68 GTX- where do the turn signals/brake lights ground?

[Rocketman]

Everyone kept telling me my right rear turn light was not working even though it was but it was dim. I replaced the bulb today and now it works when tailights are on but the turn signal will not flash. The left turn signal still works so I figure it must be a ground or connections.

Someone told me today the mounting receptacle that receives the bulb also acts as a ground for the turn signal, is this true? I cut a piece of wire attaching it to the turn signal wire and touching metal screws in the trunk but it never did start flashing, but it would spark.

Very confused right now.

 

[WileE]

Of course you'll get a spark by connecting the hot wire to a ground. You have to ground the receptacle, as you call it.

 

[Bee383]

Bad flasher made me go crazy chasing things for a month before I finally figured it out

 

[Rocketman]

Bad flasher made me go crazy chasing things for a month before I finally figured it out

there is just one flasher though, isn't there? the left side turn signal works fine, our cars look like sisters

- - - Updated - - -

Of course you'll get a spark by connecting the hot wire to a ground. You have to ground the receptacle, as you call it.

I wrapped the wire around it and touched and alligator clipped it to a screw but it did not start blinking. My service manual says to clean the receptacle area real well which I will do next weekend

 

[Propwash]

Don't know if your '68 is like my '69 roadrunner, but I have a ground wire connection/wire right at the base of the lamp housing where the bulb socket seats. That wire runs through the harness and connects together the left and right side with a ring terminal, then is secured to the body with a small sheetmetal screw at the right lower edge of the trunk latch support. My '68 Coronet didn't have that, just relied on the housing itself for ground. I also had issues with the '68 and ground for the tail lamp bulb in the past. Had to wire brush clean the seating base on the tail lamp housing as well as pry out the spring tabs on the bulb socket so it would seat tighter. Issue went away. One way you could test it is run a chunk of wire that's secured to the bulb socket (not the wire) and the other end to a nice clean metal spot on the body. If it works when doing that, you have a ground issue going on. Good luck

 

[Rick@Laysons]

Make sure to check to see if a ground wire from the outside tube of the steering column is connected to the metal of the dash frame by where the column mounts to the dash.

 

[Rocketman]

Don't know if your '68 is like my '69 roadrunner, but I have a ground wire connection/wire right at the base of the lamp housing where the bulb socket seats. That wire runs through the harness and connects together the left and right side with a ring terminal, then is secured to the body with a small sheetmetal screw at the right lower edge of the trunk latch support. My '68 Coronet didn't have that, just relied on the housing itself for ground. I also had issues with the '68 and ground for the tail lamp bulb in the past. Had to wire brush clean the seating base on the tail lamp housing as well as pry out the spring tabs on the bulb socket so it would seat tighter. Issue went away. One way you could test it is run a chunk of wire that's secured to the bulb socket (not the wire) and the other end to a nice clean metal spot on the body. If it works when doing that, you have a ground issue going on. Good luck

Never could make the bulb socket ground to the light, ran a wire from that socket to a mounting screw for the lense and secured with a nut and washer. Turn signal is working again but I am not happy with the brightness of these lights. I am using 7528 bulbs, is there something brighter out there?

 

[Propwash]

I use 1157's...Plenty bright

 

[Rocketman]

I use 1157's...Plenty bright

Installed today looks like an improvement, thanks

 

[Propwash]

:icon_thumleft: Good to hear!