When your turn signals fail, it can be a big hassle for both you and other drivers on the road. They are an essential safety precaution that lets other motorists know you are making a turn, but if yours go out, it could lead to a “fix-it” ticket.
There are a few things that can cause your turn signals to fail. One of the most common is a broken turn signal relay. Here are some tips on how to fix a broken turn signal relay:
First, you should make sure that the relay cluster is intact. You can do this by inspecting it for any cracks, breaks, or if there is any loose wiring within the system.
Next, you need to replace the old relay with a new one that has been matched to the current model of your vehicle. This will ensure that your turn signals will start working again.
Once you have the new turn signal relay in place, you should check the connection between it and the wires. If there is any loose wiring, you will need to connect it correctly or else your turn signals will stop working.
You can also check for any fuses that may have blown out. These fuses are responsible for sending the correct amount of power to the turn signal relay. If a fuse has blown out, it will need to be replaced with a new one.
Another problem that can cause your turn signals to stop working is if the bulb sockets are dirty or if there is any oxidization of the contacts in the socket. If this is the case, you will need to clean the contacts and make sure they are firmly connected to the bulb sockets.
Lastly, you should check the switch to see if it is working properly. This is a small switch that switches the signal bulbs on and off as you push it up or down the turn-signal bar on your car. If it fails, the circuit between the switch and the bulb will be cut, and your turn signals will stop working.
How the Flasher Works
The flasher is a small, cylindrical device that sometimes can be found in the fuse panel underneath the dashboard of your car. It is designed to send pulses of energy to the turn-signal bulbs to enable them to light up in flashes instead of a steady stream.
When you push down the switch, current flows through the flasher and through the resistive wire to the bulb. This creates a circuit that causes the curved spring steel to heat up, expand and make contact with the contact on the turn-signal switch. The spring steel then heats up again, straightening out the curved piece of spring steel.
Once the curved spring steel has heated up, it makes contact with the resistor, which then heats up again. This causes the curved piece of spring steel to bend backwards and break the circuit.
