Electrical Turn Signals won't blink

[ColoradoDerek]

Hi.
I've read a few posts about this already but nothing seems to match what I'm seeing.

Preface: I had a broken front driver parking light. I replaced it and the light turns on now. All my lights turn on. The lights are: 2 front parking, 2 head lights, 2 side rear lights and 2 tail lights. Previously, before I did work on the jeep, the turn signals would blink like expected.

Now: All lights work and light up. Everything does exactly what you would expect it to do, except the turn signals do not blink. When you turn your left (or right) signal on, the correct lights light up (meaning, if you choose left, the right ones turn off and the left ones light up) but they do not blink. Brake lights work (and light up when you press the brake), if you only pull the light lever half way, all lights turn on except headlights (which is what is supposed to happen yes?)
The silver circles that are likely the things that control the flashing look brand new in the new wiring harness that was installed right before I bought the jeep (and again, it had no problems when I bought it)

here is what I've messed with and MAY be a culprit (I didn't notice they weren't blinking until well after doing some work on the jeep)
1. I removed the horn and the wire is just taped up in there. maybe that is a problem?
2. I removed the windshield wiper fluid holder. This had a cable going to it and then a ground coming from it. the ground is still attached to the device so its gone, and the power cable is just dangling.
3. one of the rear side marker lights is just hanging there for now, with no plastic to hold it into place, but it does still turn on like it should.

Do you guys think I need to start with replacing the round silver things? or do you think there is just a wire not connected somewhere? If it was a ground wire issue (which seems very common in jeeps) the lights wouldn't turn on somewhere right? I'm going to still check/reconnect all the ground connections I can find just in case. It seems like there are only 2 though, both of them coming out of the headlight area and screwing down to the frame near the radiator.

ALSO!! How do you turn hazards on on a 1976 CJ5 ? I can't figure it out so I have no idea if the hazards work or blink.

Thanks for any guidance.

 

[Scout1067]

Check all the grounds, a really common solution is to put in a bus bar ss a common ground and run everything to that. I would replace the flashers too, those are the round silver things in the fuse block and a cheap fix too. Make sure you get the right flashers too leds use different flashers than incandescent bulbs.

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[TSB8C]

Most common problem I have seen, and you did mention that you replaced a front light, is the grounding of the front lights (round ones in the grill, not the side markers). Those lights rely on the mounting screws and contact between the light housing and the grill itself to provide the ground connection. Rust, corrosion, or paint can interfere with the grounding of the light housings. I actually soldered a ground wire to the back of each housing on mine to provide a ground wire rather than rely on the mounting screws or just metal-to-metal contact with the grill.

Also remember that the CJ's blinkers work differently depending on when the marker/parking lights are on or off (headlight switch pulled half way or all the way). When no lights are turned on, the front blinkers and the front side markers flash together at the same time. When you turn on the marker lights, then they alternate when the blinker is on. So ensure that your front side marker bulbs are also good.

I assume your flasher unit is good since you said it was new and did work before replacing your front blinker. You have two flasher units at the fuse box. One is for the blinkers and one is for the emergency flashers. You can actually swap them as a test to see if the one for the blinkers is bad by using the other one for the flashers. They're the same device. If you have electronic flashers (required for LED bulb replacements) keep in mind that the polarity is important and the two sockets in the fuse box are reversed.

Wires going to the horn and wires to the washer fluid reservoir have nothing to do with your blinkers. The power and ground to the reservoir are for the small pump for the windshield washer that should be mounted in the base of the reservoir tank. The power wire to the horn comes from the horn relay under the dash, and the horn gets its ground from its mounting to the inner fender. So disregard those for purposes of diagnosing the blinker problem.

Your flashers work using a pull-push switch on the right underside of the steering column. This connects to the blinker switch inside the column. This pic shows a billet knob. Stock would have been black plastic. You push it in to turn the flashers on and pull it back out to turn them off.

 

[ColoradoDerek]

Great information! Thank you! Looks like I have some figuring out to do when it comes to these blinkers. One thing though. My front, side, marker lights (orange ones on the side of the fenders) have never had lights going to them. No wires or anything, just the plastic.

Maybe those were bypassed and then I loosened something?

Is it possible for those to not be hooked up and the lights and blinkers still work?


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[TSB8C]

Unless someone cut your under hood wiring harness, those wires and bulb sockets should be somewhere. I don't recall whether the front blinkers will work without the side marker bulbs being there, especially when comparing with lights off and with lights on, since that changes the functionality of the blinkers. I did an LED conversion some time back and no longer have regular bulbs or flasher units.

 

[ColoradoDerek]

It’s a whole new wiring harness. I’m guessing those wires were excluded or well hidden? I can’t find them. I’m leaning towards they don’t exist anymore.

But guess what.. The hazards work and blink. So, I swapped the 2 flasher devices and now the hazards stay solid and the blinkers work.

I’d have lost money betting it wouldn’t be that easy but I’ll take the win.

All is working again. I’ll go buy a new flasher device for the hazards.

Thank you so much for the help. This info will surely come into play again in the future, especially when I switch to LED.


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[TSB8C]

What luck! A bad flasher unit and all is well. Great news. Still odd you have no side marker lights in a new harness. I'd take a really close look at that.

 

[Mando81]

Most common problem I have seen, and you did mention that you replaced a front light, is the grounding of the front lights (round ones in the grill, not the side markers). Those lights rely on the mounting screws and contact between the light housing and the grill itself to provide the ground connection. Rust, corrosion, or paint can interfere with the grounding of the light housings. I actually soldered a ground wire to the back of each housing on mine to provide a ground wire rather than rely on the mounting screws or just metal-to-metal contact with the grill.

Also remember that the CJ's blinkers work differently depending on when the marker/parking lights are on or off (headlight switch pulled half way or all the way). When no lights are turned on, the front blinkers and the front side markers flash together at the same time. When you turn on the marker lights, then they alternate when the blinker is on. So ensure that your front side marker bulbs are also good.

I assume your flasher unit is good since you said it was new and did work before replacing your front blinker. You have two flasher units at the fuse box. One is for the blinkers and one is for the emergency flashers. You can actually swap them as a test to see if the one for the blinkers is bad by using the other one for the flashers. They're the same device. If you have electronic flashers (required for LED bulb replacements) keep in mind that the polarity is important and the two sockets in the fuse box are reversed.

Wires going to the horn and wires to the washer fluid reservoir have nothing to do with your blinkers. The power and ground to the reservoir are for the small pump for the windshield washer that should be mounted in the base of the reservoir tank. The power wire to the horn comes from the horn relay under the dash, and the horn gets its ground from its mounting to the inner fender. So disregard those for purposes of diagnosing the blinker problem.

Your flashers work using a pull-push switch on the right underside of the steering column. This connects to the blinker switch inside the column. This pic shows a billet knob. Stock would have been black plastic. You push it in to turn the flashers on and pull it back out to turn them off.

View attachment 76167

I am having a similar issue, but my blinkers work when my lights are off, and they do not work at all when my lights are on. I will note though, that when my lights are off, my side and front blinkers alternate. From what you mentioned above, they should be in unison when lights are off, and are supposed to alternate when lights are on? What do you think would be my issue? I have not tried the flashers yet to see if they behave the same.....I will try that to see if I see any different results. I also have one front marker light that does not come on when lights are on, but does blink with blinkers when lights are off. brand new bulb, and I have power on the wire that comes from park light circuit.

 

[pat76cj]

I am having a similar issue, but my blinkers work when my lights are off, and they do not work at all when my lights are on. I will note though, that when my lights are off, my side and front blinkers alternate. From what you mentioned above, they should be in unison when lights are off, and are supposed to alternate when lights are on? What do you think would be my issue? I have not tried the flashers yet to see if they behave the same.....I will try that to see if I see any different results. I also have one front marker light that does not come on when lights are on, but does blink with blinkers when lights are off. brand new bulb, and I have power on the wire that comes from park light circuit.

While reviewing your wiring, lights, etc. Verify you have the correct bulb in the each location. Previous owner may have "made another bulb work".