Questions and Answers

Ford Contour Has A Bad T/S Switch? Q. My name is Chandra. My blinker on my 1995 Ford Contour was not working properly. When I turned on the signal, it would blink for a couple of times, then shut off. Sometimes when it was warm, it would blink properly. Then at some times, I got no turn signal at all. I took it to a shop today, and I was concerned that I might of got ripped off.

They replaced the whole turn signal switch. When I went to pick my car up, the turn signal was still not working. He said they had to replace the flasher also, but he had to order it from the dealer. He showed me if he pushed something in and held it, it would work and it did.

My concern was, do you think I needed the whole switch replaced. I was not happy and he could sense that, so he took off some labor. The first price was $279.00 then he dropped it to $232.64. I honestly feel that all I needed was the flasher replaced, because if it was the switch, It would be working now.

I have to bring my car back in tomorrow when the part comes in and he will fix it in five minutes, he claims. I would just like a second opinion on this. I thank you very much for your opinion.

Thank you...
Chandra

A. Chandra, I don't believe the turn signal switch was the problem. You said it yourself, if it were the switch it would be working. Chances are about 97.2% it is just a bad turn signal flasher.

If the new flasher unit corrects the problem, I would tell him to put your old turn signal switch back in. If the turn signals still work, then you're fine. If he says that he 'threw it away' then you are kind of stuck. You can go to the Better Business Bureau, if they are a member, file a complaint and request arbitration.

Business is always very slow this time of year and some otherwise honest shops are more prone to, how shall I say this, sell work that is not needed or sell more than is needed to actually fix the problem.

You can always submit a Repair Shop Review if you feel you were taken advantage of.