96 Lumina turn signals/brake lights

[VG Groll]

Here's my dilema. The turn signal switch went out on my 96 lumina in 2001 & it cost me $219 to have it fixed & several trips to the mechanic before the finally got the diagnosis right. Anyway, that time only my brake lights quit working. Today however while driving my car the turn signals quit. No lights on the dash come on at all & under further investigation the hazard lights don't work nor do the bottom brake lights. As I headed home for lunch I drove over a bumpy road & the hazard lights started flashing as it was left on in checking things out & then I had a turn signal for just a moment then it all quit working again. Can anyone tell me if this is still the turn signal switch in the steering column. Everything I've read on here seem to be intermittent turn signals or they work fine & it's just the brake lights. Please help! Single mom & I can't afford big mechanic bill. Also, is it possible to find a free online diagram of the steering column etc. Thanks for any advice.
vg

[Kooterskkar]

That sounds like a bad switch or a short to me. If you dotn have any tools to take off the steering wheel you might just want to leave it to a mechanic. Replacing the switch is a little more involved than just taking out a few screws and unplugging some wires.

[VG Groll]

Ok, after I got off work yest & went to pick my son up just as it was getting dark I had him check my brake lights & they were all working then. I'm wondering if it's just a flasher now but my question here is if it's a flasher do the turn signal lights still come on but just not flash? the bulbs have all been checked & it's not that. I know my flasher went out several yrs ago too but I can't remember if there were lights on the dash then or not. No lights on the dash board when the turn signal is turned on is what has me puzzled.

[dwalmop]

if the flasher is bad, then yes, your turn signal lights will come on, but not flash

[VG Groll]

So any other ideas other than a short or the switch in the steering column? I so want this to be an easy fix & I'm afraid it's not going to be. Will it be a waste of money to try replacing the flasher 1st?

[richtazz]

I'd try the flasher, as your tail and brake lights are still operating. I would much rather waste $5-$10 and find out the flasher is still good, than to waste $200+ on a turn signal switch to find out it wasn't the problem.

[VG Groll]

Ok, thank goodness it turned out to be an $8 flasher after all. Just an FYI here for anyone else that may come across this same problem.....My turn signals & flashers wouldn't light up at all either on the dash or on the outside of the car. I had never had that happen before. 1st time for everything I guess. But thanks for everyone's input & I'm very glad I happened up on this site. I never would have had it not been for having this problem with my car.
vg