Another weird lightswitch gremlin

[DaraSue]

On my way to Chicago, pulling off in Cheyenne at sunset. I've driven about 450 miles today. When I turned on my lights, the left turn signal indicator lit up. The signal wasn't actually on AFAICT. Further investigation while parked revealed that it was actually happening when I put the parking lights on as well, and the front driver's side and rear passenger side yellow lights weren't lighting up. I checked the 2 and 8 fuses and they looked fine. Anybody have any ideas?

If I can't fix it it's not the end of the world b/c I've got plenty of time to get there only driving during daylight, but this isn't a sign that my electrical system is about to catch on fire, is it?

[Lwanmtr]

Turn signals work normally?

I wouldnt think its an indicator of a big boom coming (could be wrong)..I'd be more concerned if it was flickering/dimming, etc when you turned the lights on.

If you can check the light sockets and bulbs for corrosion, could be a bad socket causing a short...I have to replace one of mine because its making my indicators fail intermittently.

[DMC5180]

Rear ambers should NOT be ON with park/taillights.

Left turn indicator ON steady with park light. Is a sign the left front bulb is not seated properly in the socket , corroded or the spring in the socket has collapsed/broken.

A Very common condition with Old Cars.

A Quick fix for Mike.


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[DaraSue]

Looking at it again this morning, the turn signals are working normally, but the left front and right rear side lights don't come on. I took them out and tried to make sure the bulb part was all the way in, but it didn't help. Another DeLorean-friend suggested it was a bad ground wire. I didn't see anything obviously loose or dangling so I'm probably just going to have Mike sort it out.

While I was poking around I also discovered that my engine cover release isn't working. It was fine yesterday too, arrgh...

[DMC5180]

If you mean side markers, each one has independent ground points. Mike will sort it out though. What else are you having them work on?

Kind of a long drive for an Oil Change.[emoji6]


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[DaraSue]

If you mean side markers, each one has independent ground points. Mike will sort it out though. What else are you having them work on?

Kind of a long drive for an Oil Change.[emoji6]


Yeah I think so, the skinny lights on the sides by the bumpers?

I was originally just going to get the rear shocks looked at because it rides rougher than I'm hearing it's supposed to, but it's still starting rough on cold starts so I'm going to have them prioritize that, and now this electrical weirdness. Mostly I wanted an excuse to drop it off there so I could pick it up and drive to Philly and back without having to take a month off work at a time. I would have waited until next year to make such an ambitious trip but due to my employer's failure to plan for a staffing shortage they've known was coming for 30 years. I'm not sure I'll be able to get this much time off for the next few years, and I really wanted to show the car to my uncle who's 86.

One small victory, at least I figured out how to open the cover (it was too tight against the fascia on the left side so I just had to pop it loose with a screwdriver). Something else for the project list...

[DaraSue]

Well, when I went to demonstrate this at MW, it didn't do it. But a couple of the side markers were out (one of them came back on when thumped) and when they took the bulbs out one of them was damaged and another one was just kind of flimsily put together so when they changed out all the bulbs and put some dielectric grease in the sockets everything appeared to be hunky-dory. One gremlin successfully apprehended (hopefully)!

[DMC5180]

Do you still have the left turn indicator issue?


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[Lwanmtr]

Next up.... windsheild wipers will come on with the lightswitch :hihi2:

[DaraSue]

Do you still have the left turn indicator issue?



No, that one went away on its own sometime between last night and when I got here. I did drive with the lights on for probably 10-20 miles last night and it was still doing it then so idk...


Next up.... windsheild wipers will come on with the lightswitch :hihi2:
Ssshhhh, don't give it any ideas, lol...

[Lwanmtr]

I'd never give it ideas....hehe

[DMC5180]

No, that one went away on its own sometime between last night and when I got here. I did drive with the lights on for probably 10-20 miles last night and it was still doing it then so idk...


Ssshhhh, don't give it any ideas, lol...

Since you're leaving it there for the week, Dave may drive it home from the shop to be able to drive it early in the morning when it's really cool out. A few trips back and forth with the lights on might get that gremlin to show up again.


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[DaraSue]

Since you're leaving it there for the week, Dave may drive it home from the shop to be able to drive it early in the morning when it's really cool out. A few trips back and forth with the lights on might get that gremlin to show up again.


Yeah, they're going to have their tech, Jason, drive it home to test it out since he lives the farthest away. He comes in early, too.