Turn signal issue has me stumped

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by DLament, Mar 22, 2024.

  1. DLament

    DLament Bobtail Member

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    So I just put a new center light panel on my truck and I'm having issues with my turn signals. There are 6 lights total, the way I wired it is basically half and half, 3 blink as turnsignals. I got everything wired yesterday and plugged it in and everything workd fine so today i tucked the wires in neatly got everything buttoned up, plugged it in an I have no turn signals. The hazard lights work just fine, blink all 6 lights like it should but no turn signals. I thought it was in the flasher but if I use my test light in place of the lights (getting power & ground from the same spot as the light) the turn signal blinks as it should, plug the light in, nothing. I got power direct from the battery and both the high and low on the light are working. I'm stumped the only thing I can think of is some kind of low voltage safety on the truck? The trucks been sitting a little while in the shop so maybe the batteries are down?
     
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  3. bjytech

    bjytech Light Load Member

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    Few more details would be nice, what kind of truck are you working on?
    I'm guessing the new lights are all LED and your test light uses a filament bulb?
    If so since you say 4 ways work fine I'm guessing you need to install a flasher designed to work with LED lights, they typically don't draw enough load to make a standard flasher work correctly with just the truck lights.
    I usually install a LED flasher that has a ground wire coming off it it (Grote #44891). some people opt to put resistors on the lights but all I see with those are more issues.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2024
    DLament and Last Call Thank this.
  4. DLament

    DLament Bobtail Member

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    My apologies, the truck is a 2007 western star 4900. I also have an LED test light, had to double check that after I read your post to make sure.
     
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  5. Lazer

    Lazer Road Train Member

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    Unbutton everything, and see if the signals work.
     
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  6. DLament

    DLament Bobtail Member

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    I unplugged the weatherpack pigtail I have on the panel that disconnects it from the truck and the turn signals will not flash but the hazards still will.
     
  7. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    What is your actual voltage ?
     
  8. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    I'm too tired to reason out if it could be part of the problem, but my 07 Star was wired from the factory to flash both turn signals and brake lights with 4 ways. I vaguely recall there being something in the body builder manual on how to change that, but I never did mine.

    Hopefully this might trigger something for one of y'all with a functional brain.
     
  9. DLament

    DLament Bobtail Member

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    Just under 12v is what the dash says
     
  10. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    Check you voltage with a meter
     
  11. DLament

    DLament Bobtail Member

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    I charged the truck overnight so it's good. I tested the voltage at the truck plug and when the turn signal is on I have 4v and it doesn't blink. If I use my test light to jump from the ground to the signal pin it blinks the test light as it should and the voltage jumps to 12v when it's blinking. I'm just confused as to why the test light will blink on the turn signal but the lights won't. It can't be a ground issue because they work as running lights and the power for the signal wires is okay because the 4 ways work using the same wire as the turn.
     
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