Need help with 84 GL, Turn Signals not working!

Hello,

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who just purchased his first car, a 4 door 84 Civic GL 5 speed. Everything mechanically works with the car except one annoyance...the turn signals/hazards.

We get no clicking noise at all, we bought a new Actuator/Flasher and it still doesn't work and all fuses are good. I'm convinced its a bad ground, but there is *no* indication on the dash of the indicator lights staying on, (for when a bulb has blown)

One thing I did find this evening is there are 2 white ground wires coming from the rear taillight assembly that are not connected/grounded to anything....are these wires even suppose to be there? The reason I'm asking is because the previous owner had gutted the entire stereo out so we don't what was his own doing or not...

Electrical is not my thing so we're kind of guessing here.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

ps: the car is located on my webpage for those to view :)

There's also a hazard light fuse on the battery terminal, but it shouldn't effect the turn signals. The only other thing in the circuit is the combination switch on the steeing column. I doubt those white wires are factory equipment. If they were, they would be wrapped up in the harness. On Hondas white wire isn't used much anyway (mostly from the battery to the fuse panel and ignition switch).

ok, last night we had removed the white wires that were located in the trunk cuz they were definitely put there by the previous owner, most likely grounds for the speakers he had taken out.

we've traced the wires everywhere and they look good.
the fuse that is for the turn signals is getting power, so its reaching the fuse box and is also passing through the fuse.

the switch is the only thing i'm thinking is the problem because, every other light works...all of them except the turn signals and hazards. so i guess maybe the switch/indicator arm itself is faulty. HOWEVER the headlights come on fine with this accessory arm.

i have no idea about this fuse for the hazards near or on the battery terminal, are you sure thats where it is? if so could you be a bit more specific to help me find it?

thanks a bunch for the reply.

leo

The 10 amp hazard light fuse should be on the positive battery terminal. I think there's a small cap that opens up to reveal the fuse. Unless the original steel terminal has been replaced with one of those lead ones. Then the hazard light wire (white with a green stripe) is probably either unfused or just hanging somewhere. The turn signal and hazard switches, even though they are operated by the same stick, are independent of the head light switch. Here's a pretty simple way to test the switch. Pull off the steering column covers behind the wheel, I think there are three screws on the bottom. You'll see relatively large white connector on the back left hand side of the combination switch, right where the turn signal lever is mounted. Unplug it. There should be a few thick wires for the head lights, and some thinner ones for the turn signals. With the ignition turned to the run position, connect a jumper from the green wire with the red stripe to the green/blue wire (left signal) or green/yellow wire (right signal). If the turn signals work like this, it's most likely the combination switch.

Thanks for the reply gasoline fumes!

I'll try what you said tonight, i somewhat tried it before i read you post last night, but what i did was haul off both of the larger connectors on the steering column and tried to jumper all of em....in my frustration i didnt realize how much harder i was making it for myself.

we found the hazard light fuse, the plastic housing with the clip to hold it onto a cable had broke and it was dangling down in the engine bay. the fuse isn't blown. Where should I bolt this to? theres a metal/copper tab or something that goes into the white plastic housing for the fuse that looks like it should be screwed/bolted onto something. is it important? is this a ground or something?

thanks for help!

leo

The fuse holder should be bolted right to the positive battery terminal.

ok well heres the latest, and our progress is much to the thanks of you gasoline fumes.

took the connector off the steering column and jumped the coloured wires like you said, but i also had to jump the socket for the flasher...the flasher must be dead. but the indicators came on and stayed on like this.

so that bolt has to bolt directly to the positive battery terminal....we'll do that today or tomorrow.

thanks!!!

leo

Might be a good idea to check if the terminals that the flasher relay plugs into are bent. I'd put the jumper on the relay terminals and try the turn signal lever too.