When I turn my lights on, either parking lights or headlights, the turn signal lights on the dash light up dimly then when I go to use the turn signals, lets say the left turn signal, the left turn signal dash light will blink normally,completely off then on but the other turn signal light will go from being dim to brighter blinking.
The outside lights blink and work like they are supposed to, its just the dash lights that are messed up.
70 Chevelle SS, non-guages dash.

but the other turn signal light will go from being dim to brighter blinking.
The outside lights blink and work like they are supposed to, its just the dash lights that are messed up.

One of the bulbs, sockets or ground wires on that side is causing the problem, power is backfeeding from the parking lamp circuit.

I think we have the same problem.. I will post my finding if I find out what the cause it.. If you find it.. please post..

Undees 70 replyed to my post on what to try.. i am going to research it when I get the time.

I dont know if this will help any but I had a parking light bulb go out (stilll is actually) and its still the same as it was before it went out. So could it still be backfeeding?

Usually this happens when the ground from the dash to the metal body is interrupted. There is a ground "ring" on the headlight switch. If the switch is loose or the screw attaching the wire to the body is undone then this problem occurs.

Have you worked on the dash lately? I had the same problem and found one of the ground screws loose on the printed circuit.

Did you ever find out what caused this problem? I have the same thing going on with my 72 SS car right now.
Bill

havent messed with it lately cause ive been trying to find the cause of a battery drain.

Tried messing with the grounds and as soon as I unscrewed the ground wires the fuse popped. I put the ground wires to a place that should have good connection and put in a new fuse and its still the same way.
I dont know what else to mess with that I can get to.

Tried messing with the grounds and as soon as I unscrewed the ground wires the fuse popped. I put the ground wires to a place that should have good connection and put in a new fuse and its still the same way.
I dont know what else to mess with that I can get to.

Which fuse? One circuit tried to power the other, the reason the fuse popped. Have you replaced any sockets? Start removing bulbs to see if any make the lights go out.

its the small 4amp fuse at the bottom of the block. I cant read what it goes to because the letters are worn off.

its the small 4amp fuse at the bottom of the block. I cant read what it goes to because the letters are worn off.
That fuse is for the dash lamps, here is a pic of a 70 fuse box.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/DSC00923.JPG

Tried messing with the grounds and as soon as I unscrewed the ground wires the fuse popped. I put the ground wires to a place that should have good connection and put in a new fuse and its still the same way.
I dont know what else to mess with that I can get to.
What ground wires were you messing with, under the dash, or the ones for the parking/turn signal sockets? (4 corners of the car)

The ones behind the dash

coming out of the wiring going to the instrument panel

Start by taking out one of the front parking lamp bulbs (I would try the pass one first), then check your turn signal lights on the dash with the lights on. If the turn signal lights on the dash go out, you have found your problem. If still on remove the drivers one and recheck. Post back

I had one of the parking lights go out but not the turn signal lights, and the dash lights were still on.

I had one of the parking lights go out but not the turn signal lights, and the dash lights were still on.
It doesn't make any difference. The 2 circuits are only close in 2 different places, ground for the dash, and at the parking/turn signal lamps.
1. The dash lights and the turn signal indicators ground at a common point, then a wire goes to ground. There are 3 ground wires for the dash, did you check all of them? Someone posted a pic (pics are worth a 1000 words) of all the dash grounds and I couldn't find it, below is the best explanation.

For 70 there were several ground connections. One being a ring and strap combo. the ring went around the headlight switch, the strap went from the back of the wiper switch to the metal frame for the dash. This provided a chassis ground for the headlight switch abd wiper switch. The harness had three ground wires, one went to the metal frame for the dash, one went to the bracket for the e-Brake adn the third went to the metal housing for the gauges. This provided ground for the gauges and all the other dash circuits (glove box light, lighter, heater control panel light, etc.).
2. At the parking/turn signal lamps. If the ground is poor, or if there is moisture or corrosion at the bottom of the socket power from the parking lamp circuit will try to ground through the turn signal circuit. Heres another post an on the subject

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84893

Did you ever find the problem? If so what was the fix.
Bill (88502)

OK I got in there today and looked it over. Heres what I did, I got a piece of wire about 2 feet long then put ring terminals on both ends.
I ran this wire from the ground screw on the cluster that is right in the middle on top to the dash mounting point near the A pillar. And thats all that I did and it doesnt look like the sig lights are on when I turn on the park lights but im gonna wait till dark so I can see it better.
Its gonna be wierd not having those lit up now but Ill have a better feeling too

OK I got in there today and looked it over. Heres what I did, I got a piece of wire about 2 feet long then put ring terminals on both ends.
I ran this wire from the ground screw on the cluster that is right in the middle on top to the dash mounting point near the A pillar. And thats all that I did and it doesnt look like the sig lights are on when I turn on the park lights but im gonna wait till dark so I can see it better.
Its gonna be wierd not having those lit up now but Ill have a better feeling too
If thats all you did, then the dash ground was the problem. Make sure to use star washers on ground screws as they dig into the metal to make a good connection. Also make sure you have the small ground wire from the battery neg to the fender.

Well I drove it last night and I can say wow its awesome having the turn signal lights off and my cluster is twice as bright, I can actually see the whole speedometer now.

Well I drove it last night and I can say wow its awesome having the turn signal lights off and my cluster is twice as bright, I can actually see the whole speedometer now.
:D :D :D

Usually this happens when the ground from the dash to the metal body is interrupted. There is a ground "ring" on the headlight switch. If the switch is loose or the screw attaching the wire to the body is undone then this problem occurs.

I'm no guru, but I recently had my dash ('74) COMPLETELY out. After putting it back in, I turned the ign on and some definite wierdness started. The wipers acted up. Lights that shouldn't blink blinked, etc. It was a major WTF moment.

I had done some harness cleanup while the dash was out, and that involved cutting some dead circuits and pulling some dead wires and such as that (seatbelt warning crap). So, I just knew that I had rewired / miswired something, but was truly clueless since I had carefully referenced my factory shop manual before cutting or pulling anything.

I was freaking out until I just happened to notice that a ground wire that goes under one of the dash mounting bolts was not connected. I hooked it up and Voila! Problem solved!

ALL of the grounds for the instrument panel are tied together into that one wire.

Connections, connections, connections.