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Turn signal troubles?

Tiny
GARRRANDY
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 SATURN ION
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 106,880 MILES
Right turn signal blinking faster. Right rear turn signal not working, so I replaced bulb. Did not fix problem
Friday, January 16th, 2015 AT 1:03 PM

50 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Was the old bulb faulty, could you tell if bulb filament was broken in the bulb? With passenger side rear turn signal on, did you try pressing on the bulb, sometimes the bulb doesn't make good contact? Next, you would need to check voltage and ground for that turn signal. Go from there. I'll see if I can find wiring for that, wire colors.

This guide will help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/turn-signals-not-working-blinker

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, January 16th, 2015 AT 1:46 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Note the diagram, yellow wire is voltage for right rear turn. If the right rear stop and tail lamp work, the ground isn't the problem. Does the right front turn, work?

At that yellow wire use a test lite to check for voltage, right rear turn on. The bcm supplies that voltage, I'm not saying the bcm is faulty. Have to test further.
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Friday, January 16th, 2015 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just to add to this one you cant check for power like that. Once the body control module senses a problem in the circuit like wiring bulb etc it will shut down the circuit for that bulb for that key cycle. Thats why if you have a bad bulb for instance if the key is on and you have that side turn signal on the new bulb wont work till the key is cycled again. It does that to protect the bcm makes it a little more challenging to diagnose the circuit when you have a problem. If you have the correct bulb you could have a terminal tightness issue on the bulb socket. I have seen a lot of those. Most of the time its a issue with the front turn signal bulbs.
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Friday, January 16th, 2015 AT 4:13 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
That's good to know, good job.
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Saturday, January 17th, 2015 AT 8:48 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Glad I could help.
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Sunday, January 18th, 2015 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
MTJACOBUS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 SATURN ION
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 199,450 MILES
When I changed the bulb it was a bit burnt/melted. I changed the bulb but still not working. On the dash the indicator blinked very fast.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

Turn signals blink fast because the resistance in the front and rear circuit is not the proper amount. This happens when the incorrect bulb is installed as well as when they are burned out.

Is the bulb you put in an LED bulb by any chance? If so, these do not have the proper amount of resistance in them in order to cause them to not blink fast.

If it was not, then we need to turn the signals on and measure voltage or use a test light to ensure the circuit is working. It is possible that the combination switch (turn signal switch) is faulty causing an issue.

https://youtu.be/Hlna_kUt7As

Let me know what you find with this and we can go from there. Thanks
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JENN.CELESTE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 SATURN ION
Electrical problem
2004 Saturn Ion 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual

My front driverside blinker wont work, I changed the bulb and it worked for a day and now it no longer works. I changed out the bulb again and it still doesnt work what could it be?
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Hello and thanks for donating

When a single bulb fails to operate yet the bulb itself is good, it is usually do to faulty wiring or a faulty bulb socket housing. Make sure the wiring is clean and connected without damage at that specific bulb housing. If it is, suspect faulty bulb socket housing (where bulb inserts).
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SONOFWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
  • 2003 SATURN ION
  • 64,000 MILES
The left turn signal that has burned out. I have changed the bulb but the signal still does not work. All the other signals work. The emergency flasher makes all but the left front light flash. I checked the interior driver side fuse panel "park" fuse for burn out but it was okay. The steering column switch might be worn out.
Or the flasher might be going out. Would the other signals work if the flasher was going out? Does the under-the-hood fuse block have a fuse that would be involved in a problem like this?

What should I do now?
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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So does the left side flash fast and only one bulb flash?
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SONOFWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes. That is right. That is what first alerted me to the problem.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So is the front one out? Also, was the turn signal campaign ever performed on that car?
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SONOFWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes. It is the left front signal that s out. I guess I did not make that clear at first. I do not know what a signal campaign is. As far as I know a signal campaign has never been performed on the car.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
What was happening on those cars was the front bulbs were getting too hot the sockets and wiring to the socket as well. So what they did was come out with a campaign to have resistors add inline before the bulb socket free of charge. We replaced the bulbs and the sockets if needed. Pop the head light loose and see if there is a white resistor inline the socket bolted to the frame with a nut and bolt? Also, see if the wires to the socket or the socket itself is blackened?
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SONOFWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
We bought the car new in 2003 and have never had a problem with bulbs going out except for the rear turn signal lights going out occasionally. It was always just a matter of changing the bulb. To my knowledge I have never replaced a front turn signal bulb. We never have brought in the car in response to a recall of any kind. When I changed the bulb this time I did not notice an inline socket bolted to the frame like you describe. But I will look to see if it is there and get back to you.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KELLI STANDISH
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2003 SATURN ION
  • 167,000 MILES
My right front turn signal light does not flash. It turns on when the lights are on, but will not flash when the indicator signal is turned on the steering column.

I pulled out the headlight casing, and noted blackening on the indicator light base, charring on the connectors, and blackening down inside the bulb socket as well. I think in order to fix this, I need to replace both the socket and the bulb.

I ordered a replacement socket, but cannot figure out how to get the bulb socket disconnected from the wiring. There is a red lever on the right side that is removable. Maybe it is a lack of hand strength, but I just cannot get them apart.

Any tips on how to do this?
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Alright it is white and not a socket but a resistor. If its not there let me know and will get you the campaign number. I have performed a ton of those.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,345 POSTS
Hello,

Good find on the problem, a new unit should fix it, take a pair of pliers and grab the red tab and pull it out of there completely, don't worry about putting it back in you wont need it. The red piece is just a safety clip that makes it so the connector cannot be removed. The connector will be just fine without it.

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SONOFWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay, I have checked the left front turn signal light socket for blackening and see none. The replacement bulb has not burned out. So it does not seem to be a short problem. I check for the resistor bolted on the frame like you describe. I think I may have found it. Please see the uploaded image. Maybe we bought the car after the campaigns were started.
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)

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