August 22, 2021
Some problems are easy to diagnose on a vehicle; others aren't. Figuring out what's wrong with a malfunctioning turn signal sometimes fits into both categories. By the way, if your tempted to just leave your broken blinker broken, remember you can get a ticket for not using them, not to mention you are missing a great chance to communicate your intentions to other drivers on the road.
There can be lots of signals that your signals are on the blink. Does only the driver's side signal not work or the passenger's side? Do your hazard signals work? Do the lights illuminate but not flash? Can you see the indicators on the dash blinking? Do your turn signals turn off after you've finished your turn or do they stay on? These are all great clues for the technician.
Here's one common symptom to take note of. Your signal all of a sudden starts blinking much more quickly than it used to. It could be a simple as a burned out bulb. But there are many different parts that go into the turn signal system. There are fuses that blow, switches that can fail, flasher modules that go bad and light bulb sockets that can simply get corroded or dirty. When that happens, it's possible there's no contact between the bulb and the socket.
So it's understandable how tracking down the source of the problem can involve some detective work. Your service facility has equipment that can nail down the cause of your problems. They may also consult the repair manual. One thing to be aware of: if your vehicle has airbags, they may have to be disabled so they don't accidentally go off.
You can make sure your turn signals are working correctly by having them checked by a trained technician. Other drivers will thank you for showing them the courtesy of signaling your intentions. It's a courteous and considerate thing to do, not to mention it makes the road a safer place.
Tuffy Amherst
101 N Leavitt Road
Amherst, Ohio 44001
440-988-9402
https://www.tuffyamherst.com
March 30, 2025
Nearly every modern vehicle on the road today has power steering, a wonderful invention that makes steering take far less effort than it did in the "good old days." Today, we take our steering for granted: until something goes wrong, that is. Most power steering these days is rack-and-pinion, th... More
March 23, 2025
Your vehicle gets its power from burning fuel, usually gasoline, and it counts on something called fuel injectors to send gas to the engine in a spray that is easy to ignite. Its a precise operation, and when its working well, you have plenty of power and an efficient engine. But after time, con... More
March 16, 2025
Most Amherst drivers are too young to remember life before power steering - cranking those great big steering wheels! It was a pretty good workout. Now power steering is standard. Let's look at how it works. The heart of any power steering system is its pump. The pump pressurizes the power steeri... More