Turn Signal Problems...again

I've had this problem before and I'm having it again.

First off, I've checked ALL light bulbs. They are all fine.

Right turn signal works fine...no problems.

Left turn signal sometimes works fine...but sometimes while clicking at normal speed, it will slow down (the clicking sound, the exterior lights, the interior indicator and the HUD indicator...all together). Then it will speed back up to normal speed, then slow down again, etc.

Sometimes, when the left turn signal cancels while it's "acting up", the lights stay on steady w/o flashing (exterior lights, interior indicator and HUD indicator). If you shut off the car with the lights on steady, all of those lights (exc. HUD) will stay on even with the key out of the car.

Sometimes when the left turn signal lights are stuck on steady, turning that turn signal on again will bring it all back to "normal" and shut off all of those lights. Sometimes it will also go back to "normal" when you turn on the right turn signal...but sometimes turning on the right turn signal (while the left ones are on steady) doesn't turn off the left ones and if that happens, the right turn signal will flash rapidly.

I see that this situation was discussed in another thread from 2008, but I'm not sure what the cause of the problem was determined to be...the turn signal switch or the turn signal flasher (buried deep into the depths of the dash).

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=888896&highlight=turn+signal

I'm on my 3rd turn signal switch now in the past 5-1/2 years. The first one was replaced under warranty ($100 deductible) and the second one cost me $650 out-of-pocket to replace. I had this problem occurring before the last replacement, but it wasn't "acting up" all the time, nor was it "acting up" at the time of the replacement...so it wasn't clear that it was resolved by replacing the switch. I cannot afford to shell out $650 for a new switch.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever figured out what causes this problem...the switch or the flasher.

No personal experience, but it seems to me that the symptoms you described are a faulty turn signal switch or wiring around the switch. But the variable speed of the turn signal sounds like a bad flasher.

For best results, remove the "thermal flasher" and throw it in the trash can and install an electronic flasher.

For best results, remove the "thermal flasher" and throw it in the trash can and install an electronic flasher.


I wish it were that easy. I hate electronic flashers, though...more trouble than they're worth. I'd rather have the old thermal ones. It goes out, unplug it and throw another one in there and you're done. But, unfortunately the 97-05 Park Avenues all have electronic flashers. And they seem to be more intricate than the little square box electronic flashers. I removed the one from my wife's old Rendezvous (for reference...and because it is extremely easy to get to) and it had about a dozen little pin connections on it...not your old 2-prong or 3-prong flasher units. The 97-05 Park Avenue flasher is mounted WAY up deep inside the dash and the R&R instructions include disconnecting one of the metal dash reinforcements to move it out of the way.

Might be totally unrelated but when my turn signals stopped working I removed bulbs from side lights, the ones that light up to the side of the car and all worked great since then.

My turn signal problem has gone back into remission again. This issue has surfaced a few times in the past 6 years. It will be a problem for about a week or so...then go away for a few months to a couple of years.

The side lights (cornering lamps) don't seem to have an effect on the problem, but oddly enough, the side-markers added a whole new face to this issue. I replaced both burned-out front side-marker bulbs and immediately noticed that signal indicator in the Head-Up Display was flashing at a rate WAY off from the rate the rest of the lights (dash & outside lights) were flashing. I took out the new bulbs and put back in the burned-out bulbs and my HUD was back to normal.

In researching this more, I've read that these signal flasher units are complicated units and if any faults occur in it, it can cause some bizarre symptoms. I long for the good old days when cars weren't quite so complex.

At this point, the problem is not happening at the moment. Here's hoping it's a thing of the past.