Intermittent Blinkers

[coop34]

Having a blinker problem. They will work fine for a week or so, and then just stop working. Eventually after a few weeks they will suddenly start working again, only to stop working a week or so later. Any suggestions??

[RAS C-10]

Far from an expert on this or as a matter of fact anything... but to me it sounds like possibly a short, maybe an exposed wire randomly touching metal shorting it out or something.

Just my $.02

[coop34]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into that.

[old Chevy guy]

Do they light and not blink or do they they not light up either? Could be the flasher relay or bad conection in the fuse box. Bad grounds acount for the majority of light problems. Give us more info.

[davepl]

Try wiggling the hazard switch. From what I remember before my truck was part, if you hold the harzard switch in part way it stops the signals and blinkers from working (they come on, but do not flash). And since the hazard switches tend to go bad, it's an easy check.

Next up would be the relay can (the flasher). Cheap and easy to replace.

After that you're looking at the signal light switch and the wiring, but the first two are easy to check.

[coop34]

They don't turn on at all and the flashers don't click. The flashers and turn signal switch are only about 6 months old.

[old Chevy guy]

Get a test light and probe in the fuse box and see if theres power on both sides of the fuse when the lights dont work. Do the brake lights work fine?

[coop34]

I'll have to check the brake lights when I get home tonight.

[coop34]

Went to check to see if they brake lights work and what do you know the blinkers are working again! Of course they start working when I'm ready to test out a few things. Guess I'll have to wait a week or so for them to stop working again!

[Kidd-7]

Check the light contacts, can't remember how the connections are made in these trucks, but I've had a few newer vehicles lately that have had corrosion on the contacts causing the lights to work intermittently.

[old Chevy guy]

That part of why I wondered about the Brake lights,they use the same wiring and filaments as the rear blinkers.

[coop34]

OldChevyGuy - Checked last night. The brake lights do work when the blinkers aren't. Does that rule out some things?

[coop34]

The brake lights work, but when I put on the blinkers, they go out?

[Kidd-7]

Are you saying the brake light go out when the blinkers are turned on? Do they act any different with the hazard lights?

[N2TRUX]

Probably low on blinker fluid.

Sorry, but I couldn't resist...

[panhandler62]

I was going say that it's normal for blinkers to be intermittent ... on ... off ... on ... off...

[coop34]

Ha Ha! I'll check the fluid tonight, and while I'm at it, I'll check the muffler bearings.

Anyway still have the blinker problem. Blinkers don't work. Brake lights do, until I turn on a blinker. Not sure about the hazard operation. I'll check that out tonight. Thank you all for your help and your laughs at my expense.

[fixit-p]

Originally Posted by coop34

The brake lights work, but when I put on the blinkers, they go out?

Do both brake lights go out or just the one on the side the blinker switch is set to, also when the blinkers don't work does the indicators on the dash light up?

[coop34]

fixit-p: Just one side of the brake lights goes out when the blinker is turned on, and no the indicators on the dash do not light up.

kidd: The hazard lights work fine.

[fixit-p]

Sounds like no power is getting to the turn signal switch. Since the hazards work try swapping turn signal and hazard flashers.