Turn Signal // Issue's

[Chrispy0530]

So I've been having an issue with my turn signals for a while. A very long while back, they worked perfectly with no issue's. Both went left and right at it's normal speed with no problems.


Fast forward to today, my left turning signal now goes solid ( unlike before, it used to go real fast ), and even going to the back of the car, the lights are on when turned on (headlamps), but when brakes applied, nothing changes. What's worse is that it looks as if it was out when no headlights lights are off. It looks like that left side is completely out when brakes are applied as they don't come on. Hope that makes sense.

Right turn signal blinks really fast as well.


Every bulb has been replaced, there are no outages on bulbs, which leaves me a bit frustrated. Will try to get a video up in a bit.

 

[Chrispy0530]

Really? No dice on this?

 

[Abe'sGST]

a little confusing, best thing to do is upload the video....but do check all the wires to make sure none are melted together or anything out of the ordinary

 

[Chrispy0530]

Here we go, got a video up.


DSM Turn Signal/Tail light Problems - YouTube

 

[Heartless]

As a side suggestion since you've changed every bulb, did you go around to every connector with a multi-meter and check for voltage? Or check every connector for corrosion? A friend of mine had a similar issue, was just a corroded connector when I checked it out. And I had a similar problem on my old camaro (yes different car I know) and it was a bad bulb that the filament had layed over.

 

[Chrispy0530]

Checked every connection, there is no corrosion or anything on there. Really stumped on this.

 

[Heartless]

Have you tested the turn signal switch?

 

[Chrispy0530]

Nope. How would I go about testing it?



What's funny is, I just went for a bit of a spirited drive, and the left signal started blinking again (granted, it was a fast blink, not normal), which means the brake could also be seen when applied. Then 5 minutes into driving went back solid again.

I hate electrical problems.

 

[Heartless]

Ill check the book when I get home, gonna sound dumb but just remembered my friends car as a turn signal problem as well, he just kicks the fuse panel and it works fine again for a while. Not the best way nor am I suggesting this because it really needs looked at and can cause worse problems.....

 

[Heartless]

Ok, I can't find my book. Sorry. Maybe someone can chime in here with testing info? Wondering if your turn indicator controller is on the fritz or maybe just the signal lever.

 

[Abe'sGST]

did you ever figure out what the problem was?

 

[Chrispy0530]

To this day, I still have not figured the problem, and it got me pulled over as well for having a "brake light out", even though, it lights up fine, just does not flicker. This is Driver side light that does this. This problem has me going crazy!

However, the light does not stay solid on the cluster like it used to. Now it just blinks fast all the time. If you look at it from the rear, it's a 50% chance it'll either flicker weird like the right side does, or just stay lit with no flashing.

I was told by a few people that the relay located behind the radio could be bad. So, I purchase one (Part # MB543648 if anyone wants to confirm this IS the turn signal relay), and no dice. Still does the same exact thing.

I really want to get this figured out. It looks so bad driving around like this and it's getting annoying.

 

[Chrispy0530]

Last cry for help here. Anyone have any insight on this?

 

[stars]

Go back to the left rear again. It looks like the power is there but there is nothing grounding that side of the circuit. Your turn signal switch is working fine, since it is sending power to both bulbs you can rule that part out. If turn signal switch was bad you would not get any current back to the turn signal circuit and you would not get any light(s) to the turn signal indicators as well. You either have a bad ground or a bad bulb holder or combination of both. The turn signal relay is working the right side just fine, so you can rule that out as the cause, and you already replaced it anyways. If it was me, I would first start with replacing the left rear bulb holder itself. If after replacement it still does not work then you have a bad ground wire to that side of the circuit. Since you have power back there, you will have to tap in and supply a good ground source, for the bulb holder circuit.

You may want to skip replacement of the bulb holder first and tap into a new ground source for the left side of the circuit. I'm pretty sure that you have a ground wire that is not making contact because as times it works then it does not. Classic intermittent electrical problems that are difficult to troubleshoot. Either way you have 2 options before you have to take it to a shop. Hope this helps you.

 

[Abe'sGST]

Go back to the left rear again. It looks like the power is there but there is nothing grounding that side of the circuit. Your turn signal switch is working fine, since it is sending power to both bulbs you can rule that part out. If turn signal switch was bad you would not get any current back to the turn signal circuit and you would not get any light(s) to the turn signal indicators as well. You either have a bad ground or a bad bulb holder or combination of both. The turn signal relay is working the right side just fine, so you can rule that out as the cause, and you already replaced it anyways. If it was me, I would first start with replacing the left rear bulb holder itself. If after replacement it still does not work then you have a bad ground wire to that side of the circuit. Since you have power back there, you will have to tap in and supply a good ground source, for the bulb holder circuit.

You may want to skip replacement of the bulb holder first and tap into a new ground source for the left side of the circuit. I'm pretty sure that you have a ground wire that is not making contact because as times it works then it does not. Classic intermittent electrical problems that are difficult to troubleshoot. Either way you have 2 options before you have to take it to a shop. Hope this helps you.

great response. Couldn't have said it any better

 

[Chrispy0530]

Go back to the left rear again. It looks like the power is there but there is nothing grounding that side of the circuit. Your turn signal switch is working fine, since it is sending power to both bulbs you can rule that part out. If turn signal switch was bad you would not get any current back to the turn signal circuit and you would not get any light(s) to the turn signal indicators as well. You either have a bad ground or a bad bulb holder or combination of both. The turn signal relay is working the right side just fine, so you can rule that out as the cause, and you already replaced it anyways. If it was me, I would first start with replacing the left rear bulb holder itself. If after replacement it still does not work then you have a bad ground wire to that side of the circuit. Since you have power back there, you will have to tap in and supply a good ground source, for the bulb holder circuit.

You may want to skip replacement of the bulb holder first and tap into a new ground source for the left side of the circuit. I'm pretty sure that you have a ground wire that is not making contact because as times it works then it does not. Classic intermittent electrical problems that are difficult to troubleshoot. Either way you have 2 options before you have to take it to a shop. Hope this helps you.

Thanks so much for this post. A few weeks ago I was playing around with switching bulbs and stuff in regarding to this thread,
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/30029-turn-signal-help.html

I somehow got the left turn signal to work perfectly! Blinked and it's normal pace and everything. The right side however, stayed the same. So I was content while driving around for a few days that at least one side worked, and that side being the one that didn't want to light up when braking.

Thus sadly, the problem returned, and now the left side is back to being choppy.

Now, when you refer to the "bulb holder circuit", you mean the actual socket that the bulb goes in?

 

[stars]

Correct. The actual socket is where your problem is occurring. It is the negative wire that is causing your problems and when you wiggle the bulb, it will start to work.

Now there are several ways we can deal with this issue.
First is to replace the entire light bulb holder itself.

Or you can use a soldering iron and tack on a piece of wire to the metal side of the bulb or bulb holder holder and attach a ring terminal to the end of wire attached to side of bulb. Get a self tapping screw, scratch off a spot down to bare metal and attach with self tap screw. You have power back there all you need is the ground wire.

Now if your bulb holders are plastic then you will have to attach an additional ground wire to that existing bulb holders negative ground wire as close to the bulb as you can. You may have to get creative so it is up to you to figure out which is easiest for you to do.

Your task is to complete the circuit by any means, attaching a new ground wire to that bulb holder thus completing the circuit. You will need to do that to both sides just to make sure it get fixed properly this time and only problem you will have from now on is burned out bulbs.

You may have 2 separate electrical problems at this point but will try to remedy the turn signals first then see why the brake light does not want to work correctly as well but, lets do first problem first.