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Good Morning all...DUMB QUESTION, I am sure. I backed Miss Prudence out of the garage in the dark this morning and noticed a little tiny orange light above the 12 on the clock.

I don't think that I have noticed this light in the almost six years I have had the car. I can't find it in the owners manual.

Can one of you who is more knowledgeable than I, tell me what this little fellow does? I do note that it is coming on and turning off with the ignition switch. Thanks, Ernie in Arizona.

The light above the 12 in the clock is the turn signal indicator. Does that work as it should? If wired per spec, the turn signal circuit would turn on and off with the ign key so if something is amiss with the flasher or turn signals that might be what is causing the light to illuminate.

Hi-beam indicator?

For the 23rd Series:

Hi-beam indicator is in the speedometer.

Directional indicator is in the clock.

Good afternoon all...Thanks for the information. I went out and tested the system. It appears that the light comes on with the ignition key to tell the driver that the system is active. It does not say much about my powers of observation for the last two years, that the system has been working properly!

If you move the stalk down, for a left turn, and both blinker lights are working, the little orange light blinks. By the same token if you move the stalk up for a right turn and both of the blinker lights are working, the little orange light blinks.

It seems as if the system is working as it should, but do you guys agree? Thanks, Ernie in Arizona

The light does not come on just to show you the system is active, the indicator light should blink when the directional signals, either left or right, are blinking. At no other time should it be illuminated.

Do you have a factory TungSol flasher unit or one of the modern replacements? If the factory original it is almost like a relay so there is a mechanical contact for the indicator bulb and the light should not be on at all until the lever is moved and flashing starts. Moving the lever completes a ground path thru the signal bulbs to the flasher thermal element starting the relay action and signals working. Indicator will blink because the other isolated indicator bulb contact is also activated.

If you have a modern flasher most of them have a mechanical contact for the signal bulbs but a transistor works the indicator bulb. If one of those, it is possible the transistor is leaking and partially lighting the bulb.

It is also possible on either flasher there has been a high resistance short develop outside of the flasher unit between the incoming power wire or flasher terminal and the terminal or wire to the indicator bulb.

Thank you HH56. More to look into, however now I understand. Ernie in Arizona

Here is the difference between original and modern flashers along with just the turn signal circuit without any extra wiring getting in the way. The TungSol 229D flasher shown is the 20 - early 22 series version. 23rd - 56 is the same operation -- just different terminals and electrical requirements.

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Thank you, Howard...Ernie in Arizona