I have posted on this problem already, but now have more info.I have what i think is a ground problem. With the lights off everything is fine. If i turn on the parking/headlights with the dash lights on, and turn on the right directional, the left one in the dash flashes, Same with the right. Everything outside works correct. I changed the headlight switch and everything seemed fine. But then i seen there were no dash or dome lights. I bought another switch and installed it tonight and when i signal left the right one flashes agin but as i dial back on the dash lights it fades to nothing and goes back to the left one flashing in the dash. I have checked everything from the fuseblock forward and couldn't find any problems. Looking for any info that could help me correct this problem. By the way it's a 72
Thanks for any input.
Buck

I have posted on this problem already, but now have more info.I have what i think is a ground problem. With the lights off everything is fine. If i turn on the parking/headlights with the dash lights on, and turn on the right directional, the left one in the dash flashes, Same with the right. Everything outside works correct. I changed the headlight switch and everything seemed fine. But then i seen there were no dash or dome lights. I bought another switch and installed it tonight and when i signal left the right one flashes agin but as i dial back on the dash lights it fades to nothing and goes back to the left one flashing in the dash. I have checked everything from the fuseblock forward and couldn't find any problems. Looking for any info that could help me correct this problem. By the way it's a 72
Thanks for any input.
Buck


Buck, first off, do you have a "sweep dash" like the Malibus do, or do you have Super Sport dash (if it's an SS dash, do you have full factory gauges, or just idiot lights?)...

There is a ground ring that connects between the headlamp switch and the plastic dash carrier, is this in place?

Take a piece of wire, connect one end to the actual firewall (find a bolt or something to clamp it to, make sure it's a good clean, shiny metal ground. Take the other end and connect it to the metal dash carrier frame. Any change?

Next step is to probe the dash grounding points, this is why I asked what kind of dash/gauges you have...

Aftermarket SS dash. Full gauges, and i double checked to make sure the ground ring was in place.I tried the ground wire but i will double check it agin. I also can hear my ele. fuel pump surge when the directionals flash.
Its odd because if i dim the dash lights all the way down it works right. If i remove the front marker bulbs it seems to work right also. they just flash real slow.

Try running separate grounds to each of the turnsignal bulbs. Connect a wire from the metal base of the bulb (just shove it between the socket and the metal twist-in part of the bulb), and run the other end to a good ground, like the bumper. How do things work now?

The lights on the outside of the car work fine. its just the arrows in the dash. There is already ground wires built into the sockets that ground to the core support. I thought maybe i should run a ground from core support to frame as its mounted on rubber gromets. But i will try that as well. I really apreciate your comments as they help me think and recheck things i might have screwed up or overlooked.

Buck, Im still in the same boat as you. Exactly the same boat. I rebuilt a tilt column that I have yet to install and a TC member said it could be the Ignition switch mounted on the column itself that is/has gone bad or has gotten out of adjustment even though the car will start.

I hereby offer a cs of beer or refresment of choice to anyone who can help buck and I out of this perdicament!:beers:

I have posted on this problem already, but now have more info.I have what i think is a ground problem. With the lights off everything is fine. If i turn on the parking/headlights with the dash lights on, and turn on the right directional, the left one in the dash flashes, Same with the right. Everything outside works correct. I changed the headlight switch and everything seemed fine. But then i seen there were no dash or dome lights. I bought another switch and installed it tonight and when i signal left the right one flashes agin but as i dial back on the dash lights it fades to nothing and goes back to the left one flashing in the dash. I have checked everything from the fuseblock forward and couldn't find any problems. Looking for any info that could help me correct this problem. By the way it's a 72
Thanks for any input.
Buck

Most likely poor dash grounds. The dash has several circuits. When the grounds are poor, one circuit will "try' to ground through another circuit that is not on. make sure all of your dash grounds are in place. The ground ring on headlight switch is only for the dome light. See pics below for grounds.... All pics are Elree Colby's

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/70-72_pccard.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/70grd2.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/70grd11.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/70-71_dash_grounds.jpg

Mark, I would be really surprized if it were the ignition switch. But at this point i'm listening to all on this matter. As i stated the headlight switch i installed that solved the issue had no working dash or dome light ciurcut. I was amazed when i installed the new switch and watched the lights go from backwards to working as i turned the dashlights from high to off. I still am quite sure this is a ground issue. we just have to find it. I will stay in touch as i make progress. (if & when) I just came back from the shop. I snugged the grounds on the ciurcut board i could reach and i tried a ground wire from the metal on the housing to ground with no luck. I sure would hate to have to tear the dash out to find this.
Buck

Ditto, I'll be installing the new column week of the 11th May so ill keep yall posted although I dont think it will help but we'll see. Something went heywire as everything worked perfectly for a while then your symtems started occuring with my dash and hasnt quit so its something that you and I have done the same and just havnt figured it out yet.

I was amazed when i installed the new switch and watched the lights go from backwards to working as i turned the dashlights from high to off. I still am quite sure this is a ground issue. we just have to find it.

This is because the TS indicators are grounding through the dash lights when the dash lights are not on. All the bulbs share the grounds.

Try pulling the dash lamps fuse, what do the TS indicators do?

Make sure grounds are bolted to clean shiny metal and use star washers.

I will post back results on the fuse removal this eve. 4 pm, OK i done a little more checking this eve. If i unhook the directional harness on the lower colunm, the turn signal bulbs still glow. If i remove insterment fuse,disables the dash lights and directionals work correct.( No Glow) If i remove tail light fuse, the turn signals stop glowing(Byt Work). If i remove the front marker light bulb the turn signals stop glowing. It's got to be a ground problem.7:00 PM I just changed the flashers.(nothing) I went to the front of the car, pulled out the l. front marker light. L. turn signal indicator was out but r. was twice as bright. Same when removing other marker.

Any updates? Mine is still the same as yours.

Now i have the dash out on the bench. I bought a new dash from OPG and a new printed curcuit board. They told me on the phone they have a new dash that has chrome trim instead of the silver paint. I was testing all the snap in lights from the back of the dash and i found 1 of them that was bad. I dont know if that could be causing all this but i found another one that tested good. Im not sure, that if 1 went bad it may break the ground on the circuit board.I will post back in a week or so, after i get the new dash in.

1971ss454Elco.
Marc.......I got the new dash installed tonight with the new printed circuit and my problems are gone this time. I couldn't see any problems with the printed circuit but as i pointed out earlier i had one bad socket. The little twist in Bulbs for the printed circuit. when i tested it with a known good bulb i could not get it to lite. I almost want to think that socket was causing the problem as maybe it broke the circuit when it went bad. now all i got left is to decide wether i want to cough up $600.00 for the new factory lookng stereo with all the bells and whistles. I'm going to ponder that for a couple more weeks. All i know is i'm not cutting up my new dash for the alpine stereo and i'm not sure if i want to mount it in the trunk either. If you decide to tackle your dash issue, I'll let you know it went pretty darn smooth. I got a few small things left but it only took 6-7 hours for the whole job & the results were worth it.

Really? A bad bulb socket would do that? Come to think of it this all started when I reinstalled the Fiber optic ashtray light socket with FI cord lead. It looked good but I could be wrong.

Well, swapped out the column to a tilt which had all new parts in it and problem still persists. So i guess Ill have to pull the dash again at some point and change the printed circut as thats the only part thats original on the dash all the rest is either NOS or repro parts:clonk: