# Turn signal doesn't blink: What's likely wrong?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 27, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842 "2012-08-27T17:57:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/1 "2012-08-27T17:57:12Z")
Lights come on.
Hazard lights come one.
Turn signal comes on, but doesn’t blink.
(And. . . just in case you’re wondering. . . No, I don’t:D)
---
### Author:  [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/2 "2012-08-27T17:58:53Z")
light bulb out
Get a friend to check the front and back while you turn the blinkers on and off. Either front or back bulb is out
---
### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/3 "2012-08-27T18:01:24Z")
> [@Sigene](#):
>
> light bulb out
>
> Get a friend to check the front and back while you turn the blinkers on and off. Either front or back bulb is out
On every car I’ve ever had, when a bulb has blown the indicators blink faster than usual.
---
### Author:  [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/4 "2012-08-27T18:04:53Z")
On newr cars they won’t blink if a bulb is out. Strange that neither side will not blink unless two bulbs are out. Also some cars have a seperate fuse for front and rear signals so you might also check fuses.
---
### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/5 "2012-08-27T18:10:34Z")
Apparently there’s some misunderstanding. The “lights” to which I’m referring are the lights inside the turn signal, not headlights.
---
### Author:  [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/6 "2012-08-27T18:16:34Z")
> [@badger5149](#):
>
> On newr cars they won’t blink if a bulb is out. Strange that neither side will not blink unless two bulbs are out. Also some cars have a seperate fuse for front and rear signals so you might also check fuses.
IME, two bulbs often go out at the same time. (Or near enough that it seems like the same time.)
---
### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/7 "2012-08-27T18:26:44Z")
So, the bulbs are OK but the blinky part isn’t, except when in hazard mode?
On both sides?
---
### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/8 "2012-08-27T18:31:43Z")
Edited for clarity:
For both front and rear, and both sides:
Non-headlights (the red ones) light when the headlights are turned on.
Hazard lights light up and blink.
Brake lights work fine.
Turn signal comes on, but doesn’t blink.
---
### Author:  [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/9 "2012-08-27T18:34:05Z")
> [@Sigene](#):
>
> light bulb out
>
> Get a friend to check the front and back while you turn the blinkers on and off. Either front or back bulb is out
Don’t turn signals and hazard lights use the same bulb?
My guess is the relay. At least on some cars, while the bulb is the same for hazard lights and turn signals, the current goes through a different relay. Replace the hazard light relay (cheap part) and see if that fixes it.
---
### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/10 "2012-08-27T18:37:03Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#):
>
> Don’t turn signals and hazard lights use the same bulb?
>
> My guess is the relay. At least on some cars, while the bulb is the same for hazard lights and turn signals, the current goes through a different relay. Replace the hazard light relay (cheap part) and see if that fixes it.
You mean the turn signal relay?
---
### Author:  [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/11 "2012-08-27T18:40:17Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> You mean the turn signal relay?
Right, sorry, got it backwards.
---
### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/12 "2012-08-27T18:49:09Z")
Every time I’ve seen this problem it’s been the relay. Of course “every time I’ve seen this problem” gives you a total data set of about 3 instances. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/13 "2012-08-27T18:56:40Z")
Thanks. That’s worth a shot at trying.
---
### Author:  [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/14 "2012-08-27T19:29:13Z")
I second the relay.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/15 "2012-08-27T19:36:40Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> You mean the turn signal relay?
Is that the same thing as the [flasher](http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turn-signal2.htm)?
---
### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/16 "2012-08-27T19:40:45Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> Is that the same thing as the [flasher](http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turn-signal2.htm)?
I don’t think so. The relay would be in a panel with other relays, for the horn, lights, wipers, etc. The relay isolates the higher voltage and current side from the lower voltage and current at your fingertips.
---
### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/17 "2012-08-27T23:07:51Z")
Yes, it is the same thing as the flasher.
---
### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/18 "2012-08-27T23:32:53Z")
This is usually a burned out bulb. Second cause is a blown fuse and third is a short or fourth broken circuit.
---
### Author:  [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/19 "2012-08-28T12:04:11Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> This is usually a burned out bulb. Second cause is a blown fuse and third is a short or fourth broken circuit.
OP says “Turn signal comes on, but doesn’t blink.” Can’t be the bulb, unless this car has separate bulbs for turn signals and flashers, which would, I think, be unusual.
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842/20 "2012-08-28T12:13:34Z")
It’s a gutsy turn signal. You’ll have to find some other way to intimidate it.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-signal-doesnt-blink-whats-likely-wrong/632842.md?page=2)