Emergency Signals and Lights + more ('98)

[Forscythe87]

I just purchased a 98 lumina ls today and have a few questions.

First off, I can not locate the button for the emergency lights, looks like thats a hole on the steering column and im gustimating thats where it uesd to be and it just broke off. Confirmation is needed on this as I cant find out any info online. Also, how would I got about getting this replaced?

Second off,
My lights are always constantly on, theres a knob on the left dash that turns them on and off when the cars off and then the regular lights and brights are triggered by pulling on the same stick that activates the turn signal (is this normal).

Last but not least, theres this button right next to my trunk button, it looks like microwaves and has an on and off option but it wont let me press it (wont switch on or off)

I hope someone can help, this is my first car and im highly satisfied with it, I just need to get these last few kinks fixed before I can deem it fully safe.

Thanks in advance.

[jeffcoslacker]

That hole sounds like where the hazard lights button used to be, yes.

The high beams should burn at low intensity when the car is running, that's the daytime running lamps (DRL), but not the low beams or parking lamps...if it's all on during the day, something may be blocking the light to the dash sensor that tells it to turn the lights on when it gets dark (if equipped with this option)...the sensor is on the driver's side of the defrost vent up by the windshield...it's a little hole with the "eye" in it. Sometimes crud gets in there and blocks the light, and it thinks it's perpetual night....

The high/low beams are activated with the turn signal stalk, as well as the wiper functions, cruise control, and that emergency flasher is tied into it too....you'd probably have to replace that whole assembly to have a new flasher button...they are quite expensive (called multi-function switch) and require steering wheel and airbag removal to replace...

Where is the other button located? I don't have a trunk button, but I assume it's in the glovebox? I'm drawing a blank on this one...

[Forscythe87]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

That hole sounds like where the hazard lights button used to be, yes.

The high beams should burn at low intensity when the car is running, that's the daytime running lamps (DRL), but not the low beams or parking lamps...if it's all on during the day, something may be blocking the light to the dash sensor that tells it to turn the lights on when it gets dark (if equipped with this option)...the sensor is on the driver's side of the defrost vent up by the windshield...it's a little hole with the "eye" in it. Sometimes crud gets in there and blocks the light, and it thinks it's perpetual night....

The high/low beams are activated with the turn signal stalk, as well as the wiper functions, cruise control, and that emergency flasher is tied into it too....you'd probably have to replace that whole assembly to have a new flasher button...they are quite expensive (called multi-function switch) and require steering wheel and airbag removal to replace...

Where is the other button located? I don't have a trunk button, but I assume it's in the glovebox? I'm drawing a blank on this one...

Thanks, everything is normal then.

As for the emergency signals. I managed to press in the emergency flasher button (assuming its the thing on the steering colum). Doing so yielded no result and deemed my turn signals useless up to a couple seconds after I un-depressed the button. Not sure what to do from here, im assuming since teh turn signals work the fuses must be fine.

Ill get pics of the other button I was talking about.

[Blue Bowtie]

If the hazard flasher is missing or unplugged, the hazard signals won't work. Depressing the hazard switch will prevent the turn signals from operating.

It seems that the switch is operating normally, and the problem may be the flasher.