Exterior & Lighting Any questions related to exterior, lighting and styling go in here.

blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Thread Tools
 
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 02:45 PM
  #1 (permalink)  
vpats's Avatar
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 3
Default blown turn signal bulb, or not?

I thought I’d throw this out, I didn’t see anything posted referring to this exact issue. My right side (passenger) side turn signal bulb quit working. When turning the right signals on, it would blink very fast, the rear signal worked but the front was out. Thinking it was a simple bulb replacement; I bought a couple of new bulbs.

I pulled the bulb assembly and removed the old bulb and holding it up to the light, it really didn’t look blown. Since I already had new bulbs, I put one in and replaced the bulb assembly into the headlight module.

Starting the car and hitting the lever, the problem was still with me, rear worked and the front didn’t. Hummmm? Now what? I pulled the bulb assembly back out and as I was looking it over I noticed a small metal contact point on the side of the bulb assembly. Using my fingernail, I gently (GENTLY) pulled it out at tad (less than a 64th of in inch) and put in back in the headlight module.

Eureka! It worked. I don’t know how it would lose the connection, I mean it just sits there and does nothing. The point is, before you spend big bucks, take a look at this solution. It worked for me.
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2011 | 09:17 PM
  #2 (permalink)  
Afterguard's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

You have got to love the experience that can be found here! I had precisely the same problem
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2011 | 09:24 PM
  #3 (permalink)  
Afterguard's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by Afterguard
You have got to love the experience that can be found here! I had precisely the same problem
So here's the rest... Same corner of the car, same symptoms, changed bulbs with no result. Found Vpat's instructions, did what he said and viola! I have all the turn signals working again! How cool is that?
 
Reply
Old Feb 19, 2011 | 04:09 PM
  #4 (permalink)  
tbev's Avatar
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

thanks VPats!!! i did the same. new fuses bulbs....it was just the contact! nice thread...thanks!
 
Reply
Old Feb 19, 2011 | 11:31 PM
  #5 (permalink)  
Jesus_Christler's Avatar
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Post Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Had the issue in reverse. The bulb indicator would show even when all of the bulbs were connected and lit properly. Drove over some rougher patches of freeway a few days later, the indicator went out but the bulbs still remained lit.
I was going to put in clear indicators and mirrored colored bulbs but now that I stumbled on this thread I might hold off awhile
 
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2011 | 08:58 AM
  #6 (permalink)  
oledoc2u's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14,607
Likes: 39
From: IN
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

if it is the upper front turn signal housing, they had some bad ones out there. I ordered new ones, but never received them. So I had to solder my old one. Sooner or later, they will actually seperate, and soldering will be necessary. The reason I say there are bad ones out there, is the coupes are different manufacturer than the roadster. The roadster's look better made.
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2011 | 08:05 PM
  #7 (permalink)  
X-fired's Avatar
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 247
Likes: 3
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Aha! I had the same problem and was just poring over the service manual but thought I'd check here before attacking the multi-function control lever. Sure enough, one of the contacts on the turn signal bulb housing wasn't making good contact and it had a hole burned into it. I attempted to solder the hole but ended up just pulling it out a bit as others mentioned.
 
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
P3064242.JPG (167.0 KB, 202 views)
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:17 AM
  #8 (permalink)  
Brendon2022's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Edinburg, Texas
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

NICE!!! I have the same exact problem, unfortunately I'm at work right now, but cant wait to go home and see if this solution works.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:22 AM
  #9 (permalink)  
X-fired's Avatar
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 247
Likes: 3
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

BTW, bending it out a bit wasn't enough so I wrapped a wire around the contact covering the hole and soldered it again and the solder held that time and I haven't had any more problems.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:30 AM
  #10 (permalink)  
Brendon2022's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Edinburg, Texas
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by X-fired
BTW, bending it out a bit wasn't enough so I wrapped a wire around the contact covering the hole and soldered it again and the solder held that time and I haven't had any more problems.
awesome, the turn signal deciding to work whenever it wanted to was starting to get annoying, hopefully this solves it.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 12:42 PM
  #11 (permalink)  
ZAHANMA's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,535
Likes: 3
From: Houston in my blood, and under my tires...
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

This is nuts. I seriously had this issue just start last night. Crazy. Definitely going to look into this when I get home tonight.
 
Reply
Old Nov 20, 2011 | 01:22 AM
  #12 (permalink)  
devilduck's Avatar
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Thanks for the idea, but mine runs deeper...
My leftside headlites are out, middle tail light bulb DOES NOT LIGHT UP, , front right blinker as described here, and my radar detector (plugged into the cigarette lighter) comes on when I pull the bright headlight lever! Voodoo, see my post 11/19/11 VOODOO BAD JUJU

any Ideas?
 
Reply
Old Nov 20, 2011 | 04:48 AM
  #13 (permalink)  
oledoc2u's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14,607
Likes: 39
From: IN
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by devilduck
Thanks for the idea, but mine runs deeper...
My leftside headlites are out, middle tail light bulb DOES NOT LIGHT UP, , front right blinker as described here, and my radar detector (plugged into the cigarette lighter) comes on when I pull the bright headlight lever! Voodoo, see my post 11/19/11 VOODOO BAD JUJU

any Ideas?
Check your original post...good luck...
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2013 | 04:30 PM
  #14 (permalink)  
Coyote's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 861
Likes: 9
From: Kennesaw
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

This thread gave me solace a bit earlier this month, but the problem returned. When I tried pulling that contact up again, it detached from the rest of the assembly. Pretty cheap to not be able to withstand a minor adjustment. So, I'm looking for a replacement socket and it appears there are none to be had. What's a guy to do? Are there any non OEM replacements that would work? Perhaps I'll have to resort to looking through a junkyard. Anyone got one for sale?

Coyote
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2013 | 06:13 PM
  #15 (permalink)  
onehundred80's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,432
Likes: 648
From: Ontario
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by Coyote
This thread gave me solace a bit earlier this month, but the problem returned. When I tried pulling that contact up again, it detached from the rest of the assembly. Pretty cheap to not be able to withstand a minor adjustment. So, I'm looking for a replacement socket and it appears there are none to be had. What's a guy to do? Are there any non OEM replacements that would work? Perhaps I'll have to resort to looking through a junkyard. Anyone got one for sale?

Coyote
These parts have numbers on them, maybe even a maker. Google the number and see what happens.
This works a lot of the time, we may not know but 'Google the Almighty' does.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2013 | 12:36 AM
  #16 (permalink)  
Ronman's Avatar
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 779
Likes: 96
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by Coyote
This thread gave me solace a bit earlier this month, but the problem returned. When I tried pulling that contact up again, it detached from the rest of the assembly. Pretty cheap to not be able to withstand a minor adjustment. So, I'm looking for a replacement socket and it appears there are none to be had. What's a guy to do? Are there any non OEM replacements that would work? Perhaps I'll have to resort to looking through a junkyard. Anyone got one for sale?

Coyote
Your best option is to either solder the contact back on there or check junkyards for damaged headlights and you can just buy the turn signal socket. I thought they are supposed to make parts for 10 years but that part is no longer available.
 
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2014 | 05:27 PM
  #17 (permalink)  
KraziKrossfire's Avatar
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Ok, so now I have the infamous turn signal problem....... all lamps are good, all lamps light up normally when I lock the car, unlock the car and hit the emergency flashers.
when the lamp out indicator comes on, the turn signals stop working, when it goes out, signals work fine, an intermittent problem, no doubt...... any ideas???


Kaptn
 
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2014 | 06:52 PM
  #18 (permalink)  
X-fired's Avatar
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 247
Likes: 3
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by KraziKrossfire
Ok, so now I have the infamous turn signal problem....... all lamps are good, all lamps light up normally when I lock the car, unlock the car and hit the emergency flashers.
when the lamp out indicator comes on, the turn signals stop working, when it goes out, signals work fine, an intermittent problem, no doubt...... any ideas???

Kaptn
See my comments above.
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 06:16 PM
  #19 (permalink)  
nickwe21's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 172
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Hello fellas!

Just wanted to say - I had the same problem as described in this thread! Blinker was blinking fast, headlight bulb not working, tail light bulb blinking rapidly but all bulbs ok! Took the assembly out and checked the contacts closer, had the infamous "hole" in one of the metal contacts and all I needed to do was pull it out slightly. Need to be careful as it looks very fragile. Could also be soldered but since I don't have a soldering iron laying around that was a no-go.
Everything works out fine! Amazing! This forum is worth every penny...oh wait!
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 07:00 PM
  #20 (permalink)  
Coyote's Avatar
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 861
Likes: 9
From: Kennesaw
Default Re: blown turn signal bulb, or not?

Originally Posted by onehundred80
These parts have numbers on them, maybe even a maker. Google the number and see what happens.
This works a lot of the time, we may not know but 'Google the Almighty' does.


To follow up on this, there were some of these sockets listed on various parts sites, but all were out of stock when one tried to order, and no more were being shipped to those distributors. In the end, I had to buy a replacement headlamp assembly to get what I needed. And, since the lens was heavily scarred on my original (tried polishing, to no avail), it worked out well. However, then I felt the need to buy a new headlamp assembly for the passenger side. Then I put XPEL film over both of them. Everything looks good and is working fine now.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:48 PM.