Intermittent Turn Signal

"Mike Dobony" <sword.RemoveThis@notasarian-host.net> wrote in message
news:6gojlsdtp7hw$.4m4bwryrfhwn$.dlg@40tude.net...
>I have a 98 Corolla that has an intermittent turn signal. Sometimes it
> works. Sometimes it doesn't.

I have no helpful input on this, but... my immediate thought after reading
this first part of your post was, "Hey, at least you didn't pay for it as an
option!"

Cathy

The bulbs are all good. The emergency
> flashers work all the time, but the turn signals work only about half the
> time. It does this both left and right. When the turn signals don't work
> the flasher still clicks at the same rate as when the signals do work.
> Any
> idea what is going on? Thanks
>
> Mike D.
 >> Stay informed about: Intermittent Turn Signal 

"Mike Dobony" <sword DeleteThis @notasarian-host.net> wrote in message
news:6gojlsdtp7hw$.4m4bwryrfhwn$.dlg@40tude.net...
>I have a 98 Corolla that has an intermittent turn signal. Sometimes it
> works. Sometimes it doesn't. The bulbs are all good. The emergency
> flashers work all the time, but the turn signals work only about half the
> time. It does this both left and right. When the turn signals don't work
> the flasher still clicks at the same rate as when the signals do work.
> Any
> idea what is going on? Thanks
>
> Mike D.

Possible causes are a poor ground, most likely at the rear light assemblies,
corrosion in both bulb sockets, a damaged wire, or bad turn signal switch,
in that order of likelihood.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Intermittent Turn Signal 

Mike Dobony wrote:
> I have a 98 Corolla that has an intermittent turn signal.

Mine is intermittent, too. It works only when the ignition is on the
"on" position and the switch is set to left or right.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

> Sometimes it
> works. Sometimes it doesn't. The bulbs are all good. The emergency
> flashers work all the time, but the turn signals work only about half the
> time. It does this both left and right. When the turn signals don't work
> the flasher still clicks at the same rate as when the signals do work. Any
> idea what is going on? Thanks
>
> Mike D.
 >> Stay informed about: Intermittent Turn Signal 

Mike Dobony, 5/30/2008,7:11:02 PM, wrote:

> I have a 98 Corolla that has an intermittent turn signal. Sometimes
> it works. Sometimes it doesn't. The bulbs are all good. The
> emergency flashers work all the time, but the turn signals work only
> about half the time. It does this both left and right. When the
> turn signals don't work the flasher still clicks at the same rate as
> when the signals do work. Any idea what is going on? Thanks
>
> Mike D.

I believe the switch you refer to is called a "combination switch" or
something to that effect. Although this sounds unlikely, quite often a
dirty contact on the bulb socket could cause intermittent operation.
The emergency flasher switch may be using a different ground wire or
different relay.

I would start by reseating all turn signal bulbs you can access and
spraying contact cleaner if you have some into the sockets. Reseat the
flasher relay which is probably down by your left leg somewhere under
the dashboard. Maybe you can spray some of that contact cleaner as
deep down the stalk of the turn signal lever as you can. Work that
lever back and forth as you spray and more afterwards.

If that doesn't work you will probably need some professional help.

--
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." ~ President Bill
Clinton
 >> Stay informed about: Intermittent Turn Signal 

> "Mike Dobony" <sword DeleteThis @notasarian-host.net> wrote in message
> news:6gojlsdtp7hw$.4m4bwryrfhwn$.dlg@40tude.net...
>I have a 98 Corolla that has an intermittent turn signal. Sometimes it
> works. Sometimes it doesn't. The bulbs are all good. The emergency
> flashers work all the time, but the turn signals work only about half the
> time. It does this both left and right. When the turn signals don't work
> the flasher still clicks at the same rate as when the signals do work. Any
> idea what is going on? Thanks
>
> Mike D.

I don't know about the Corolla, but the Camry had a problem where the
contacts inside the bulb socket made a poor connection after several years.
The contacts I am talking about are the flat pieces of metal inside the
socket where the spring tension had seriously diminished over time.

To fix the problem on the Camry, the solution is to pull up and slightly
twist the metal contacts so that they will make tighter contact against the
bulb when the bulb is re-inserted into the socket.
 >> Stay informed about: Intermittent Turn Signal 

On Fri, 30 May 2008 23:27:41 -0400, badgolferman wrote:

> Mike Dobony, 5/30/2008,7:11:02 PM, wrote:
>
>> I have a 98 Corolla that has an intermittent turn signal. Sometimes
>> it works. Sometimes it doesn't. The bulbs are all good. The
>> emergency flashers work all the time, but the turn signals work only
>> about half the time. It does this both left and right. When the
>> turn signals don't work the flasher still clicks at the same rate as
>> when the signals do work. Any idea what is going on? Thanks
>>
>> Mike D.
>
> I believe the switch you refer to is called a "combination switch" or
> something to that effect. Although this sounds unlikely, quite often a
> dirty contact on the bulb socket could cause intermittent operation.
> The emergency flasher switch may be using a different ground wire or
> different relay.
>

I already replaced the relay.

> I would start by reseating all turn signal bulbs you can access and
> spraying contact cleaner if you have some into the sockets. Reseat the
> flasher relay which is probably down by your left leg somewhere under
> the dashboard. Maybe you can spray some of that contact cleaner as
> deep down the stalk of the turn signal lever as you can. Work that
> lever back and forth as you spray and more afterwards.
>
> If that doesn't work you will probably need some professional help.
 >> Stay informed about: Intermittent Turn Signal