1955 - front turn signals aren't working | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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1955 - front turn signals aren't working

  • Thread starter Thread starter j12m34r56
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j12m34r56

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Thunderbird Year
1955
Hello everyone, I am hoping some more electrically inclined folks can assist me here because I am at a loss. The front turn signals on my 1955 aren't working. What's weird is that the rear turn signals do work. I can hear the relay clicking when the turn signals are on.
  • I replaced the front parking light/turn signal bulbs just to get fresh bulbs in. Both the front and the rear parking lights do work.
  • When I turn on the headlights, the front parking lights turn off as they are designed to do.
  • A week ago, after I replaced the front bulbs, everything was working fine but when I got back from a short drive, I saw they weren't working. I took out both bulbs to check the filaments but both bulbs appear to be fine...nothing burned or broken.
Sorry to be asking what is considered a simple question, but my brain is not wired to understand electrical very well. Appreciate any thoughts you may have and will happily answer any clarifying questions you may have.

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j12m34r56 said:
Hello everyone, I am hoping some more electrically inclined folks can assist me here because I am at a loss. The front turn signals on my 1955 aren't working. What's weird is that the rear turn signals do work. I can hear the relay clicking when the turn signals are on.
  • I replaced the front parking light/turn signal bulbs just to get fresh bulbs in. Both the front and the rear parking lights do work.
  • When I turn on the headlights, the front parking lights turn off as they are designed to do.
  • A week ago, after I replaced the front bulbs, everything was working fine but when I got back from a short drive, I saw they weren't working. I took out both bulbs to check the filaments but both bulbs appear to be fine...nothing burned or broken.
Sorry to be asking what is considered a simple question, but my brain is not wired to understand electrical very well. Appreciate any thoughts you may have and will happily answer any clarifying questions you may have.
Click to expand...
If I'm reading the wiring diagram correctly the front turn signals are on separate contacts in the turn signal switch than the back signals use. If so, the problem could be in the turn signal switch.
 
j12m34r56 said:
Hello everyone, I am hoping some more electrically inclined folks can assist me here because I am at a loss. The front turn signals on my 1955 aren't working. What's weird is that the rear turn signals do work. I can hear the relay clicking when the turn signals are on.
  • I replaced the front parking light/turn signal bulbs just to get fresh bulbs in. Both the front and the rear parking lights do work.
  • When I turn on the headlights, the front parking lights turn off as they are designed to do.
  • A week ago, after I replaced the front bulbs, everything was working fine but when I got back from a short drive, I saw they weren't working. I took out both bulbs to check the filaments but both bulbs appear to be fine...nothing burned or broken.
Sorry to be asking what is considered a simple question, but my brain is not wired to understand electrical very well. Appreciate any thoughts you may have and will happily answer any clarifying questions you may have.
Click to expand...
For the year and make, when you turn on your headlights the front parking lights should not turn on. That was not a feature back then, but maybe someone changed the light switch to allow the lights to come on with the headlights. As someone stated it could be your Turn Signal switch, check and see if you have a voltage when you place the turn signal level RT and LF with the ignition switch turn on at the LH and RH junction blocks mounted on the fwd part of the front wheel well, the wire color if readable should be white- blue band on LH/RH sides.
 
Take a read through this post of mine titled "1956 Front Park Lights & Turn Signal Troubleshooting"
S

Thread '1956 Front Park Lights & Turn Signal Troubleshooting'

My first post. Loving this forum and wealth of information. Obtained my '56 Birdy six months ago, Colonial White with Fiesta Red interior, 312, Auto, PB, PS, PW P-Seats, and have been working on it in part myself to service, replace and upgrade certain parts and features, and having lots of help work by two shops that specialize, including Prestige Thunderbirds in LA (they are a great group of people and facility).

Had an interesting electrical issue experience with front park lights and turn signal lights/flasher stopping working, and wanted to post to help provide the info for others...
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If your lights were working before you took off/opened the housing to replace the bulbs, and now they aren't working, a ground issue is the most likely issue. First check ground by making sure good contact of the screws that mount the housing to the car. The ground is from the screws that mount the parking ight turn signal housing. My trying to use new fully painted screws prevented ground. See my detailed posted thread. Hope this helps solve your issue.
 
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