Quick Question: '83 QV US Turn Signal Issue

Troubleshooting inop RH turn signals:

1. LH turn signals works fine.
2. With RH turn signals selected, neither front nor rear lights operate and there's no detectable action from the relay.
3. All four Hazards function as intended.
   
4. Remove and reinstall the relay, select RH turn signals, and relay gives one, maybe two weak clicks, then nothing.

A bad turn signal relay or turn signal switch would seem to be the most likely cause, but not being much of an electrician I'm conflicted by both faults:

1. If a bad relay, how can it allow the LH turn signals and Flashers to operate normally, but not the RH turn signals?
2. If a bad switch, why can I hear the relay attempt to energize after removing and reinstalling it and selecting the RH turn signals?

It's a contradiction to me and wanted to bring a little (ok, a lot) more expertise to bear on the problem. Thanks,
- Dave

 

Could be a problem with the hazard switch, try to wiggle the hazard switch while it’s on the right hand turn signal

 

I'm with Mike on this issue. The hazard switch is evil. I removed all of the switch spade connections and cleaned them. Problem solved

 

Because a high resistance in the RH contacts of the turn signal switch can reduce the current in the coil of the flasher relay below what it needs to fully actuate the armature of the relay. Have you tried "wiping' the RH contacts by actuating the RH turn signal switch about a billion times .

(If your LH turn signal is working = the hazard switch is fine.)

 

Thanks Steve, that makes sense. Like I said; electrical systems...not my favorite thing in the world to work on.

No....knowing my luck, the damn switch would break on the 999,999,999th cycle ...but it's a great suggestion; I may try that - along with some electrical contact cleaner - next weekend.
- Dave

 

Use a little contact cleaner on the switch.

 

Yes, even doing that my do nothing as the (non-conductive) debris tends to be like little ball bearings so just rolls back and forth between the contact faces and never clears and/or the force between the contact faces is intentionally low to give long life. Could be something in the LH wiring just downstream of the turn signal switch, but getting to the turn signal switch is your next stop.
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Amazing pic, thanks Steve!
- Dave

 

You may be able to just "squirt' some contact cleaner in, operate the turn signal switch a few times, and get some benefit, as John suggested, without disassembly, but you can see in the photo how the (black Copper Oxide) wear debris from the contacts themselves collects on their faces.

 

@Steve Magnusson and @johnk...
Thanks for the suggestions. Between the electrical contact cleaner, cycling the turn signal switch, and cleaning-up the relay's contacts, the issue was resolved. Fortunately I was able to get by with approx. 999,982 fewer cycles of the turn signal switch than the recommended 1,000,000 cycles.
- Dave

 

If you are going to try contact cleaner I would suggest get serious and use DeoxIT