Why My Turn Signals Don't Work ~ Diagnosis 

Hello HM, an excellent and thorough presentation for repair. I'm a mechanic myself and was looking on youtube for the diagnostics for a wiper switch for a 1997 Ford Ranger which has been giving me a headache. Your method of teaching is excellent, and though I didn't get anything dealing with my wiper switch, still, I learned your technique for solution of a short, and it is a good technique . . . excellent.

Awesome video!! I had some issues with my 03 V6 b5.5 Passat where I replaced my relay, and even the turn signal wand and still had no signals for almost 6 months. Well, finally one day while my mechanic was replacing my steering wheel he realized these sort of connectors that we're placed DIRECTLY UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. Once connected, I had turn signals again, even connected my old relay just to discover it still worked fine and I'm pretty sure my old turn signal wand still works too. But this was just in case anyone had the problem and these AWESOME VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE didn't help...

hey Charles. I have lots of specialty tools in my tool arsenal. your videos/expertise is part of it. thanks for sharing your experience. I've wrenched for over 30 years professionally but in reality my whole life (49).a good tech never stops learning. if I ever get a chance, have a cold one on me.cheers mate.

I have the same problem and was just going to replace the fuses and be done with it. Knowing that the headlights may be the cause of the fuses blowing saves me a great deal of time and money. Thanks.

No questions today, just a thank you for taking the time to record and upload the knowledge

Excellent video. Just bought a 95 wrangler. Turn signals don't work but the guy I bought it from had replaced headlights with LED. I think this video is the exact trouble shooting guide I needed! Will find out shortly. Thank you!

YOURE A DANG GENIUS. SOON AS YOU SAID WARNING LIGHTS BEING CONNECTED. I PERKED UP, hit my warnings and signaled left and it came right on

Thank you for this video! I have figured that mine is a wiring issue and didn't have a clue as to where to begin looking. I will look inside the headlight to see if the problem is there. Thanks so much!

A great tutorial that is well articulated in layman terms. Strong work Brother. 👍

Thank you for the informative film. My Turn Signals stopped working, I did several things on it, so it was sitting for a while. What it was in my case: I found it!! And what it was, I removed the headliner board for re[placing the upholstery on it, and disconnected the wire to the ceiling lens. The shop manual (I fortunately have for that car 2001 Saturn SL2) advised to attach those wires w/scotch tape, so I disconnected it fm/the plug by the rear window. The plug was sitting on a thin plate, which I assumed was there for keeping the plug in correct place. After I did some research I've learned that grounding could cause Turning Signals go off. The Manual showed 2 grounding wires on the rear close to that plug. There was a clip on the plug, metal one. I disconnected the grounding there, so even w/plug in the T S-ls didn't work of course. It might be helpful for someone else. Pls check the grounding as well if you have a problem w/T Signals and the fuse is fine. I was about to replace the Steering Column Switch, and actually ordered one already (so will have a spare now, not bad thing though).

Great walk through. That wire insulation crumbling is unbelievable.

Perfect video that just focuses on the diagnoses which is really good. My issue was with the wiring. This video helped me realize that. Thanks

just finished my basic electrical class today at UTI and this was really cool of you how you kept going to see the real problem of why they fuse melted. more electrical diag videos please :D

Charles finaly got to the problem with the turn signals, being eratic , it was the signal lever internal problems . unbeleivable ,thanks for your help .

Here again Charles. I had the same issue on my Passat, turn signals not working, but hazard lights ok. Checked the fuse on #2 and it was blown. Have to mention I installed a pair of dynamic LED turn signals 2 years ago without cancelling the bulb (load) inside the headlight housing. For now it was replaved with a 10a fuse, but I should check the circuit's load. So there it is, sometimes we mod smthg and later it backfires. Kind of like that engine you destroyed with the nitrous! 😝

Wow thank you man. This video help me to understand many things. Thank you very much.

thank You..You made it simple for me....My hazards don't work nor the turn signals. I noticed my passenger head light was out of the socket.. I need to check it further...Thanks I will check the fuses again

Great video Charles, as always! ❤️👍

I love your way of working. Thanks a lot for the video

I own a 2003 V6 B5.5 Passat wagon that looks and runs like new, but only because I am obsessive with maintenance. I'm the original owner and I love it. I had no idea these headlight wires were so prone to cracking - good to know. They should have used wiring with silicone insulation or some other material if subject to that much heat. Had to replace the wiring from the ECU to the coil pack recently ... after 14 years of baking from engine heat they did started to do the same thing. PS - love the videos.

Much appreciated for the video, I appreciate the help 🙏🙏 had no idea the two worked on the same relay

Thanks so much for sharing this,it's a great help

Good job! Info is all good. Diagnostic is as important as fix!

Thanks lots of people have terrible things to say till it happens to them thank you for your time...

Well done, Charles! You missed one critical diagnostic step, though: You forgot to check for a BMW badge on the trunk lid! ;D

Great video, straight to the problem no joke

I am currently editing the video(s) for removing the headlights and fixing the issue I found.

Thanks for the diagnostic steps. Solved the problem for me, i.e., short in headlight from missing wire sheathing.

This is a great video. Thank you so much.

Thanks to this video, I fixed my turn signals. While I was at it, the electric locks and seats. The fuse wasn't the problem for the flashers. It's something in the steering column. Adjusted all the way down, they don't work. Up a couple steps, perfect. I don't adjust it anymore.

Your good buddy, explanation is clear.

Thanks so much.saved me big money and time. Had same issue..all wires bad inside headlite.. Thanks so much

This video was easy to understand and helpful. Thank you

This was exactly what happened with mine. Thanks

Very Nice info! Logical and to the point. Good work! Thank you!

Excellent video. Thanks.

This was really helpful, thank you.

I hear you. Well I did the check on the hazard light and then went and loosened the headlights on each side and did the checks. My hazards came back on. Then the blinkers started to work again. Thank God. I didn't want to have to take it to my mechanic. I have a 96 Honda Accord LX. And I think the power steering fluid container is spraying out fluid on to the wires that go to the driver side head light. The whole area on that side is really oily. So I don't know. But the blinkers are back on.

Hi, this is a very patient mechanic. And he doesnt shot gun a problem. Very cool

By far you are the best mechanic I have come across dealing with the VW/Audi manufacturers. Thanks

BMW drivers be like "What's a turn signal?"

super fan of diagnosing videos

Your advice was spot on! Now do a video on why overhead light not working! please. lol

Thank you Sir. For the effort, I appreciated on ur Tutorial.

Hello friends! In case the turn signals don't work and the hazard lights do work, you can try and check the hazard lights relay situated inside the hazard light button. Reinforce the contact between the metal slips as they to tend to go apart after some usage. This was my case, after 100.000 miles, and the fix was easy (pull out the button and pry the metal slips closer). I am currently at 170.000 miles with the original button/relay! Safe driving!

When I am checking fuses I always make sure to check them all like you do. I also like to study the fuses and the fuse card or owners manual, depending on the car, for fuses that should be in a certain place that may be missing. I have seen problem on cars before where nobody could figure it out and I would find a fuse missing altogether.

Very well done.

Man, cars are fascinating

Very informative, thank you.

Great breakdown on how to find a issue.

Nice Phatbox ;) I love mine.

fuse removal tool, mind is blown!

Absolutely excellent!!

Thanx man, I've been looking thru alot of these trying to figure out y only my right turn don't work and all I've been hearing is it's either fuse or flasher relay if not those the turn signal switch..I bought flashers and bulbs and seen the switch goes for $175 used and I would hate to pay that to find its not that,my main problem is the previous owner thought he was a master electrician,those wires are thrown on the starter fuse and the fuel pump moved to the horn fuse and radio wired into a non existent ac unit wiring...so im just looking for more wiring problems...lol

Great video! Now I have an idea of what to do!

Thank you for this video. For some reason mine doest work but does click by the fuse box. Then if you really push on the relay a certain way, it works. But I can't get it to work steady. I have replaced the relay

This is great, thanks! I am, oddly enough, working on my maroon 98 S10 and certainly this is the route I need to take. Both sides dead at same time, now to check fuses, and wiring. Could be grounds corrosion or wiring breaking I mean the thing is ancient at this point. lol. Parts cannon approach wants me to swap the signal tree in the column as it is a known issue, but the wipers, cruise control all work perfectly. It is rarely just the fuse, so hopefully I can track this one down. 190 bucks is pretty steep for that unit so it will be worth it.

Hi. MR Humble thank you for showing me to fixing the signals now is working thank you every much good video I will 👀 next time.

I had somewhat of the same problem My 2003 chevy venture would blow the back door automatic door open would blow the fuse. I used a 12 volt test light . I had a repair book for it and chased down the wire along the floor and found out it was caused by the factory had not put a waterproof system around the wire harness . I checked the other harness on the other side and it had the water proofing . I took it to a dealer and they had to fix it for free since it was a factory problem.

Hi I’ve just come across your video along with others. Really helpful how to explain everything. Unfortunately I don’t think it will help me with my problem on my 2003 beetle. No indicators or hazards, all fuses good, replaced the hazard relay, after we did that, all indicators and hazards working fine, then 30 mins into driving the car, smoke coming out of relay switch and no indicators again 😕

You are freaking amazing and just solved my crisis LOL

Thank you just worked out what my problem was

Hello i loved your video i have a 2006 dodge dakota that does kinda same as yours but mine emergency lights works perfectly but not thw signals lights.

ur a good guy. Thank you.

Thank you, Nice Video.

thank you

Hey, non-VW question (Audi) I upgraded all of my exterior bulbs to L.E.D.'s and I'm getting all the expected bulb out faults at the dash. I was led to understand that as an alternative to having multiple resistors for every replaced bulb to remedy this, I could replace a specific turn indicator relay (not the emergency flasher switch/button/relay) instead. Through all of my searching both my car and the web, I am unable to locate any actual information on a relay for the turn signals separate from the emergency flasher switch, yet parts stores appear to sell them. I have a 2008 A4/B7 Quattro S-Line sedan. I need to know is there in fact a separate relay from the emergency flashers for the turn indicator lights? My turn signals hyper flash due to the L.E.D.'s, yet my hazards do not, and function as normal.

thanx for that info

I have to thank you for this video. I have a 2003 Pontiac Sunbird, 115k. The turn signals and reverse lights had stopped working (they share a fuse on this car), and checked fuse, not tripped. replaced bulbs all the way around (Reverse now works), no luck on signals, BUT ...I did turn on hazards, and they all worked. (surprise me..duh) Here's the part that confuses me: the turn signals work, for now! What should I be looking at to prevent this problem in future? Wish I had thought to check hazards first, but lesson learned there...thus my thank you for the video..Any ideas on prevention?

Thank you really helped.

Good Job! TYVM!!!

That 1.8t would really benefit from a GT28rs or at least a K04. :)

Many thanks.

Like always awesome video

It’s not issue I’m having but very helpful thanks

Good video , Charles ! A lot of people that watch your videos probably are not professional Tech's . I'am assuming . I know what bulb monitoring is but maybe some of your other views may not , maybe you could explain that in one of your pod cast's . Working on ford vehicles , this feature would have a message on the DIC .( Check left front turn signal bulb ). Or something like that . How does VW do this function . Ford uses (SJB) smart junction box.

Good video

Thanks dude I rectify my Lexus is 250 by your vedio

U helped me of just the picture thank u

I'm having issues with turn signals, thank you for the tutorial, I'm about to jump into the car and see if I can fix it today.

Appreciate the information though. A lot of steps. To finding the fix.

Very very helpful

THANK. YOU.

@mossman381. Thanks for replying. My signal and flasher lights blink inside appearing ok, but rear right blinker not working after another new bulb. It did blink while hanging on the bumper. Right blinker blinks faster than other on the panel. I'm gonna refer your videos to mechanic and tell him to change hazard switch. I really think he gave it back to me not working. Thank you so much for the videos.

just fixxed my car and the problem was just a fuse!! thanks a lot,,

It's after midnight. I had a new radio put in my 2010 KIA Soul today at Best Buy. He told me the factory radio was toast. The new radio has GPS and it's really nice to have my music back. Tonight I noticed my directionals are not working. Oops! I'm going out to the alligator-infested parking lot here in Palm Springs, Fl and try to pull a fuse or two. Thanks for your great video. I can't get back to Best Buy until Wednesday. Off to Pompano Beach tomorrow to take delivery on a 2002 Cadillac Deville. I wonder if the dark cloud that always follows me will come along on the train ride?

I have this exact car but it’s up to 155 k miles. Only thing I had to replace was a hose that I got for $16 in Amazon. And now have to fix a fast right signal that’s probably a faulty bulb. Always feel like I’m the luckiest VW owner from everyone’s stories

what are your thoughts on having a set of circuit breakers that match the fuses for use in troubleshooting? at $13 each for the manual reset ones you could get a lot of fuses, but I think it would be good long-term and ensuring that when the replacement fuse goes in it won't blow

Thanks

What sort of testing probe are you using...would like to get one. Thanks

Great mechanics are thorough mechanics like our expert here.

Djeezuss , that's really bad plastic... wow, never seen that ..

thanks man

always trust the bearded guys! 😂

gread video. Quuck question though, any idea why my indicators for low and high beam abd fog lights are not working when headlights are on

Thank you for helping.

Happened to me today, knew what it was right away.

rofl.. you solved my problem @ e signal. I was doing work and unplugged my esignal to get behind dash. forgot to plug it back in. that's my turn signal circuit.

Hey humble mechanic I got a 1998 Audi A4 2.8 and my turn signal don’t work. Both the fuses are good. I had to put a turn signal switch in the car as it was damaged. Any ideas

This reminded me of every cell tech call ever. " Did you try restarting the device". Yeah dude we've checked the fuse. Jesh