Re: left turn signal doesn't work

Posted by shinyribs on May 21, 2012; 4:10am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/left-turn-signal-doesn-t-work-tp4004068p4004267.html

Everything that runs off 12 volts has to have a ground to work. It is what makes a complete circuit for the voltage to come from the positive side of your battery,thru the device( in this case,your turn signal) and then back to ground. The negative side of your battery is ground. The negative cable off your battery is attached directly to your frame and engine,so they are grounds also.

It does sound like it would be a grounding issue,but it seems unlikely that you would lose both the front and the rear together,at the same time,due to a ground issue. Tools is right,the housing of the turn signal itself could be what grounds the light.If so,then clean the mounting surface/attaching fasteners of the light and a proper ground would be restored.

  To know if the housing of the signal is the ground or not , look and see how many wires are going into the signal. If there are two wires going into each signal one of those should be your ground. If the wiring is all stock it most likely will be a green wire. If there is only one wire going into the signal then the housing is your ground.
 
  But since your front and rear stopped working at the same time you could very well have a loose or cut wire on the positive or hot side of the wire.
 
 Your right side works so you know that you have voltage at the switch,so that part is good. Would have need to find which wire coming out of the switch feeds the left turn signals and check it for voltage. Chances are if it is a loose/cut wire you will be able to just see that and repair it without needing a meter to check for voltage.

 But check your bulbs. I have blown two bulbs on one circuit many times before. It seems highly unlikely,but it can happen and it is easy to check and fix. Start with the simplest things and work your way out from there.
Good luck!