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Turn signals don't work

technoboy235

Well-Known Member
Joined
December 3, 2008
Messages
122
Reaction score
1
City, State
Burtonsville, MD
Year, Model & Trim Level
'98 Limited V8 AWD
A couple days ago I was driving to Rausch Creek Off Road Park and my turn signals started to work intermitently. They started to make a loud fuzzy noise and they were'nt signalling. Throughout the day, They would work for a little while, then do that fuzzy thing and not signal. On the way back that evening, they quit doing anything. When I put the steering wheel all the way up, The hazzard lights would work, but when the steering wheel was fixed at the height that I like it, they wouldnt work either. If someone could help me out with this that would be great.

Thanks
 



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Happened to me a while back. There is tape holding the bundle of wires to your steering column. If you remove the plastic cover and the metal cover under that, you can access all the wiring. When the steering wheel is tilted up and down it causes a plug to become loose. I never moved mind, but it worked it's way loose over the years.

Simply cut the tape holding them and it will relieve the tension.
 












Since the hazards work, the more logical diagnosis is a loose connection at the multi-function switch or at the hazard switch. Try what Scottydog suggested first before you start throwing money at it. Once you have the covers off, turn on the turn signals or hazard switch and start wiggling those wires and your lights might just start working again, by wiggling each wire, you can pinpoint which wire or connector is bad and just go from there.
 






That could also be the case...I tried (and my mechanic) several options before finding the solution. I actually saw the same diagnosis on another web site shortly after we fixed mine. Maybe before you take things apart, try tilting your steering wheel up and then down to see if that has any affect.
 






mine went out yesterday and hazards were still working.. i was like what the hell. Well after inspeciting everything inlcuding the top of the steering column.. the bigger plug-in on top of the steering column just over from the shifter was coming out.. someone in the past broke the retainign tab on it so it could just slide out if tugged on.. so i positioned the steering wheel where i want it.. made sure the plug in was in all the way and put it all back together.. signals work great now.. plus.. when i was troule shooting that plug in would cause a sizzle from having lil or no contact when pulled on.. if i had a way to post pics i have several that i could share. KILL
 






Could this wheel tilt problem contribute to the brake lights staying on continuously when the headlights are on, but not coming on at all when the headlights are off and you step on the brake? I went for an inspection today and found that the brake lights come and stay on if the headlamps are on but don't work when the brake is pressed. The center third light is functioning correctly. In the past I had noticed the blinkers would malfunction after my son in law would drive the car and found it was due to the tilt of the steering wheel being changed. Thanks.
 






i just bought a 98 exploder and googled '98 exploder turn signals dont work' and this is the first thing that popped up.. it was a 5 min fix and my turn signals are working again. the wires just pulled out of the plug on my turn signals.
 






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