Car's turn signals don't flash in back

samzhere

My rear turn signals quit flashing (both L/R) and of course the front flash fast, as does the indicator light.

What would make both rear flashers quit at the same time? I assume it's the flasher unit itself?

How much do they usually cost (assuming that's the problem). Thanks.

garyhh2

Did you check the fuse? I would check that first....

orchidman

True story Sam.
Was on patrol back in my LEO days and got a call to attend a road rage incident in the city. Arrived to find a vehicle with both the front and rear indicators smashed. Standing on the footpath was an old guy ( 67) holding a piece of water pipe. When I pulled up he put the pipe on the ground, then walked towards me and admitted that he had smashed the other drivers indicators. When I asked him why he replied " Cos the stupid ............. never uses them"

He got discharged without conviction by the Judge and ordered to pay restitution.

Over here we call them either indicators or 'blinkers'..................according to the Japanese student working for me, in Japan they call them 'Winkers'.....I told her to be very careful how she pronounces the 'Japanese' version......

shush

samzhere wrote: »

What would make both rear flashers quit at the same time?

Teach wrote: »

car with Lucas electrics! Jerry

:driving:


You have checked the bulbs?
Earth fault?

PS

samzhere wrote: »

My little Morris Minor was their standard style, based on a 30s design,

Was it fitted with the orange trafficators?

NN

Depends on what kind of flasher unit you have

---

$9 to over $100.

Teach

Sam, the most likely problem is failure of the brake/turn filament of both rear bulbs. There's a different filament for tail lights, a dimmer one. If the tail lights work and the brake lights AND turn signals don't on both sides, start out with a bulb swap. If one tail light is dim, or one or both tail lights go out when the brake is applied, there's a grounding problem. Some T-Birds had "sequential" rear turn signals, where three lights per side are involved, and flash one at a time in sequence from the center toward the outside. That system involves some pretty sophisticated solid state electronics, and needs to be diagnosed and repaired by someone with a factory service manual and some electrical system knowledge.
Jerry

jbp-ohio

I think there is only one flasher for all 4 blinkers and hazard lights. So it would be the bulbs or a bad ground.

jbp-ohio

Always a good investment for an older car......

samzhere

shush wrote: »

:driving:


You have checked the bulbs?
Earth fault?

PS


Was it fitted with the orange trafficators?

One flasher goes out, it's gotta be the bulb, but if both rear flashers go out simultaneously, I'm thinking it's the flasher unit itself. And no, no other problems at all, lights or otherwise. Chance that both rear bulbs would go out at the same time isn't reasonable.

Teach

If the front bulbs are flashing, the problem is not the flasher- - - -simple logic there. There's only one flasher for turn signals for both sides, front and rear, and another for the 4-way emergency system. Check the bulbs- - - -logic be damned. That's what I've been doing for 50+ years, and it's the very first thing that must be determined. If they're not bad, move on to more obscure causes.
Jerry

samzhere

jbp-ohio wrote: »

Always a good investment for an older car......

A car repair manual assumes that I've got the ability and motivation or physical agility to open the hood or dig around looking for the fuses and whatever. I'm pretty good at putting in the gas but that's about it. And, yeah, fill the washer bottle. whew...

No, just kidding, but there's some things each of us can do and some we cannot. I'm terrible w. car repairs, always have been, more likely than not I've ended up costing myself more after I shade-tree the thing.

I was just wondering, with both rear bulbs not flashing, I figure it's the controlller module. Could be a busted connector I guess. Regardless, it's gonna go to my very nice & reliable car-fix shop Thursday while they do the lube & oil job, they can do the flasher too.

breamfisher

So, rather than listen to Jerry and others with experience, you're going to go to a shop and advise that they change what doesn't need to be changed?

shush

samzhere wrote: »

Chance that both rear bulbs would go out at the same time isn't reasonable.

Same miles on both, unless you only turn left.

Varmintmist

Troubleshooting is linear, 2 separate feeds, 2 separate grounds. What is in common is the flasher, except that the flasher works. Unless you have some kind of wierd unit that does more than on/off. I bet bulbs.


We need a poll.

breamfisher

How do we know that both flashers stopped flashing at the same time?

SirGeorgeKillian

Fords have a safety thing in them (the 99 I had did at least) where if the fuse for the rear lights blew, so did your dash lights. Not sure if that was the same fuse that does the rear blinkers or not. I know I'm not much help.

DoctorWho

breamfisher wrote: »

How do we know that both flashers stopped flashing at the same time?

I agree, I have seen it at the shop here many times, first one bulb burns out, then another.... sometimes after a rain storm water gets in and next time you use the turn signals, the bulbs implode.....

First and easiest thing to check are the bulbs anyway...

LMLarsen

Sam. It's the rear bulbs.

BigDanS

The thought of Sam flashing has me wondering if you should fix this.... :nono:

D

tennmike

Assuming that the flasher solenoid is a bimetallic strip type, and that the front signals are flashing faster than normal, you have a short circuit in the rear flasher circuit. A short circuit to the rear turn signal lights will cause the flasher solenoid bimetallic strip to heat faster than normal and give a high flash rate.

Same thing happens when a trailer with high amperage lights is being towed. The additional amperage makes the solenoid operate faster. Trailers need a heavy duty flasher solenoid to correct the problem.

Edit to add: The flasher solenoid cyclic rate is also fast enough to keep the fuse from opening. This also assumes front and rear turn signals are on same fuse.

avmech

Whenever I have had fast flashing, it has been a bulb out......................

Slanteyedshootist

BigDanS wrote: »

The thought of Sam flashing has me wondering if you should fix this.... :nono:

D

So that's his secret to picking up them thar Texas cuties eh?

samzhere

avmech wrote: »

Whenever I have had fast flashing, it has been a bulb out......................

Er, yeah, that's understood................................ but when both rear flashers fail simultaneously, it's likely not both bulbs burning out the same instant. Anyway, getting it fixed Thurs when I get my regular oil/lube. stuck keyboard period notwithstanding.................................

breamfisher

That's the right turn signal, if they're in the left turn lane.

breamfisher

Sam, just curious, but have you actually checked the bulbs, or are you just assuming you're correct and discounting the advice of several people with more mechanical experience than you, including one who actually teaches this sort of thing?

DoctorWho

Funny thing is if you have been around and driving cars for at least 30 years, most people can at least check bulbs, even non mechanics, it is a simple enough task, a level 1 in the skills section......

Big Chief

Hand and arm signals until you get it fixed. Remember those, arm straight out the window for a left turn and bent upwards at the elbow for a right turn.

DoctorWho

Ever since I was a kid, I had a knack for fixing cars....... instead of making trouble, I used to help out at My local garage....

sherwood

Were always taught as kids that when the turn signals started to blink fast it was time to replace the relay. It was right up there with starting the lug nuts before putting a wrench on them. Unlike NASCAR.

LMLarsen

I've never seen a "relay" on the turn signal circuit, just the flasher unit, the wiring, and the bulbs

NN

LMLarsen wrote: »

I've never seen a "relay" on the turn signal circuit, just the flasher unit, the wiring, and the bulbs

Fords now have some other unit than the old flasher unit and not on the fuse pannel as they used to be.

Just did some searching around the web----it is a relay, now.