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Acute blinker issues

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by jedi926, Apr 28, 2012.

  1. Apr 28, 2012 at 11:35 AM
    #1
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    Left side blinker is getting to the front and rear.

    When my headlights or running lights are on the blinker will not blink but is lit up. When I turn my lights off the left blinker will work, however my clock and dash lights will blink also. Haz work when lights are off, turn lights on, no haz.

    No problems with the right side.

    What I have done: checked & replaced bulbs, checked fuses they work, checked every available ground wire I can see, no issues that I can see there. I have cleaned my contact points in my left & right tail light assembly.

    2nd weekend in a row I have worked on this. Thought I fixed it last weekend after doing the above, drove a few miles and then it started again. Can't replicate what I did to "fix" the problem either.

    What do you guys think?
     
  2. Apr 29, 2012 at 9:26 AM
    #2
    docjake

    docjake Well-Known Member

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    What modifications if any have you made to the truck recently.
     
  3. Apr 30, 2012 at 5:46 AM
    #3
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    No mods done.
     
  4. Apr 30, 2012 at 6:08 AM
    #4
    docjake

    docjake Well-Known Member

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    What were you doing, or just finished doing when it started?
     
  5. Apr 30, 2012 at 4:53 PM
    #5
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    Daily driving. I had just drove to pick up my son and all was fine. when I turned the truck back on, the left blinker light in the dash was lit up but not blinking. The front and rear left blinkers are lit when the lights are turned on but won't blink. Attempted again this weekend to follow wires, clean contacts, change bulbs, etc and nothing.

    If I turn my lights off the left blinker will work, however it makes my dash and radio lights blink and my clock too.

    Am I missing something?
     
  6. Apr 30, 2012 at 5:03 PM
    #6
    Highland Logan

    Highland Logan UBIQUE

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    Frank
    Nova Scotia, Canada
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    Icon Stage 2 w/ overload left in, SPC LR UCA, 265/75 16 BFG KO2, front and rear Weathertech floor liners, OEM (Extang) solid fold tonneau, OEM bed mat, OEM front skid plate, OEM billet oil cap, "TOYOYA" tailgate decal
    Welcome to TW.. sorry about your electrical issues.. my only suggestion would be gremlins, but that's unlikely as they only inhabit the North West. It does remind me of a short. Older Chevy's used to have an issue with water shorting out electrics if any of the wire plugs around the rear bumper got wet. Can rain, washing or muddy off-roading be taken off the list of possible causes?

    Also you have a dup post on this. You may want to have a Mod take the other one down.

    Frank
     
  7. Apr 30, 2012 at 7:24 PM
    #7
    Tacoma Mike

    Tacoma Mike 48 Year Chrysler/Toyota/ASE/ Master Tech.RETIRED

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    Trailer harness on the truck ?????????????
     
  8. Apr 30, 2012 at 7:26 PM
    #8
    NelsonTacoma

    NelsonTacoma This is my derpawayinator!!!!!

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    That's what I was gonna ask. Trailer harness' mess up the turn signals a lot.
     
  9. May 1, 2012 at 6:21 AM
    #9
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    I did clean out some water build up (green crud) on the tail light wire housing, but even then it was rather minimal. My taillight gaskets are good, I think the only way I am getting any moisture in the tail area is from the wheel well itself.
     
  10. May 1, 2012 at 6:23 AM
    #10
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    I do have a trailer harness. I have checked that area moved the wires to see if they are causing a short or ground issues, but nothing. You guys have suggestions about the trailer harness?
     
  11. May 1, 2012 at 6:25 AM
    #11
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    Hey guys, is there any chance that the problem is in headlight/blinker stem housing coming off the steering column?
     
  12. May 7, 2012 at 7:59 PM
    #12
    joes06tacoma

    joes06tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Aftermarket trailer harness? Those screw up quite often. The culprit is usually the converter box, not the wires. I'd disconnect the harness completely, including the converter box.

    I'm assuming you pulled and replace all four turn signal bulbs? I have seen a dual element bulb burn out in such a way that the two filaments fused together. That could cause your issue.
     
  13. May 7, 2012 at 8:03 PM
    #13
    BulletToothTony

    BulletToothTony You’ll have that on these big jobs.

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    Did you check the blinker fluid? Could be low.... :devil:
     
  14. May 8, 2012 at 2:41 PM
    #14
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    Have not pulled the harness or block, good idea to check there. I did replace all the bulbs too.
     
  15. May 18, 2012 at 6:03 AM
    #15
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    Really? Seriously?
     
  16. May 18, 2012 at 6:11 AM
    #16
    jedi926

    jedi926 [OP] Member

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    FIXED IT! Attacked the problem again yesterday. I started with what you guys suggested and started to look at the aftermarket trailer converter block. No problems there, so I followed those wires up to the tail light. I opened all the plastic wire clips and exposed the wires in the metal clips. I turned on the blinker and started to remove wires one at a time. I found the wire causing the problem and it wasn't a trailer wire, it was one of the tail light wires. I found a wicked small split in the wire where it sits in the metal clip. Moved the wire, taped the cut, resealed the retainer, all is good.:D
     

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