I've read a previous post concerning bum turn signals here (https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=400972). Although similar, I don't think my problem is the flasher.

Background info. 99 Prelude. Only "mods" are gauges, side markers, and an alarm system... all of which were installed over 3 years ago.

About a month ago, my turn signals started acting up. They flashed erratically whenever I would turn them on (right and left). This went on for 3 or 4 days. After that... they just stopped working all together. The hazards still work, and the turn lights/side markers still flash when I turn my alarm on and off (since this is the only time they will come on now).

I've had a mechanic replace the turn switch, which didn't fix anything. I've had a mech at the dealership check the flashers for both the turn signals and hazards. Both are functional. I've checked the fuses and they are fine too.

What's left to check? Relay? Anything else? I haven't been able to get legit diagnosis for this problem, and it's really driving me crazy. Help!

Thanks in advance!

 

well this sounds kind of tricky, thought a good elctrical problem is always very rewarding when finally solved. it depends on you knowledge of you car and electronics. if you can't handle working with a multi meter or even replacing your own switch if i were you i would just take it to a dealer shipa nd have them figure it out. i mean the first thing to look at is bad flashers. im not sure if the hazords use both or its own flashers, but you may want to replace those. and the other thing if you might have a short some where near the turn signal switch. i would check were the wires for the alarm were spliced in, did you say aftermarket alarm?

 

Flashers were checked out and they're ok. If it's the relay, I can purchase the part and replace it myself. As for the alarm, it IS aftermarket, but like I said, it was installed 3 years ago and haven't had any problems until recently.

What are some of the characteristics when the relay goes bad?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vewyphishy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What are some of the characteristics when the relay goes bad?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The dont relay

 

bump. more advice please!

 

There's a tiny diode in the wiring harness down by the fuse box - it's 4 or 5 inches away from the fuse box, wrapped up in electrical tape (or not, if you've had an alarm installed). But if the diode goes, or the wiring to it breaks down, your turn signals won't work. That's what was wrong with mine . . . .

Part #3 here:


Best of luck . . . .

 

just an FYI, the aftermarket alarm's light flash output *should* be hooked to the parking lights, not the turn signals, if installed by someone who does it correctly. Easy way to test, put your 4 ways on in the back, and then watch the tail lights when you lock and unlock. The parking lights (alarm) will flash the red lights on the upper half of the taillight, the 4 ways will blink the amber lights on the lower half.

By making sure that the alarm is infact on the parking light wire like it should be, you can rule it out as causing the problem for sure.

The sidemarkers could be the issue if they are tagged into the turn signals. Flashers depend on a load to create heat which causes a strip of metal inside the flasher to heat and bend away from the contacts in the flasher. When it heats and bends away, it turns the lights off. It then cools and snaps back to the original position, which completes the circuit again, causing the strip to heat again, bend away, and brake the circuit again.

It's possible if the turn signal wire(s) were shorting or an increase in the load of lights took place, it would make the lights blink more rapid.

The reason it might not affect the 4-ways is the circuits are isolated at some points, otherwise when you turned your left turn signal on it would cause the right lights to flash also. This is where the diode mentioned above comes in to play. It might be the "shorting" part.