69 Turn Signal AND Reverse Lights Not Working

[Jack O.]

Hi everyone,

Anyone know what would cause both the turn signals and the reverse lights to stop working other than the fuse. No blown fuse and I have power at the fuse. Turn signal does not even light up in dash and since the reverse lights are not working as well but the hazards do, do not suspect the flasher. I see some of the wiring comes together at the column area, it's a T/T column. Since it's only these 2 items not working, and it's not a fuse, hoping someone else has experienced this before. Everything else - all lights, hazards, other dash indicators, etc. - work.

Thanks!

[Jack O.]

Re: 69 Turn Signal AND Reverse Lights Not Working

So diagnosing the reverse lights a bit I confirmed that the pink wire going down to the trans mounted switch goes hot but I never get the light green wire to go hot when in reverse. As far as I know that's a simple switch and therefore indicates the switch or connections at the switch are bad. Correct? I should be able to simply connect the pink to the light green and have reverse lights (assuming pink is hot).

If I'm on track above then the reverse lights outage has nothing to do with the turn signals not working and I'll diagnose them separately. Someone suggested the signal issue may be the turn signal switch.

[Leif A.]

Re: 69 Turn Signal AND Reverse Lights Not Working

So diagnosing the reverse lights a bit I confirmed that the pink wire going down to the trans mounted switch goes hot but I never get the light green wire to go hot when in reverse. As far as I know that's a simple switch and therefore indicates the switch or connections at the switch are bad. Correct? I should be able to simply connect the pink to the light green and have reverse lights (assuming pink is hot).

If I'm on track above then the reverse lights outage has nothing to do with the turn signals not working and I'll diagnose them separately. Someone suggested the signal issue may be the turn signal switch.

Jack,
Could be but before you go down that rabbit hole might I suggest that you check all the pins at the half-moon connector at the end of the wiring harness for the turn signal switch where it connects under the dash. Those pins can become displaced rather easily and cause the problems you're having.

[Jack O.]

Re: 69 Turn Signal AND Reverse Lights Not Working

Thanks. I probed my harmonica connector at base of column, which was fully connected, and have no power at either left or right signal terminals. I'm thinking that points to the switch in the column. Thoughts?
Been in there a couple of times over the last 6 months to get horn working reliably. My key buzzer also doesn't work so maybe I'll fix that as well. Been using Jim Shea's docs.

[Mark E.]

Re: 69 Turn Signal AND Reverse Lights Not Working

Jack,

A few ideas-

- Power from the fuse goes to the turn signal flasher holder then to the back up light switch, so this is a common failure point. BUT you say there's power at the back up switch, so this circuit is okay.

- You checked that the back up switch has power. Do the back up lights come on if you bypass the back up light switch at the trans? If yes, this points to the switch or its adjustment. The switch adjustment with the reverse linkage is fussy and a common problem.

- Turn signals and hazard lights have separate flashers, so don't assume the turn signal flasher is okay because the hazards work.

- Do you have the shop wiring diagram? It's indispensable while troubleshooting stuff like this.

[Jack O.]

Re: 69 Turn Signal AND Reverse Lights Not Working

Thanks Mark, you nailed it! I forgot about the "other" flasher mounted on the passenger side. The passenger side dash pad is not installed and I have the related wiring bundled up out of the way, with the flasher removed, while I install new carpet.
And yes, I did bypass the switch and the reverse lights did work so will be looking closer at that switch.