04 Malibu turn signal problem

[dan yost]

The problem I found with my left front turn signal after 10K miles, was that the contacts in the connector were not touching the bulb any longer. A quick bend with a small screwdriver and I've been back in business. Nothing burned out, no electrical shorts, no bad fuses, no corrosion.
Of course, I took the lamp assembly out of the vehicle before I stuck the screwdriver in there...

[stratford_boy]

Usually any issues with wildly flashing signals will be either: a burnt bulb or a connection issue at the bulb...try replaceing the bulb, locating by using hazards, if replaceing the bulb still does not repair your issue, look at the connection at the bulb...

[Hark]

Okay - this problem is still not fixed - daughter & boyfriend haven't taken care of the problem where they are - not sure how I'm supposed to help when she's 4 hours away - but she says it constant now. When she was home last, the wiring was checked (quickly due to time constraints) and the connectors for the bulbs - and the rear bulbs were also changed. When she's home for Christmas I'm about ready to replace every part it could possibly be. On a Grand Prix forum I read where this symptom (wildly flashing turn signals) was a problem caused by the turn signal switch/stalk itself - does anyone know if this could possibly be? I've called the dealerships - no one seems willing to fess up to a relay or anything else other than a wiring problem. Is there a relay for the goofy things - or could it be the switch?

[wpbharry]

There's new info (w/i the last 10 days) in an Edmund's forum that this is caused by too much voltage being sent to the turn signals - one person has this problem recurring as well. He (or she) had the problem fixed by the Chevy dealer. They knew immediately how to fix it. I don't think the exact fix was detailed.

[nick8519]

My buddy's wife drives a 2000 or 2001 malibu and had a problem with the turn signals blinking rapidly or not blinking at all. After lots of attempts to fix, the replacement of the hazard switch fixed her problem. Just thought I'd let you know...Good Luck!! opcorn:

[wpbharry]

That was a common problem with the '97-'03 generation, but it's not a problem with the '04-'07s.

[jdapthorp@kent.net]

My car's right turn signal would work sometimes and other times it would not work even after I replaced the bulb.
My mechanic suggested I check the light socket and I found it was corroded and the bulb was loose when I inserted it.
I cleaned it with WD40 and took a very small screw driver and pryed the contacts together just a little bit. Make sure the power is off of course.
Since then the light has worked every time.

[Jetex]

Rapid flashing of the turn signal on my 04 Malibu has in each case turned out to be bad contacts in the bulb holders. I seem to have solved the problem by spraying WD-40 into the holders. The problems were also intermittent.

[jd-autotech]

tsb (technical service bullentin) #06-08-42-004 pretains to bulb and socket replacement search the web or have the dealer pull it up. i would ppost you a link but i cant due to copyright agreement.

[Hark]

yep - still have the problem - since it is intermittent never wasted money taking it to dealer - i can try the suggestions but it doesn't seem likely. When this all started the wiring was traced all the way and nothing found and replaced the hazard switch with no result. Strange but true - when the turn signal doesn't work - I shut off the car and restart it and the turn signal works fine - so it seems more computer than bulb or wiring?

[Jetex]

As I said, I seem to have solved the problem by spraying WD-40 onto the bulb and socket contacts. I did this some 2 years ago and have had no problems since. I think there is some oxidization of the contacts going on here. It doesn't matter what brand of bulb you buy they all seem to be made in China. Maybe China is running out of lead for the contacts?

[ssfowler8]

Since I bought my Malibu used, I have had problems with the left turn signal. After several visits to the dealership and several light bulbs later. I found the problem myself. Good thing we pay the dealerships to do nothing. Found that there was no connection in the light socket and after several different attempts, I placed a small nail, yes a nail, in the socket to hold the bulb securely. After all of the money that I spent at the dealership I could've bought 2 new headlight assemblies. I have had the nail in the socket for about a year now and no problems.

[CentralNYGuy]

Hark - I know this is a very old thread, but were you ever able to find out the problem? I currently have the same exact problem on my 04 Malibu and no one knows what's going, on including the GM dealer in my area. They ran a complete diagnostics on the car and they say nothing appears to be wrong and there are no fault codes in the computer. I also brought it to an auto electrical specialist and he wouldn't even mess with it. He said " Sounds like a real headache " My problem started when I installed a new pair of plastic headlamps, because the old ones were all whited out from the sun. I thought that was the problem, so I sent them back and the company sent me a new pair. I installed those and I still have the same problem. I also tried contacting one of these GM techs you pay a fee to online. So far, none of them have been able to help. I'm at the end of my rope with this car and don't know what the heck to do with it anymore.