as the total power draw is enough to cycle it.

EDIT: Also, by law you have to have seperate turn signal and emergency flashers. Usually they are swappable and you can do that to eliminate the flasher as a cause.

 

[mechjames]

Originally Posted By: punisher
You need to look at your bulbs again and make sure thay are all working. Sometimes you have multiple bulbs in the same housing, and eventhough they look operational, they aren't.

99% of the time, the symptoms you describe are due to a burned out bulb. The 4 way flasher will work as the total power draw is enough to cycle it.

EDIT: Also, by law you have to have seperate turn signal and emergency flashers. Usually they are swappable and you can do that to eliminate the flasher as a cause.


I will check all the bulbs and sockets tonight. Hopefully its just a bulb or ground not allowing enough draw for a single side, and with the 4 ways on, there's enough draw to cycle the flasher.

Its too bad on these cars I have to remove the glovebox and that means removing the glovebox frame to get at the flasher relays. What happened to simple positioning where the flashers were behind the left foot?

It would have been an easy test to swap the 4 way flasher with the 2 way flasher.

 

[The_Jeff]

Do the side markers blink in opposite tandem with the turn signals? Do those work too as well as the parking lights?

If you never track it down, a Heavy Duty flasher (for towing) will band-aid it.

 

[mechtech2]

Bad grounds or corroded sockets are #1 and #2 things to check.
I won't mention a burnt out bulb!

 

[mechjames]

All bulbs are working with the 4 ways now. I will check the sockets and grounds tonight when I get home.

 

[Stu_Rock]

When you use the right turn signal, what does the rear do (flash, steady on, or not work at all)?

 

[mechjames]

A recap:

Right turn signal on, not work at all on the back. steady on at front.

Left turn signal flashes front and back.

4 ways work all around.


Haven't got a chance to look at bulbs / sockets / relays yet, too cold outside for now, and got home late from work.

 

[Stu_Rock]

Originally Posted By: mechjames
A recap:

Right turn signal on, not work at all on the back. steady on at front.


Thanks for the clarification--all you said in your first post was that the rear right turn signal doesn't light steady, not what it does.

I grabbed the rear lighting wiring diagrams for the car. I'll try to send it to you in a PM.

In this car, the multifunction switch in the steering column does have separate internal mechanisms for the front and back turn signals. MF switches do get broken easily, so that's the first place I would look.

Also, this car may have a lamp outage detection module (located in the right of the instrument panel). I have seen those things fail. Usually the best course of action for that is to remove it and wire the lamps straight through. But in this case, I suspect that the lamp outage module is OK, because it's able to pass the hazard signal through.

I hope you get it worked out. I love those extended K-cars.

 

[mechjames]

Thanks I got the PM. Would there be a difference between the new yorker and the fifth avenue? Up here in Canada I believe they were sold as the New Yorker with Fifth Avenue Trim. I also have the 3.3, but I doubt that makes a difference.

All the lights are A'OK. Switched them from side to side and the symptoms are the same.


I'll be checking the turn signal multifunction switch. i've seen them break or get disconnected in some GM vans. Its probably what it is. I'll check the wrecker (apparently the switch is the same in TONS of chrysler / jeep vehicles according to the rockauto interchange)

I'll pull it apart tonight and let you know If it is the switch or not. I can't see anything else it would be because the 4 ways are separate, and they all flash. I don't believe I have the lamp outage module (no where on dash to display lights out, and I had lights pulled out last night while checking sockets and nothing lit up on the dash)

 

[mechjames]

I pulled apart the steering column and removed the multifunction switch. I kinda pried (snapped) the case off and watched it work inside. There was wear on the right side. So I engaged it in the right position, and it turns solid. I Jam my screwdriver behind it to press harder on the contacts, and voila, a blinking right signal, front and back!

So off to the wrecker i go tomorrow!

 

[andyd]

I say you have a burnt out stop filament in a dual filanent 1157 bulb. In the RF housing

 

[mechjames]

Please read the thread before posting. As stated above It is the multifunction switch. I have made contact with the terminals inside and the signal works.

This car also uses no 1157 bulbs. Only bulbs are a 3157 and a 3057. As stated above I have switched the bulbs to the other side on the front and the back and there was no change.

 

[Stu_Rock]

Glad to hear the problem is identified. To answer your question about the differences between the models, they're nearly identical. I had to go to Wikipedia get it straight for myself:
Originally Posted By: Wikipedia
[In 1990] the Fifth Avenue became a model of the New Yorker. The new Fifth Avenue was also classified as a full-size model this time; despite being smaller than the first generation. There was some substantive difference, however, as the New Yorker Fifth Avenue used a slightly longer chassis than the standard car.

 

[mechjames]

I pulled a multifunction switch out of a 91 New Yorker today. Works like a charm.