# Signal light problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 3, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715 "2019-05-03T16:21:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![john300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@john300](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john300)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/1 "2019-05-03T16:21:49Z")
Hi , I have a 2008 chevy express van. I would need help figure out my non working front signal light. My right signal light bulb has 2 filaments , a parking light which works and a signal light a Signal light filament is not working. I took a working bulb from the left socket and the same problem . I then switched the sockets and the problem stayed on the right side. Emergency lights in the cabin are blinking and making sounds Right signal light in the cabin is blinking fast and making sound The wiring looks ok , the ground screw is tight , but I have no idea what else to check. The socket and bulb is good, so what else could that be? thank you ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/2 "2019-05-03T16:33:49Z")
at that point, you get your hands on a multimeter and start checking wires continuity this may help: [https://www.gmupfitter.com/publicat/2008\_BB/08\_GH\_Van\_Elec\_D8a.pdf](https://www.gmupfitter.com/publicat/2008_BB/08_GH_Van_Elec_D8a.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/3 "2019-05-03T16:35:36Z")
Turn on the emergency flashers. Does the light work then? Tester ---
**Author:** ![john300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@john300](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john300)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/4 "2019-05-03T16:50:18Z")
when I turn on emergency light signal light on the right doesn’t work ---
**Author:** ![john300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@john300](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john300)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/5 "2019-05-03T16:53:10Z")
wonderful manual , how the hell did you even find something like that? but I don’t know how to work with a multimeter, I 'll have to look it up on YT . ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/6 "2019-05-03T16:54:19Z")
this is first hit in Google when you search for “2008 chevy express van wiring” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/7 "2019-05-03T17:49:16Z")
From page A-25: > TURN SIGNAL LAMPS > The BCM 3, BCM 5, and BCM 6 fuses located in the underhood > fuse block supply battery voltage to the Body Control Module > (BCM) for turn signal, hazard lamp, and stop lamp operation. > Voltage from the BCM 5 fuse used for the front and rear left turn > signals, voltage from the **BCM 3 for the right front turn signal** , > while voltage from the BCM 6 fuse is used for the right rear turn > signal. Interesting, it has its own fuse…I’d check that first. Wish I could find such a comprehensive manual online for ANY of my cars! ---
**Author:** ![john300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@john300](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john300)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/8 "2019-05-03T18:39:25Z")
Thank you so much , it actaully was just a fuse. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/9 "2019-05-04T03:28:57Z")
> [@john300](#): > > I don’t know how to work with a multimeter, Here’s a mini-tutorial: When you buy your multimeter (usually in the form of a DVM), you can, learn pretty quickly if you make yourself a light bulb circuit using a battery and a flashlight light bulb. 1.5 volt battery and a flashlight bulb for a one or two battery flashlight. Wire it up using jumper wires (test leads with alligator clips) like this: Bat+ ------ flashlight bulb ----- Bat - Now you can measure the voltage between Bat + and Bat -. Dial the DVM to Volts DC, 20 volt range, and you should see about 1.6 volts. That’s how to measure DC volts. To measure DC current, you need to reconfigure the circuit like below. First read the manual to figure out how to configure the meter for DC current, on the 10 amp scale. Bat+ — flashlight bulb — Meter (+) ---- Meter (-)- — Bat - You should see a display of about 5 amps, probably a little less than that. And that’s how to measure DC current. Measuring DC Voltage and Current is nearly all you need to know to be able to debug common problems in auto electrical systems. If there’s a Harbor Freight nearby, and you play your cards right, you can buy this > **[18 in. 5 Colors Test Lead and Alligator Clips Set](https://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-low-voltage-multi-colored-test-leads-66717.html)** > > Amazing deals on this 18In Low Voltage Multi-Colored Test Leads at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices. and get this for free > **[7-Function Digital Multimeter](https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-63604.html)** > > Amazing deals on this 7 Function Digital Multimeter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/10 "2019-05-04T03:53:54Z")
I think it’s bad advice to tell somebody to go out and buy a harbor fake multimeter one of my colleagues made several MISdiagnoses because his harbor fake multimeter was giving him erroneous readings wasted his time needlessly replaced parts which weren’t bad need I say more 😆 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 11:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/11 "2019-05-04T11:52:17Z")
Fantastic! Couldn’t have pointed that out without @thegreendrag0n having found that manual online. You should snag a copy of that manual if you haven’t already. ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/12 "2019-05-04T17:58:55Z")
HarborFreight “free” (normally something like $7, free with coupon) multimeters are not that bad, @db4690 I’ve got one, just to throw into my old beater Pathfinder for unexpected repairs, but first I checked its calibration to the better quality unit HF multimeter was under 5% off from the unit having 1.5% calibration, so I think it’s OK for the basic troubleshooting jobs what I see problematic in HF units is that the preinstalled battery is [unsurprisingly] low quality, so gets drained fast and then unit misbehaves ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/13 "2019-05-04T18:57:42Z")
I purchased something’s else at HF and got their free digital multimeter. I checked it at work in the avionics shop and it was quite accurate. I gave it to a friend since I really didn’t need it. Much later purchased an analog meter. So far I have only used it to check AAA through 9V batteries. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/14 "2019-05-04T19:26:23Z")
There’s no way in \_\_\_\_ I would rely on a harbor fake multimeter for paying professional work As I said before, I’ve seen too many guys get themselves into trouble with those “devices” To be fair, there are other brands of electronic test equipment which I would not use for professional work, and for the same reason . . . you can NOT trust the reading(s) ---
**Author:** ![john300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@john300](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john300)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/15 "2019-05-04T21:43:59Z")
![KIMG1145](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/6/69761af2df6943db301f0d33e4ad81b9a63ea67b.jpeg) ![KIMG1146](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/2/251f529924e0ab107b56cd48ed87ac8bac3862d7.jpeg) Thanks for your help everubody,so if it wasn’t the fuse and I was suspecting a broken wire for example ,how would I test it using a multi-meter. I watched some youtube videos but I didn’t see this type of trouble shooting. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![john300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@john300](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john300)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/16 "2019-05-04T21:46:52Z")
I read it too , but it all sounded like a completely foreign language to me, I am glad there are people who are able to understand it ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/17 "2019-05-04T23:53:49Z")
> [@john300](#): > > Thanks for your help everubody,so if it wasn’t the fuse and I was suspecting a broken wire for example ,how would I test it using a multi-meter. Here’s the appx circuit (the actual circuit varies car to car, for which you’ll need to see a schematic) (1)bat+ —(2) fuse —(3) switch — (4) flasher ---- (5) bulb filament — (6) chassis ground ----(7) bat - Set the DVM to 20 VDC, clip the NEG test lead to (7), and the + Test lead to (1), (2) … (5) Write down what you measure at each of those 5 points with the switch in the closed position. If the circuit is working correctly they should all measure 12.5 volts +/- 1 volt. Once you figure out where the measurement transitions from the correct voltage to the incorrect voltage, you know the problem is somewhere between those two points. If all 5 measure ok, then the problem is between the bulb filament ground and the battery -. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 12:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/18 "2019-05-05T00:13:31Z")
> [@thegreendrag0n](#): > > HarborFreight “free” (normally something like $7, free with coupon) multimeters are not that bad I use mine all the time. It’s my go-to meter which I use nearly every day, since I can leave it where I use it, no need to worry about storing it where it won’t get damaged. If it gets damaged I can get another one. The only problem — besides having to change out the batteries when they go dead – is the dial switch, if not positioned carefully, can get placed in-between valid positions, which will yield an inaccurate reading. The dial-switch quality is the main difference between a higher priced DVM and the less expensive ones. The accuracy of the electronics for basic stuff is pretty much the same. If you’re doing work for paying customers, common sense says you’d want to use the better quality calibrated DVM, as you’d have a defense if you got an invalid reading causing a repair to go sour. Business that do electronics work usually send their DVMs to an independent calibration lab every 6 months or so, for this same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/19 "2019-05-05T00:27:42Z")
Now if only I could get my vtvm to work, moving garbage I guess (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/signal-light-problem/139715/20 "2019-05-05T16:15:28Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Business that do electronics work usually send their DVMs to an independent calibration lab every 6 months or so, for this same reason. Fluke will calibrate their brand dmms for free . . . I’ve done it . . . and it will be sent back with a calibration certificate The only drawback is you need a backup dmm to use while you’re waiting. My backup is also pretty old. As far as quality goes, it’s in between harbor fake and fluke. It’s never let me down, though