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Turn Signal Short?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Anthony Cosentino, Oct 10, 2019.

  1. Oct 10, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2019
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    9
    Hi Folks
    I have a '56 Willys CJ5. My front left turn signal wasn't working. I took apart the signal switch and pulled out a ton of mud, and put it back together. After that, the light in the signal switch stopped working, and all the signals decided to quit not long after.

    I tested the relay under the dash and it's clicking fine on both left and right turns. However, there's no juice getting to the front left turn signal light. I cleaned out the socket, thinking it might be a grounding issue with the single contact bulb, but it continued to not function.

    I tested the lead from the relay where it goes into the signal switch on the steering column, and my tester was flashing. So it would seem to me that the problem might be inside the signal switch. I actually bought a new bulb and put it inside the switch assembly, and it flashed for a while. I started up the jeep again, and the bulb inside the assembly no longer lights.

    It seems to me there must be some kind of short inside the assembly (Grote SAEQQC85). I checked the Grote turn signal wiring diagrams here:
    https://www.grote.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Turn-signal-switch-wiring-diagram.pdf

    It didn't really help. Does anyone know if there's something within this assembly that I might need to take care of to remedy of this problem (or any other suggestions?)?
    With thanks,
    Tony
     
  2. Oct 10, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Maybe not a short unless you are seeing smoke, more likely an open. These switches are finicky with old age, but can be cleaned up and re-habbed.

    Open it up carefully and don't lose any parts. There have been some good threads here on the rebuild. Try searching.

    And welcome! I also have a '56. My turn signals don't work...:oops: But everyone around here knows where I'm going.
     
  3. Oct 10, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    Dec 25, 2016
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    534
    That's an interesting switch for sure--it has the connections, male spades, on the outside of the switch but it looks similar to a Signal stat 900 [which seems to be the other non-OEM switch most Jeepers use].

    I think you're going to have to go in for some minor surgery. Take pics along the way!
     
    Anthony Cosentino likes this.
  4. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    Aug 21, 2019
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    Thanks PeteL,
    I'll open it up and see if there's something I can tighten up.
    My new bulb appears to have fried. Just not sure why.
    Will keep y'all posted.
    Tony
     
    Hellion likes this.
  5. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    Thanks Hellion
    Will do.
    Tony
     
    Hellion likes this.
  6. Oct 11, 2019
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    Welcome from Michigan, Tony. I have never seen the Grote turn signal, but Grote Lights and Accessories are in every auto parts store around here, I have Grote tail lights on my Jeep, they are a large supplier for trailer lights and automotive lighting, so I would think the turn signal would be good quality too. You probably just need to sort it all out, Good Luck.
     
  7. Oct 11, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Is your '56 still six volt?
     
  8. Oct 11, 2019
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    Last edited: Oct 11, 2019
  9. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    Aug 21, 2019
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    Thanks Rick
    I'll try to pull the switch apart this weekend. Will keep the group posted...
    Have a good weekend.
    Tony
     
  10. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    Aug 21, 2019
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    No, it's been converted to 12 volt.
     
  11. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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  12. Oct 11, 2019
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Have a question. For what reason do you run your head lights through the turn signal switch?
     
  13. Oct 11, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Could that be why your bulb burned out? 1956 was OEM six volt.
     
  14. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    Good question. I'm pretty sure my headlights do run thru the sig switch, but I'd have to verify that tomorrow.
     
  15. Oct 11, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    I don't know. It was working while I was test driving it, and it looks to be an old bulb. I just put in a 14.4 volt bulb and it seems to have burned out too. Just got in. Will be checking it in the morning.
     
  16. Dec 12, 2019
    Anthony Cosentino

    Anthony Cosentino New Member

    Eastern Ontario,...
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    Update on my situation with the turning signal issue. I ended up taking it to a guy who's rebuilt a lot of cars, and worked on quite a few Willys. He had a look at the wiring, and the number of different splices and open hanging wires from the last 50 years of work was crazy. It was a bird's nest under the dash. We opted to go with a new harness, and I'm confident that's going to take care of the turn signal issue.

    One of the things he suggested early on was to replace the single contact bulb socket with a 2 contact socket, and run a wire from the ground terminal and ground it onto the tub. This, he said, alleviated most turn signal issues. My wires were such a mess that the whole system needed to be replaced. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
     
  17. Dec 13, 2019
    baldjosh

    baldjosh Member

    pacific north west
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    Starting fresh with new wires should...in the end, make problems a lot easier to track down
    keep us posted (y)
     
  18. Dec 13, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    IMO you have three ways you can approach this. First (what I would do) print out the factory wiring diagram 2 or 3 times size and trace out the circuits so I understood what I had and where all the wires should go. When you use the two-contact bulb/socket, you have one regular filament (running lights) and one bright filament (turn signals and stop lights). The Jeep way of doing the wiring, shown on the Binky link above, is to send both the brake lights and the indicators (turn signals) through the turn signal switch. Maybe this is what you are confusing with headlights? The headlights have nothing to do with the indicators.

    Pretty sure all the '56 needed legally in the day was running lights and brake lights. If the indicators were added, they would have bolted on the aftermarket switch to the column and run separate wires, I'd think. This may be what you have for your indicators. There's no possible way to get all three functions (running, brake, and indicators) from a single contact bulb. Even when you have 2 contacts/filaments, the turn signal switch overrides the brake lights to make that side blink, when the brakes and indicators are both on (again, see the Binky link above).

    I would go on to fix the existing harness and end up with the features that I wanted. Not difficult for me. Assuming that the harness had not been damaged by fire or similar catastrophe.

    #2 - If you want something like the original Jeep wiring, Walck's sells reproduction (repop) harnesses for these Jeeps. You could choose to have indicators or not, but you'd need the Jeep SignalStat colomn switch to go with that. If you have something else that was added, you would need to work around that or source a Jeep original switch to work with the repop harness. Post pictures of what you have now.

    Third approach would be an aftermarket "hot rod" harness. These are cheaper than the repops, but you are more on your own to make it work.
     
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