Turn Signal Issue...input highly appreciated!

[Kimtaz]

I have a 96 Jetta GLX VR6. Luv it to death but it's latest woes are getting to me. I do not want to get rid of it but if it keeps acting up, I will be left with no choice. Plus the dealership here is not very helpful!!!

Current issue: about a month ago, I noticed when driving and I turn to the to the left without turning the turn signal, the left indicator light would flicker on by itself without any consistent sequence. As time has gone by, it now turns itself on and flushes erratically even when cruising smoothly on the highway and sometimes even activates the right turn signal, where they just stay solid on without flickering. Took it to the dealership and they said that due to the after-market auto-starter, they can't diagnose it. I have had the starter there for 2yrs and I know they have diagnosed other issues on their computer before with it as is. Anyway, I have decided to either fix this by myself {with your help obviously :-)}, or atleast go to them with a list of things I need them to change.

Please give me your input before I sell my lil pride and joy! Thanks in advance!

[Tacuvito]

Well, I don't have my manual close by, but you should look at your relays, maybe one of them is bad. also check at the turn signals at the the light, maybe you have a short somewhere that after operating for sometime it could short out.
Tacuvito.
Tacuvito.

[Kimtaz]

Yesterday I went on a long drive and a new symptom came up. Now the left turn signal is constantly on. When I switch the left turn signal on, like when I am making a left turn, since it is already on, it is not flashing. Stays constantly on. But if I am turning right, then the right flasher goes on like nothing is wrong, while the left light is still on and not flashing. I then decided to try and turn on my emergency flashers. The right one comes on and stays constant just like the left one. They don't flash but stay constantly on. I am beginning to think this is not a wiring issue!

[boschmann]

It sounds to me like a problem with the switch. Has it made any noises when turning the wheel. If you disconnect it's electrical connector & it stops coming on by itself, that would be a good indicator it's bad.

[Kimtaz]

Could you please clarify that for me? How do I go about testing the switch? What kind of noise are you talking about?

[Kimtaz]

At this point this is getting humorous...yesterday I was playing around with this issue to see if I might be able to figure this out or if I was missing something. My findings:

If the left turn signal is solidly on even though I did not turn it on, when I turn off the car and remove the keys, and then turn on the harzard/emergency lights, all the lights in the dash (oil, temp, check engine, gears, etc) flash in unison with the harzard lights.

Now the funny part...if I press the horn buttons (one or both), the horn does not sound, but all the other lights STOP flashing, and only the indicator/harzard lights continue to flash! If I turn on the car at this point, the solid left turn signal has turned off and if I engage it, it works just fine.

Am I to pullover my car and go through the above routine everytime the signals freeze up on me? If you are on the east coast driving on I-95 and you see a red jetta on the side with the highway with its harzard lights on, that will be me going through the above routine! LOL!

[boschmann]

Take it to an independent foreign repair shop who's not super paranoid of damaging their $20 grand computer (VW put out a bulletin about possible damage to their scanners caused by improper aftermarket radio installation & now it's an excuse they use to turn away work they don't want). It will be easy for them to diagnose & repair. It sounds like the signal switch has come apart & is shorting things out in the column, but you probably don't want to try it youself as it requires disarming & removing the driver's air bag.

[alltracturbo]

Not shure what the problem is, but I just wanted you to know your not the only one. I own a red 98 Jetta GLX in NY and my horn just started going off today and wouldnt stop. Had to pull the fuse out. And now when i turn on my left blinker it starts flashing like i have a bulb out. And sometimes when I turn the stering wheel to the left or turn on the headlights it blinks normaly. I just hope I can fix it before it gets any worse. Good Luck! Also if you find out the problem, any info would reely help. Thanks

[boschmann]

It sounds like something is physically broken inside the steering column.