Glowing turn signal indicator problem

[jt4406]

Just a FYI for anyone with an e body having the annoying problem of a slightly glowing turn signal dash indicator. I have had that little problem for years with my car but really no other indication of a problem. All exterior lights have always worked as they should, until recently. It began as a slow turn signal on the driver side. It would blink, but sometimes would be slow, or just stay on without blinking. When this would happen (hard to make it repeat in the garage where I could check it), I found I could pull slightly on the back of the right front park/turn light socket and it would immediately start flashing. I removed the part/turn light and removed the lense and bulb. I drilled a small hole in the edge of the metal socket and pinned it to the housing with a very small pin (tried soldering it, but couldn't make it stick). Anyway, grounding the socket to the housing solved the slow driver side turn signal AND the glowing turn signal dash indicator! Hope this helps some other e body owner with the same problem.
Jess in ky 

[Filthy Filbert]

Yup.  Bad grounds will make a turn signal indicator glow.   

On my first car, the indicator would glow when the parking lights were on.   The parking filament in the bulb was using the turn signal circuit as a ground because the socket itself had a poor ground.  The current feeding  backwards through the turn signal circuit would cause the indicator lamp in the dash to glow

[73TopBanana]

Thanks, have the same exact issues 

[73TopBanana]

Sorry for my vehicle repair ignorance, where and how would i check this grounding possible issue?
Have a good day. 

[71vert340]

I have a length of wire with alligator clips on the ends. Clip one end to some bare metal on the body ( bolt, screw, etc.) and touch the metal of the light housing or bulb socket. If it starts working right, you found your problem. I also use a volt/ohm meter on ohms scale to see if I have a good ground . Set to ohms scale and read between ground on body and light socket/housing. Should read close to zero ohms.
Terry

[73TopBanana]

Thanks for helping, go DAWGS, fan from NY or are you Cougars?