1995 GMC Truck Right turn signal problems

DAVE00BEER

MEMBER
1995 GMC TRUCK
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

Hello, I recently started having a problem with my right turn signal on my 1995 gmc 1500 pickup. While having the headlights and or running lights on. My right hand turn signal would not flash, and also the hazards would not flash. Turn the lights off and it would work, but you could also see part of the dash lights flashing at this time. NOW THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT MORE THEN LESS. I was told it was probably the turn signal switch. So about a week ago I replaced it with a brand new unit. All seemed fine for about 5 days or so. Now it seems like its doing it again.I left this morning LIGHTS ON. Everything worked fine. Drove about 3 miles and BAM problem started again? I checked all the bulbs prior to replacing the turn signal switch and all seemed good. Any suggestions? Could it be a bad light socket? That comes and goes? And would it be something only on the right side of the system or not necessarily? PLEASE HELP WITH ANY IDEAS THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Does the truck have a printed circuit board tail light assembly or are they seperate sockets? I have been seeing a lot of problems with the printed circuit going bad. Let me know.

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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 10:32 PM

DAVE00BEER

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4 POSTS

Yes the truck does have the printed circuit board tail lights, When this problem first occurred (before I replaced the turn signal switch) I did inspect these and also swapped the passenger side to the driveside and vise-versa, at that time of doing this the right signal was not working and swapping the tail lights did not help this. So I kinda ruled that out. Although it is possible there is a on again off again short in the circuit board? Yesterday the wife drove the truck half the day without any signal problems? I did however when she got home took the front pass side signal/running light out and was wiggling the wires on the two light sockets and was able to stop the signal from flashing? So I replaced both of the two sockets and bulbs on that side. Well knock on wood so far so good. But then again this is a problem that seems to come and go. And just might be one of those process of emlinations.I will keep you posted and thanks for your suggestion.

Dave

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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 6:40 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Chances are that was the problem. Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe

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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 11:57 AM

DAVE00BEER

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Well,

Guess that wasn't my problem. The darn thing did it again today. Talked to the wife and she said it was acting up again this morning. Hour later she got back in the truck was driving with lights on and it was working again. This is just nuts! Kinda hard to diagnose anything when its a come and go problem. You don't think its something as simple as the flasher unit rather it be the hazard unit or the turn signal unit do you? I'm about ready to pull my hair out with this thing.

Dave

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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 12:39 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Hi:
I just saw this posting again by chance. For some reason I didn't receive the email.

You are right this type of problem is a pain. It could be any of the things you mentioned, but which is the problem. I hate to see people replace parts that are good. I question the flasher, but the switch is another problem because it supplies power to the dash lights too and if I remember, you said once they flashed. You may want to have that checked. Just for the heck of it, determine where the ground is on the light assembly and clean a spot on the frame and run a new ground. See if that has an effect on the problem.

Joe