996 front turn signal failure
#61
I have a 2003 turbo that the drivers side front turn signal indicator is flashing fast. The bulb is not flashing, even with the hazards on. I removed the headlight and replaced the bulb. There is no corrosion or obvious damage to the socket. I would appreciate any ideas before I have to go to the dealership. Thanks.
it will be instructive for you to read thru this thread or perhaps even the first few pages as the solution to your issue is very likely contained within. given the entire thread contains many of the anecdotal reports us who have also followed the suggested "fix" contained herein. it's the very same issue you most likely face. eg the contact tabs inside of the bulb enclosure need to be adjusted ( bent outward ) ever so slightly as to once again make full contact.
read it all if you haven't.
#64
revived from the dead, this thread
My front driver's side turn signal failed and I got the "fast flash" side effect. After replacing the bulb it still didn't work, and the old bulb still had an intact filament so I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I used the search function and found this thread and I was shocked how many cars have had the driver's side front signal fail.
Mine turned out to be a dirty contact on the signal bulb mount that screws into the headlight housing. It actually had pitting and some of the surrounding plastic melted over it! After a thorough cleaning it works fine again so this is just a thanks to the forum for saving me a trip to the shop.
Mine turned out to be a dirty contact on the signal bulb mount that screws into the headlight housing. It actually had pitting and some of the surrounding plastic melted over it! After a thorough cleaning it works fine again so this is just a thanks to the forum for saving me a trip to the shop.
#67
My front driver's side turn signal failed and I got the "fast flash" side effect. After replacing the bulb it still didn't work, and the old bulb still had an intact filament so I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I used the search function and found this thread and I was shocked how many cars have had the driver's side front signal fail.
Mine turned out to be a dirty contact on the signal bulb mount that screws into the headlight housing. It actually had pitting and some of the surrounding plastic melted over it! After a thorough cleaning it works fine again so this is just a thanks to the forum for saving me a trip to the shop.
Mine turned out to be a dirty contact on the signal bulb mount that screws into the headlight housing. It actually had pitting and some of the surrounding plastic melted over it! After a thorough cleaning it works fine again so this is just a thanks to the forum for saving me a trip to the shop.
The weather got pretty hot which I think plays a role in when this acts up. The light works ok in the AM but then not even all the way to work and the light acts up.
Anyhow, time to remove the headlight and fiddle with the light bulb socket again. I suspect the bulb socket has come loose a tiny bit and the contact is marginal.
Last time I found the bulb socket just a tiny bit not turned all the way to the stop.
#68
Well, I "fixed" this again. While I believed the bulb holder/socket was not turned all the way I recall now the solution, although it appears to be temporary at least in my case, is the spring tabs that help hold the bulb holder secure need to be pried out some to apply a bit more pressure.
While the bulb holder electrical contacts showed a bit of darkening I suspect from not making full contact even after I cleaned these up -- just a couple of strokes with a small fine abrasive -- the light still didn't work.
I see no real way to pry these out any. There is not enough gap between the contact and the plastic behind it to get a screw driver blade in there to just move them out a tiny bit.
Only after I took the headlight assembly into the house and at the kitchen table with a bright flash light and a right-sized screwdriver and gently pried the two spring tabs out just a skosk did the light resume working.
FWIW, the other headlight doesn't manifest this behavior. Now granted it is newer, possibly 6 years newer having been fitted in 2009 as part the mule deer accident repair but it has just approx 10K fewer miles on it than the left hand headlight. I wonder if there was some kind of upgrade or improvement in this area that the newer headlight assemblies then avoid manifesting this darned non-working blinker? I'm not about to risk the other headlight in removing it and comparing the two for any differences.
Anyhow, the car now has all its blinkers working again. But for how long?...
While the bulb holder electrical contacts showed a bit of darkening I suspect from not making full contact even after I cleaned these up -- just a couple of strokes with a small fine abrasive -- the light still didn't work.
I see no real way to pry these out any. There is not enough gap between the contact and the plastic behind it to get a screw driver blade in there to just move them out a tiny bit.
Only after I took the headlight assembly into the house and at the kitchen table with a bright flash light and a right-sized screwdriver and gently pried the two spring tabs out just a skosk did the light resume working.
FWIW, the other headlight doesn't manifest this behavior. Now granted it is newer, possibly 6 years newer having been fitted in 2009 as part the mule deer accident repair but it has just approx 10K fewer miles on it than the left hand headlight. I wonder if there was some kind of upgrade or improvement in this area that the newer headlight assemblies then avoid manifesting this darned non-working blinker? I'm not about to risk the other headlight in removing it and comparing the two for any differences.
Anyhow, the car now has all its blinkers working again. But for how long?...
#69
This was all a very helpful post. Thanks all! Here's another error i made: after doing all the tab bending, checking fuses and all, I reassembled and was treated to turn signals that seemed to work and then on the road intermittent flashing of headlights and fog lights and turn signals at every bump in the road! (Hint: intermittent short circuit!) I had made it worse!!
Happy ending: i went back and isolated the problem as the turn signal socket; i had already bent out the tabs, as you all suggested, i then re-inserted the socket into the headlight housing at 180 degrees from the way I had inserted it. The contacts internally are now properly aligned and it now it all works fine. This was just a silly error i had made. Don't make this error! ---it's tough on the ego But easily fixed, and i'm a happy guy.
Happy ending: i went back and isolated the problem as the turn signal socket; i had already bent out the tabs, as you all suggested, i then re-inserted the socket into the headlight housing at 180 degrees from the way I had inserted it. The contacts internally are now properly aligned and it now it all works fine. This was just a silly error i had made. Don't make this error! ---it's tough on the ego But easily fixed, and i'm a happy guy.
#70
Thanks all. Very helpful post as this happened to me today(passenger side) on the way back from picking up the kids. Even after all these years, I am not on here often but when I have a problem this forum usually has the answers.
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