Alright,

Previously I mentioned this in another post amongst other problems. This time I'm targeting this as a seperate issue. I have a problem with my blinker. Yes, the front cover is missing [any NJ guys know if I"ll fail inspection for that?], however I am having a problem with it wanting to flash, and here are the symptoms.

-- Right blinker works perfectally fine, this problem is isolated with the left blinker.
-- Left blinker light turns on, both outside and on the cluster.
-- Blinker will sometimes flash and operate normally, other times will just stay on.
-- Flashing real quick to the right blinker, then the left blinker again to see if that fixes it doesn't work.
-- I noticed it happened like three times today that it wouldn't work, and then after it wouldn't work it would work again, such as like after making a turn.
-- Yeah, it'* kind of... well, wet outside today, if that helps you guys.

I believe I remember someone saying this may possibly be a "bad ground" whatever that means. Care to elaborate? Can you post a step by step guide and tell me whether this is easy or hard to fix? Yeah, as justin says it, I'm mechanically challenged, but if you dumb it down in a step by step guide I can do things. :P

Typically when the turn indicator stays on solid, you have a burnt out bulb. Since your problem is intermittent, I would suspect a failing bulb or corroded socket. The next time it stays on solid, pull over and see which of the left bulbs aren't on.

Did this last time, we replaced the bulb that was at fault, which was a destroyed rear left tail bulb... you state something about a corroded socket, this may be a possibility since my left blinker bulb is exposed to the elements with a broken cover... is that a possibility?

How much does it cost for a socket, and how do you install it?

Anyone have any disagreements?

I thought this was a turn signal switch problem? I had the same issue, and somebody told me it was that.. but it went away before I replaced anything.

If the socket does happen to be corroded, though, all you have to do is clean it and the bulb too. Just get a small wire brush and clean away. You'll know when it'* clean.. and you'll also know when it is dirty.


-justin

Right. In a worst case scenario, you will need to replace the socket with a clean one from a junk yard. My wife'* Grand Am has a stubborn backup light due to a very rusty socket. It'* working now cause I cleaned it but the next step is to replace the socket if it persists.

I actually had an intermittent signal light problem and it ended up being the turn signal switch. BUT all I had to do was tighten it up. So once I removed the center section of my steering wheel ( with all the controls on it) it was a real easy fix.

Was it the same problem [symptoms] I was experiencing, where it would stay on and not work, or flash and work sometimes? Because hey if that'* the case that may be something I will be able to do on my own.. How do you access the turn signal switch? When you say remove the cover to the steering wheel, is that the same cover you remove to get to where the fuses are? Cause at least I know how to do that lol.

I've emailed the Department of Transportation for NJ. They said that my hood will pass as long as it opens and closes. My mirror will pass as long as I remove it, and as long as I have a rearview mirror on the drivers side of my car, and rearview on the inside of my car. Only reason I'm going to fail now is the hardest thing to fix, which is 1) Going to be the turn signal cover, and 2) The fact that the turn signal may not work while they are testing it. *Sighs*

I can't remember what the problem was with the signal light, but I actually had to remove the center section of the steering wheel, I have an SSE and it has all the stereo and heater controls on the center of the wheel. If I am not mistaken, I didn't have to pull the whole wheel off, just a few parts.

Problem fixed! It was none of which you guys had mentioned, it was something that I was unaware of, that was bloody simple.

The day that I was able to get my hood open again, myself and my friend Tim worked on my car changing the oil and such. This is when the blinker began giving me a problem, but it was just a constant steady bulb. We discovered that one of the bulbs was shattered, so we went to the parts store and got the necessary replacement.

Well I just got back from getting gas, and I decided to stop at Pep Boys for some Fuel Injector cleaner [couldn't hurt right?]. My blinker started acting up, so I decided to take a look at it. Threw the flashers on, and determined which was the faulty light. Upon opening up my light assembly I figured out that the bulb wasn't going in all the way. I thought I put it in all the way when I initially installed it, but there was a lot of yellow gunk in each of the sockets that seemed to be preventing me from doing that.

Thing was, I never knew that I had to put the bulb in the socket, then TURN to secure it... so the thing was just dangling there the whole time, it would work when it was in, and fail when it was out far enough. So I took a key and removed some of the gunk that was in there, enough that I felt satisfied I could place the bulb in there... it was still coming out, so I twisted it to see what was up [as I couldn't see anything in the socket that would suggest turning it] and voila, problem solved! *Smacks forehead*

Oh well, at least now it'* fixed. :P

Now if anyone could find the part number for the driver side blinker cover that goes into the fender, I'd be a golden man! :P