Left blinker illuminated when reversing

[sfprii]

Recently got rear-ended. Bumper and side damage along with a cracked battery.

A couple of weeks after we got it back from the body shop we noticed that the left blinker light in the dash was lit when backing out of the garage. It stopped for a week or so and is now back. It's very inconsistent and I have been unable to reproduce it.



Anyone ever see this and know how to fix it?

[KK6PD]

Originally Posted by sfprii

Recently got rear-ended. Bumper and side damage along with a cracked battery.

A couple of weeks after we got it back from the body shop we noticed that the left blinker light in the dash was lit when backing out of the garage. It stopped for a week or so and is now back. It's very inconsistent and I have been unable to reproduce it.



Anyone ever see this and know how to fix it?

Hi there, sorry to hear about the accident, but a couple of questions.
1- Do the lamps actually light up, or is it just the indicator?

The wiring for the rear tail lamps is routed in a bundle till there is an appropriate spot to break away from the bundle. Sounds like the set of wires that control the left rear turn signal and the reverse lamp have developed an intermittent short circuit. Probably the bundle was crushed, not noticed and you are now seeing the result.

I would pull the interior away from the left area of the rear, inspect the wiring that you find. Look for a flat spot, or other indications of trouble. Another thought, when they replaced/repaired the rear damaged lamp assy, they cross wired the turn signal, and reverse lamp. Does the revese lamp come on when your turn indicator is on?

The fact that it is intermittent is a real PITA!!!

[sfprii]

I'm finding that the problem is now happening consistently, without any doing from my part. More interesting data; when the left blinker is on the brake and headlight bulbs in the rear of the car are also getting electricity. You can't seem them illuminated during the data from a few feet away but up can when you are up close. I think it's time to take it back to the auto body shop that put the car togehter.

Thanks