Turn signal/Hazard/Reverse Gremlins!

[WildBill]

Ok,
So the turn signals on my 86 325i do not work at all. When I turn the stalk either way I hear one click from the relay but no lights on the dash or outside of the car. If I press the hazard switch then the switch lights red and relay clicks once but thats it. Now for the weird part. If I put the car in reverse then the left side turn signals ignite! Then if I push the hazard switch the right side lights up as well.

So far I've replaced the turn signal relay and the hazard switch. The ground at the steering column is good and tight as well as the one above the brake pedal. Any ideas r3v?

[Exodus_2pt0]

Check all your bulbs, make sure they are the correct type.

I've seen improper bulbs do some weird shit.

[101]

In addition to checking the bulbs, clean up all the sockets and connectors in the light assemblies.

I only use nickel base bulbs now. The copper base ones seem to oxidize and corrode very quickly, causing poor contact with the sockets.

Also check the grounding points for the light assemblies. Follow any brown wires to their attachment points on the body. Loose or corroded grounds can lead to very odd behavior as well.

[WildBill]

Ive decided eff the gremlins. Im going to rewire a new on-off-on switch and 2 way flasher.

[arch4ngel]

Once i mistakenly switched the plugs for my hazard and defrost switches and noticed similar behavior.
Pull the plugs and check wire colors against the etm.
Might not be your problem but easy enough to check.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Ive decided eff the gremlins. Im going to rewire a new on-off-on switch and 2 way flasher.

Hack and rig all the things!

Or just fix it properly.

[Cephas]

I would also check the main harness that runs on the drivers footwell right below the speaker. It's a common rust spot and can ruin the wiring there.