[pegleg71]

First of all let me say that I basically know nothing about electrical. Just the very basics.
The problem is that when I put on my turn signals,the turn signals don't work. I don't know if it's a short, or a blown fuse or what? Can anyone give me some direction toward diagnosing the problem? I tried to trace the wires down, but I can't really tell where they go.

It's a 71' malibu. I'd appreciate any advice. I apologize for not being able to give more details.

 

[MalibuJerry350]

When you say "they don't work", do you mean that they stay lit but don't flash? OR, don't they light at all? If they light,but don't flash, the probable cause is a defective "flasher can" which is a little silver can about an 1 3/4" in diameter and located under the dash NEAR or clamped near the steering column. If you look at the fuse panel, you should see one there....that's the one for the emergency flashers, but they look identical. It may take a flashlight and a little "contortion" work to locate under the dash, but once you locate it, just umplug it from the harness and buy one at any auto parts store. I just replaced mine, of course when it was 10 degrees outside and me half laying outside the car trying to look up into the dash.

They cost about 3.50 or so.

 

[pegleg71]

Thanks for the advice. The problem is that they won't light up at all though. Believe me I understand about working on cars in the cold. The last time I changed my exhaust there was snow on the ground and it took about 6hrs. But it sounded good afterwards.

What's your advice given that they don't light up at all MalibuJerry350? I haven't driven the car for over a year now, it's out of commission, and as best as I can remember I was driving along and all of a sudden they didn't work anymore. I have one of those digital dash panels, it shows a blinking dot when the turn signal is on, and it wouldn't even show it. Could it possibably be something with the dash? j/w

thanks

 

[SNFU Mobile]

Yeah, I'd turn them on, and see if they flash at the actual lights themselves - if they do, you know it's the dash. If they dont -

Check the fuse - see if you have a blown fuse. And, check the bulbs, if one is bad, usually that side won't flash, or will flash extremely fast. Also check the flasher can like was mentioned above.

If the fuse and bulbs are good, I'd check that the switch is good next. Use a volt tester, or a fluke, to see if you get a 12 volt signal from the flasher wire when you put the switch in one of the two turn positions. If you don't know what wire to check, you can pick up a wiring diagram just about anywhere, and it should give you pretty good directions for finding it.

Other than that, I would imagine you could have a bad ground somewhere on your turn signals... or a defective wire.

 

[69ssmike]

I had the same problem with mine,finally figured out I had smashed the flasher when messing with my column. I thought this odd and didn't think to check it because they didn't come on at all.
New flasher and they're good as new!! Mike

 

[pegleg71]

Thanks for the advice guys.....I'll see what I can do.