First, I wanted to say thanks to all of those that have helped me in the past, it has been a while since I've posted because the Firebird has been running great... due to a lot of good advice I have received from everyone here, and some local experts.

I have an odd electrical problem, and I am hoping there is a "typical" cause that might alleviate a few hours of tracking down wires.

My turn signals stopped working one evening, and ever since, when I brake, the turn signal lights on the dash light up, along with all of the turn signal lights on the exterior of the car as well. Headlights on or off does not make a difference.

Is there a typical cause for this problem? Or should I just track down all of the turn signal wires and see who is missing a ground? (I plan to start in the dash... seems logical to me unless someone has a better idea!).

You have a grounding issue. Check all the turn signal lights. Happens all the time

The turn signals and brake lights both run throught the turn
signal switch. If it's not a ground problem or a bulb, I'd
start at the turn signal switch.

got it... awesome, I will check/re-seat the lights first then.

Thanks guys!

There is nothing wrong with any switches, so don't waste time and money with them. To help make sure that you know what is meant by ground issue, the problem is poor contact with the metal tabs on the tailight sockets and the housing.

Also over 90% of the fgf around have crossed wires on the tailights, the reason for all the cookie monster eyeball display. One wire powers the tail brake function, the other one powers the brakes, or whatever combination.

The point is that there are 3 light functions from 2 sets of filimemts and 2 wires, all of which are grounded through the metal tabs on the sockets. All of this has to be in proper working order.

Yeah, I noticed a lack of wires back there when I was digging around the bird. it seemed odd and I was wondering if that was some aftermarket deal from the 80s... or original, you just answered that question. Bummer, I will make those the first lights I look at, probably break out some die-electric grease

A local FGF er pulled his hair out (well OK not really) with an electrical issue similar to this. New wiring in the whole car. The tail and dash lights were doin goofy stuff. He found one of the tail light bulbs had shorted internally, new bulb and problem solved.

May be worth a shot.

So, post holidays, back on the bird... This problem still haunts me. I re-seated all of the bulbs, but will replace them here in a bit. Probably the most frustrating part of this issue is the hack-job previously done on the electronics in the car... when I have the time, a full rewiring is definitely called for on this poor bird.

Something I found that may be my issue but makes me nervous: On the steering column, just above the break pedal there is an electric component box. It looks OEM, says Delco on it... has many nubs for wire fittings, but nothing is attached. There is a black wire that has some electrical tape hanging near by... I want to connect it, but again... nervous lol. Anyone know what that box is for? should it have wires attached to it? Is it OEM? should I post a picture, or do you guys know what I am talking about?

So, I figured a picture would help on any level... so this is what I am looking at, best picture I could take... hope it helps.

The "Mystery Box" is the object in question.

So figured out my problem... kind-a.

Something is wrong with my flashers. I did not notice that the button was pulled out for my emergency lights, and they are not flashing, but the flashers causes the blinkers and break lights to become grounded together lighting up all of my blinker lights when I hit the brakes.

So, with the flasher button turned off, my lights work properly.. how weird. anyways, if anyone knows anything that might make a difference, let me know! At some point I will be replacing most of the electrical system anyways...so I am not too concerned. Probably sometime this summer.

The mystery of the Firebird tail lights goes on.

Had a similar issue had t replace on of the actual sockets

Birdman!!! Interesting... when my flashers are on - if I break, it makes the lights go solid instead of flash. I was figuring it pulls power away somehow for the flasher to not get triggered, but I have no clue.

I usually don't repost the same comment at an ongoing post. For instance, the oilcannig roof. Why bother? I'll help someone with their car, but I'm not going to beg to work on it. After all, I have to avoid the neighbors because it didn't take them long to figure things out.

As for possible ground issue, the tail sockets groun to the housing via the metal reatiner clips. I'm prety good at finding ways to ensure accurate go/no-go verification during troubleshooting.

The problem with the tailights is that it's next to impossible to know for sure that a partucular socket is grounded; also, if one socket isn't grounding, it translates into all kinds of funky crap through the others. That means that if you pull one from the housing, all bets are off as for bulb operation.

When I went through mine, I gave up with grounding them in the housing. What I did was pull all sockets, used scrap wire to ground the sockets. And veified continuety rather than think it was grounding.

As for flasher operation, it's designed for the flashers to cease when applying the brakes, and it's part of the failsafe design that is often incorporated in design.

After all, if the flashers didn't cease when braking, how would the people you are warning know that you are stopping unless it is made clear that you are stopping?

It's just like people around here trying to fix something. How the heck do you know for sure that something is happening you are just assuming, not knowing?

Had a similar problem in my 68 ended up being a short in the steering column, but i was also blowing fuses.