[ChiefPonch]

So I thought I'd start here because most of you have way more experience than I do and maybe someone has run across this before or maybe there's something simple I'm overlooking.

When I use my turn signals (regardless of direction), both signal lights on the dash flash. The signal lights on the rear of the car are working perfectly, but the fronts are not lighting up at all. Also, when I pull the headlamp switch out to the parking lights only position, again, both turn signal indicators in the instrument cluster light up but no parking lights in the front. When I pull the switch all the way out to the headlamps on position, the turn signal lights in the cluster go off but still no parking lights in front. Everything in the back works fine....turn signals (even though they are both flashing on the dash), tail lights and brake lights. Headlights work fine but no parking or turn signal lights in the front. I did pull one of the front turn signal bulbs and it looked a little cloudy but both elements were intact. I replaced it anyway and nothing changed. Haven't pulled the other side yet. Any help?

Thanks!

[Deadhead]

Most likely the ground is screwed up between the parking lamps/bulbs and the body. Test by running a known good ground to them. You may have to scratch and scrape on the housing etc. to get good contact. That may not reveal the issue. You also will need to push on the bulb while the signal is actuated. Also try jamming some Alum. foil down in between the bulb and the housing. Try all kinds of pushing and twisting of the socket and crimp where it meets the white housing. I have had this issue before. Pretty sure I ended up with Alum. foil jammed in my current driver bulb. Been working for over a year since I had a similar type issue. I was actually able to get mine to work out of the bumper and then when put back in it would not function right. Had to take it in and out a half dozen times to get a permanent fix. Do not ask me how you get it in and out. You will just have to turn it until it slides out. Like a Rubick's Cube.

Check wires and connectors to the lights as well. This might not be it, but I'm pretty sure you will find the Prob. in the front lamps/housing. Pretty much forget about finding another in good shape. If yours is not badly rusted, I would work with it to make it work.

Another thing to look at is where the wires pass through the steering column. Non-tilt column shift cars will often have a short or broken wire where the ribbon passes through the metal.

[gary bennett]

i had a similer prob. with my 63 bonne. it was a dirty directional switch down on the steering column. take apart but be careful of small springs.

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by ChiefPonch

So I thought I'd start here because most of you have way more experience than I do and maybe someone has run across this before or maybe there's something simple I'm overlooking.

When I use my turn signals (regardless of direction), both signal lights on the dash flash. The signal lights on the rear of the car are working perfectly, but the fronts are not lighting up at all. Also, when I pull the headlamp switch out to the parking lights only position, again, both turn signal indicators in the instrument cluster light up but no parking lights in the front. When I pull the switch all the way out to the headlamps on position, the turn signal lights in the cluster go off but still no parking lights in front. Everything in the back works fine....turn signals (even though they are both flashing on the dash), tail lights and brake lights. Headlights work fine but no parking or turn signal lights in the front. I did pull one of the front turn signal bulbs and it looked a little cloudy but both elements were intact. I replaced it anyway and nothing changed. Haven't pulled the other side yet. Any help?

Thanks!

Had FIRST HAND experiance with this occasional problem. Had an auto elec (that I know and trust), fail to find the cause.

Long story short, I found the problem by default.

CURE: Make a ground wire direct from the instrument panel straight to the body of the car.

Simple to do. Just take out one of the metal self tappers from the back of the speedo cluster, put a ground wire under it and replace the screw. The other end, just find a suitable place under the dash that you can screw the wire to.

Try it and let us know if you are successful. Nothing to lose otherwise.

Ian

[Ben M.]

I'm with Ian. Usually when I see both turn signal lights illuminating in the dash cluster like that I go straight to cluster ground issues. The signal bulbs up front not working are probably closer to what Deadhead said, so there very well may be 2 problems at work here (I solved my front signal bulb issue with dielectric grease).

And until 1968, when you turned the headlights on the parking lights did not come on. They only came on when you had the first notch of the headlight switch pulled out and turned off again once you turned the headlights on. Working as intended it sounds like there.

[ChiefPonch]

Thank you all so much for the advice. I worked late tonight and I work again early in the AM so I won't get a chance to look at it until tomorrow afternoon. The fronts don't light up even with the hazard signals, so I don't think it can be the switch on the column, but I think you're on to something with the cluster ground & the possibly the front sockets as well. I didn't know the parking lights didn't light up with the headlights on, but that makes sense now too! I'll update when I figure it all out.

Thanks again!