My girlfriend pointed out a problem I didn't know I had....

In my 68 when on the brakes, both brake lights work fine. Turn on the left turn signal, and the left light blinks and the right brake light works. Turn on the right turn signal while on the brakes, and the right light blinks, but the left brake light goes out.

Maybe related, a while ago, the right turn signal canceler quit working.

Where do I start to look to fix my lights? Both bulbs work, and the sockets work, seeing as the brake and tail lights work normally. I think I need to start by looking under the steering wheel at the turn signal mechanism? Any ideas? Thanks!

You may have something broken/worn inside the turn signal switch.

Mine does the same thing on one side. At the moment, I can't remember which, side, but I know that if I tap '"upwards" or "left" before I hit the brakes (bit not to the point where I engage the signal) then the brake lights work correctly. I met a guy with a Ford at a car show that clued me in. It turns out (no pun intended) that there is a pin/clip of some type that holds the mechanism in place that is broken allowing the switch to get a little cocked.

Note, this is not the fix. It just addresses the symptom. I just haven't fixed it yet.

I am not a turn signal switch expert, but I do have a paper that will assist you in disassembling your steering column in order to replace the switch.

(The procedure is not particularly difficult but it is somewhat tricky in that you need to leave the switch screws in place until the whole column head unit is removed.)

The paper can be found at: http://www.corvettefaq.com/acar/67-68A&FStdColumnD&R109AU05.doc

JIML82

Problem sounds typical of a missing ground to the rear socket. Take a piece of wire. Touch one end to a known good ground. Touch the other end to the light bulb base, right where it meets the glass. Have someone work the signals and brakes. See if it starts to work right.

Thanks, I'll look at the grounds next time I get a few minutes.


Also, thanks for the tips on how to take the column apart. I will have to do that anyway to fix the signal canceller.... all I need is a little free time..... :)

Problem sounds typical of a missing ground to the rear socket. Take a piece of wire. Touch one end to a known good ground. Touch the other end to the light bulb base, right where it meets the glass. Have someone work the signals and brakes. See if it starts to work right.

:( Didn't work...

All that did was make the lights work incorrectly like they are still.

I'm still looking to fix the trun signals because the non-cancel on right hand turns was really annoying! Maybe the brake light will work right after I do that...

If your turn signal cancel doesn't work, I'm even more suspicious of the turn signal switch. When you get into it, look for cracks in the plastic or anything that doesn't allow it to work exactly as intended. This is a piece with fairly close tolerance.

Again, mine is doing a similar thing. I have had it apart enough to see a piece that is broken on the switch that makes it fail in one direction, but the opposing piece is there that makes it work in the other. I worked the mechanism several times and watched it closely. As I mentioned, right now I just tap the lever to make it work; it sort of corrects the position of the switch Not the fix, but I haven't gotten to changing the part.

I just replaced the turn signal switch in my 68 Beaumont. The steering column is the same as the Chevelle column. There were 2 different switches on the 68 Chevelles. If you remove your steering wheel and see that the plastic on the switch is white, that one is still available from your local Chevy dealer if they have books that go back that far for about $80. They will have to order it but if should be there in a couple days. The dealer I went to had mine the next day. An aftermarket switch is available from Advanced Auto Parts for about $50. Now for the bad news. If the switch is orange you have a problem. That switch is not available from GM or any aftermarket dealers. The only way to get one it to find a NOS part. This switch was made for the 67/68 Corvette with a tilt wheel but was used on a few 67/68 Chevelles. You can find them on Ebay but they usually sell for $250 to $300. Not knowing about the 2 different switches, I bought the one from GM before I removed my steering wheel. Asx luck would have it, I needed the other one. It took me a week of researching to figure out what switch I needed because there are no part numbers on the old one. I had to buy mine off Ebay.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE COLUMN HEAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. Once I had my steering wheel off, it took about 25 to 30 minutes to get the old switch out and install the new one. If you need to replace the switch, I can send you instructions.
James

The signal switch is not easy to replace. However it can be repaired in place. As can be seen by this (http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/e5/79/53_1_b.JPG) pic of a replacement cam, repairing of the signal switch in place is not uncommon. After removing the steering wheel to access the switch. Start by removing the two metal spring/clips pic1 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/68sgnlsw.JPG). Rotate the cam clock wise so that the it clears the bottom plastic retaining clip, pull the cam up and rotate CCW top of the clip pic2 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/68sgnlsw2.jpg). Use a small screw driver to carefully pry the top plastic clip to release the cam pic3 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/68sgnlsw3.JPG). The cam should be free to remove -See Note. Clean the switch contacts, check for excessive wear of all switch contact points. The cam has spring loaded contact plates, make sure that they move freely pic4 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/68sgnlsw5.JPG). If warn the plates can be replaced the same basic contacts were used in many later year switches. If all looks good, none of the plastic broken, lubricate and reassemble. For lube I use a white lithium grease, has worked well on numerous switch repairs over the years.

Note: in pic4 arrow points to a plastic clip that can make it hard to remove the cam.

Excellent info, thanks guys! I think I have the white switch. It's orangish on the top, greenish on the bottom, but it looks like it used to be white. It looks like the switch in the pics that Elree posted. Those pictures were helpful, I think my swithc is missing one of those springs, and there's at least one little plastic tab that's broken off and layin in the bottom. Don't know where the spring is...it might have never been there when I bought the car.

My car had obvoisly been taken apart and reassembled by someone who shouldn't have access to tools. My dash was installed with varoius wood screws, and there were some fine wiring updates that included twisted wires and elec tape. It wouldn't suprise me if the turn signal switch was installed incorrectly, or was broken, and installed anyway, with or without all the pieces. :)

Thanks for the pictures and the info! Will come in very handy when I finish tearing things apart and reassembling :)

I am in the middle of replacing my turn signal switch on my 68 and just read you posting on the subject from september.
I was wondering if you have a exploded diagram of how it should go back together correctly? I have found three half inch springs inside the column that I am not sure where they go.

Thanks,

Tom

Thanks to a fellow member, JimL82, for helping me out!
Here is the link he sent me with the exploded diagram.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/67-68A&FStdColumnD&R1-31JA06.doc

Elree Colby,
Do you mind if I use your turn signal switch pictures and text in my paper on disassembly and repairing the Chevelle steering column?

One (or four) pictures are worth a thousand words.

JIML82