Questions and Answers

Turn Signal Flashers

Q. I've always understood that if the flasher on your vehicle is bad, neither the turn signals or the hazard lights will work.

My problem is the turn signals work intermittently but the hazard lights always work. I was told it might be a bad switch, but the turn signals don't work on either side of the vehicle. Could this still be a bad flasher?

A. Until a few years ago, there was a flasher unit for the turn signals and a flasher for the hazards. Now most car makers incorporate it into one flasher unit. One could go bad without effecting the other.

Even though they are incorporated into one unit, it's still possible for one to go bad without effecting the other. I think replacing the flasher unit will correct your problem.

Speaking of flashers, does anyone remember when cars had no four way flashers?