It is pretty obvious from the posts that operation of this system is greatly affected by switch/contact conditions. Before I replaced the hazard relay, I noted that moving switches back and forth sometimes provoked it to work...sometimes for a day...sometimes only until I put on the turn signal at the next turn. After finally taking the console apart and getting access to the relay, I noted that holding the relay in certain positions encouraged it to work better. I tried bending the socket holes with pliers and that actually got it working for a short time, but it eventually began to act up again, and so I replaced it.
That said, I believe that a weak relay may be helped to work better by changing worn switches, changing switch positions, bending sockets, etc. But in my case, the root of the problem was the relay.
