Turn signals don't work, flashers do
 

HELP!!! For the longest time, the turn signals on my '83TD would occassionally not work. At the time though it seemed that by setting off the flashers for a few seconds, would make the turn signals work again. Well, that trick isn't working anymore, my turn signals are dead. Any tips on where to look. Is it the turn signal lever/switch it'self, or is there a relay of sorts. As I said, the flashers work fine. Any help would be appreciated, before I get a ticket.

hazzard switch
 

i have seen the hazzard switch go bad casing this problem, when it is off it is supposed to allow the turn signals to operate again, have you tried a nother hazzard switch? i may have one let me know. Ray

Mine did that just the other day, right after installing a new stereo. Only happened that one time though, and has be fine since. Let me know what you find just in case my future looks like your present!

I guess I assume that if the hazards are working then that isn't the problem. The actual clicking sound for the hazards adn the turn signals (when working) was from behind the ash tray. I'll pop the hazard switch out of my '83 SL and see if that fixes it, or rather identifies the problem.

it may still be the problem, try turning the hazards off with a little more force than usual

I had the same issue on my 82 300d a couple of years ago. At first the flashers would occasionally fail, and I could "reset" them by turning the hazzards on and off. After a while this did not work and I could sometimes hear buzzing from the flasher relay when the flashers failed. The solution was to replace the flasher relay (located just in front of the shifter, under the console wood. I have no clue why cycling the hazzards worked temporarily. The flasher relay was about $50 from the dealer, as I recall.

OK I'm English so I'll try to use/understand your lingo...
I think you'll find if you disconnect the flasher (hazards?) switch, the turn signals will not work. Therefore a problematic flasher switch can cause your problem so bear that in mind.


Russell

I'll try all these suggestions over the weekend.
Russell, in England, what are turn signals called, blinkers? What do you call the hazards?

The hazards are the hazards. The turn signals are 'indicators', because you indicate where you're going with them (unless you are driving an Audi).


Russell :)

my switch did it, it would hang in the middle, rock it back and forth a couple of times or get a new switch

Well fortunately my SL had the same style hazard switch, because the '87 TD is completely different. Anyways, did some "swaptronics" and it is indeed the hazard switch that was causing the faulty turn signals. I took the SL's out, plugged in the '83TD's and the SL's turnsignals wouldn't work. Put the original hazard switch in and they worked. Put the TD's back in, they didn't work. So I left the bad hazard switch in the SL and put the good one in the TD. Now, here is the interesting part. It being so nice out today, I drove the SL, and the turn signals worked fine. And no, Ididn't mistakenly put the bad switch back in the TD, because I checked. Well, I am sure it's temporary. I'll buy a new one anyways.

i have a few good ones if you need them, let me know

Something similar happened to me the other day. In traffic, I had my right blinker blinkin, as I was turning. The correct dash indicator was blinking, but I saw in the reflection of the car in front of me, both sides were flashing. I tried the left blinker, and it did not come on. I parked the car and checked the blinkers, and they worked fine. Odd.

Well as memntioned before, I did some swapping around of hazard switches. Ever since then the SL's turn signals (with the "bad" hazard switch in place) have been working fine. Same goes of course for the '83 TD, which has the SL's hazard switch in it. I do have a new hazard switch now. I'll just hold on to it as a spare. Got to love electrical gremlins. Just imagine a modern car when it gets to be 20+ yrs old.