When you find your car indicators not working, it is something that makes you feel worried. Indicators are very important for your car’s safety. They allow other drivers to know where you are going so that they can stay out of your way. With more traffics increasing day by day on the roads, indicators play an important role in helping us with turning lanes. Many relevant problems might happen and even they are common but they have different fixes so it can be a bit confusing if you go and try to fix it yourself. So, that’s where this article is going to be helpful for you. In this article, we will cover the reasons and solutions for car indicators that are working.
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How To Know That Your Car Indicators Are Not Working?
The most common symptom is the car LEDs will blink very fast. Because your complete indicator system is powered by a certain amount of ‘load’. When an indicator isn’t working, the rest of the system receives more power, therefore they will flash more. Also, most modern vehicles will constantly monitor all exterior lights on the car and will constantly give you a warning on your dashboard if the car indicator is not working. So, this is how you can easily rectify the problem and fix it according to the issues in your car indicators.
Reasons For Car Indicators Not Working
It is not only dangerous to drive without car indicators not working but also if stopped by the police you will have to pay a hefty fine via an FPN(Fixed Penalty Notice). So these can be the reasons for it.
1. Turn Signal Switch Not Working
The mechanism in which you operate the turn signal is your turn switch. The turn switch is responsible for sending the sign and current to the turn signals when you try and turn them on. If the switch malfunctions or breaks, there is no communication between the turn signal lever and the turn signal light.
Normally when you deal with it, locate the fuse using your car owner’s manual or vehicle repair manual, or check the light bulb socket for ground and power sections. Verify that the ground connection is working properly. See the section checking a light bulb socket. Also, check for an open or a short.
2. Signal Switch Failure
The turn signal switch performs several functions electrical as well as mechanical when it indicates a vehicle turn. It can be considered as if a left turn signal is selected the turn signal switch will maintain a flashing left-turn signal until the steering wheel is turned a certain amount counterclockwise, then turned clockwise back to a straight-ahead, or centered position. The same is true for a right.
The switch is activated by a lever that’s installed right in the steering wheel or in a separate assembly near the steering column. If your turn signal switch is broken, you have to replace it immediately because without it you can’t operate the signal switches.
3. Connections And Wiring Mess
In the bulb socket, with time messing up connections is pretty much common sense. You might be dealing with corrosion, damage, tightening or loosening, or anything in the connections which also leads to problems. A damaged or broken wire in the indicator circuit can interrupt the current between the indicator or hazard light, limiting or stopping the bulb from working. Sometimes a wire can intermittently go open circuit under certain conditions, meaning your indicator or hazard lights might work randomly.
So if this is the case, better check it and fix it.
4. Blown Fuse
Fuses place a limit on how much electrical current can be sent to different parts of your car. Car lights rely on a fuse to work. When the fuse blows, it will stop functioning until it is replaced. If a light or electronic device produces too much energy then a fuse is used for protection. This device melts on purpose. So such a sacrificial component should be replaced when used. A blown fuse has to be replaced urgently for the car indicators to start working.
5. Your Light Bulb Is Dead
If your indicator lights are not working then you should check the lifespan of your lights once. Because this is the only problem that causes the car indicators to go dim and also blinks very fast many times. As a result, your light bulbs blow out. If your light bulbs are gone away, then the case is very simple. Replace the lights simply and your problem of car indicators not working gets solved.
Turn lights signals usually last for many years but die if used very often.
Why Are My Lights Flash Too Fast Or Slow?
These can be the reasons for indicator light going too fast or slow.
The connected switch is very loosely connected. After replacing the flasher, you must have probably connected the wrong type of flasher for your vehicle model. Also as mentioned above, a burned-out bulb may cause the indicator light to blink faster. And if they are flashing slower than the normal speed, the alternator battery is undercharged or your battery is undercharged. If the turn signal flashes but the bulbs are in good shape, this may indicate that the flasher relay has failed, it’s not getting enough voltage. This may also happen during the broken or damaged bulbs When the resistance switches start acting abnormally by flashing the light repeatedly.
Conclusion
So these were the problems and DIYs for car indicators not working. Hopefully, we have covered all the common problems. Car indicators are one of the common systems in your car to troubleshoot by yourself. If you are not able to identify what’s the signal, bulb, socket, and fuse then let it be. Call the mechanic instead of trying and worsening the problem. Because if the problem is not in these parts then the mechanic will shift their attention to the signal switch and flasher module.
However, you don’t damage your vehicle by driving it but it is illegal and unsafe. Better be safe than sorry.