Turn signal issue

[Rdrake]

I am having issues with my turn signals. I appreciate any input on what to look for first.

When I initiate the signal to the right lights the turn signal stall clicks on and I get on audible click of the turn signal and can also see the indicator light illuminate and flash on the hood. Then the light seems to not get enough power to flash with the same intensity and I noticed the rear lights do not follow the normal flash path as well. Intermittently I will get a full cycle for lack of better terms of the lights but goes back to the dim situation and only two lights in the rear coming on at the same time. When I make a corner roughly 50% of the time the signal stalk on the steering column will not reset itself back to the middle.

I get the same erratic operation when putting on the left signal but the stalk will nearly always reset itself.

Thank you all in advance for your insight and I appreciate it.

[jtschug]

When the car is going straight down the road, is the steering wheel centered (pointing straight)?

[Rdrake]

Yes it is

[jtschug]

Make sure to mark the steering wheel before you remove it.

The cancel cam is integrated into the back side of the steering wheel, so look there check if you've got two bumps. Then you will see the turn signal switch in the top of the column. The turn signal switches are available new I think.

[Rdrake]

So you think the switch in the column could be part of the irregular flashing on the rear lights as well?

[jtschug]

The fender indicators are designed not to flash if something isn't working right in the tail lights.

Figure out the tail lights and the fender indicators will flash correct. If not, the service manual describes how to 'adjust' the flasher relay.

[Rdrake]

Thank you for the good info! I will check them out and replace.

[raw37@aol.com]

Can not find a turn signal switch for a 66 bird with cruise control what can I do to get the right side signal to work?

[David Langhorne]

I suspect the erratic operation of the stalk is caused by the bearing insulator disintegrating and causing the cancelling mechanism to be off-center.
I would check the steering wheel for up and down and side to side movement. It's an easy and cheap fix and very common. The variable brightness could be caused by less than 12v going to the tail lights so I would check grounds. Also if the ammeter is not putting out enough power when idling it will cause the lights to go dim.