Hey, I'm new to the forum and have an 81, maybe I'll introduce myself and the car more formally later. Right now I'm trying to get it inspected and I can't get the front passenger side blinker to go on at all. I replaced the bulb and the flasher unit, and all other lights are working properly. It will not light up when the turn signal is on or when the headlights are on. What is the next most likely source of failure? A bad socket? I searched for about 10 minutes and only found information about the flasher units and bulb changing, so I am sorry if i overlooked a common topic with an easy solution. Thanks for the time - brian

 

Does the rest of the light function correctly, such as the park light function? If so, then the ground is good. Have you taken a 12 v. tester or meter and checked the socket when the flasher is on? A small 12 volt tester is a must for any toolbox, and they run about $5-$10 at most parts stores.
Just clip the ground to a known ground, turn the key on and the flasher on, then check the socket pins to see if your tester flashes. If it doesn't then move to the first plug in connector, which should be behind the battery. Check that for voltage, and continue to follow it back until you get the test light to flash. Then you'll find your problem.

 

Now (after messing with the socket) the light will work when flashing for turn signal use, but not as a running light with the headlights on. Must be some kind of wiring/socket issue like you said. Thanks for the info ill check the ground and such and grab a meter next time i get a chance. -brian

 

Could well be a socket issue, or just a bad lamp. Try a new one, as they may have gotten the pins out of aligment when it was built, or you may have a bad socket. I had one once that worked when I started to unscrew the lamp slightly, but if I turned it back into the socket it stopped. Bought a new lamp and all was fine.
Try leaving the right turn signal on while you insert or remove the lamp. It will tell you when it starts to blink if the lamp lines up with the pins correctly.

 

While the light is on, or supposed to be on, fiddle around with the pigtail of the light fixture where it plugs into the main harness. Sometimes the prongs can get corroded, or a wire can unclip and pull out of the plug, or even break off.

 

Alright thanks for the advice guys, I'm about to go away for a little while but I'll be back working on this as soon as i get home, and I'll update it at that point.

 

Oh, what did you do, and how many years did you get?

 

Haha I just went to the shore for a few days. They've taken my license and money away, but fortunately they've yet to take me away. Back now and time to get to work on the lady and make her as close to legal as possible. I'll let you know if I have any luck on this light.