turn signals and radio cutting out?

redspiderveloce · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 09:50 PM

Hello Everyone,

It's been a while since I've been on the board. Anyway, I have an electrical gremlin that has been driving me crazy on my 84. I'm not sure if I should post this here or the electrical section. Now for the problem. While driving down the road my turn signals and radio will stop working at random intervals. Both happen at the same time. Everything else functions fine. I have no idea where I should start. I believe there could be a problem with the turn signal relay. Any ideas on this one? I have messed with the grounds, but I can't find all of them. I also visually checked fuses. Should I just replace them all? Seems cheap enough and easy insurance. One last thing to mention, I have been chasing down a few of these electrical gremlins since the front fender got bashed in. This has been more recent but maybe related?

Thanks everyone,
Andy

**Tifosi** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 12:27 AM

Mabe related, mabe just weak clips in the fusebox.

They heat up depending on how much load is going through them, then you hit bumps and general vibration, and that now hotter metal is easier to bend.

Eventually you start to get things like flickering lights, or even outright blown fuses as they rattle up and down arcing and sparking in the clips. (they'll look just fine, but they won't work worth a nickle)

It also beats the hell out of the ends of the fuses, especially it they are lead strip type. Knocks a nice circular ding into them, and then they just stay loose until they are replaced and the clips tightened up.

Could even be a partially dislodged connection on the back of the fusebox as a result of the accident.

jmb · #3 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 07:41 AM

I had an issue with my front drivers side signal going out.There was a ground wire underneath near the bottom of the rad.I cleaned that it was OK.I thought it was for the headlights though but I was there and put the die grinder with a wire wheel on the connection area and cleaned it all up.the signal was OK after that.

There is one on each side near the rad.Good luck........I finally got most of my electrical issues resolved.

**ghnl** · #4 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 08:02 AM

According to the excellent wire diagrams that PapaJam provides, fuse #5 (counting L>R) controls the key buzzer, int. wipers, turn signals, fusebox light & radio. Sounds like you should start by cleaning the fuse contacts and replace that fuse. Even if it looks OK - replace it anyway.

It might also be a good idea to lower the fuse box and peek at the back. Look for any loose connections. Especially behind the location of the #5 fuse. (Here's how to drop the fuse box.)

Below is a look at the back of the fuse box in our '84 Spider. Note that the yellow plastic block in the bottom row is a little crooked. Among others, it was loose...

redspiderveloce · #5 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 09:06 AM

Thank you so much everyone! The picture helps a lot. I have papajam's wiring diagram, and it has been an excellent help. I will replace the #5 fuse and see how things work.

Thanks,
Andy

redspiderveloce · #6 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 04:20 PM

Yep, #5 fuse was loose. Radio is still acting up but I think it is just mad at me because it lost power. I am thinking about going through the whole fuse box and cleaning all the clips, then tightening them. The car had been stuck in the garage for the last week because I didn't want to take it into traffic without being able to signal, so today I took her out for a nice long drive. I even got to hit some nice empty twisty backroads.

Thanks again,
Andy