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turn signals weren't working ... and now they work again

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Jonathan Epstein, Jan 23, 2014.

  1. Jonathan Epstein

    Jonathan Epstein Junior Member

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    (new member here, longtime lurker)

    I had a strange experience this week. Monday afternoon I discovered that my turn signals and 4-way flashers weren't working. I booked a repair appt at my Toyota dealer for Friday.

    Wednesday evening I had to make a very sharp turn (270 degrees, roughly) and then discovered that my signals were working again. So I canceled my repair appt; the dealer speculates that there's a short circuit somewhere, which certainly sounds reasonable. They agree that there's no point in bringing the car in now, since the short will be hard to find when things are working.

    If it turns out to be a failed component such as the flasher relay, then that would probably be covered by my extended warranty, if I have it repaired before July.

    This sort of car problem seems to be rare; I only found a single instance of this when Googling, and it's not even for a Toyota. I'm a new member here and can't post a link, but Googling "turn Signals fail to work intermitently sprinter 2007" might lead you to the same thread.

    Has anyone in PriusChat-land seen this problem? Do you think it's a short circuit, or something else?
     
    #1 Jonathan Epstein, Jan 23, 2014
  2. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

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    The turn signals are quite standard circuitry, so the options are the relay, the switch in the steering column, and the wires between them. Since the steering was part of the scenario, I might expect the steering column. But intermittents are very difficult until they become more prevalent. There is not much of a run between the steering column and the flasher relay (which is just below in the Body ECU), so unless it has been munched by rodents somewhere in the dash, it is not a likely place for a rub.
     
    #2 nh7o, Jan 24, 2014
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I'd say that either the combination switch (which is the name for the turn signal/dimmer switch lever assembly) has failed or that its connection is loose. Since it started working again after substantial steering wheel rotation, perhaps the clock spring wire assembly (which connects switches on the steering wheel hub and the driver's airbag) is at fault.

    It is reasonable to wait for another failure before taking the car in for service.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Jan 24, 2014
  4. Jonathan Epstein

    Jonathan Epstein Junior Member

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    Thanks for all the responses!

    Patrick: if it's the combination switch, and the problem recurs, then in principle the "dimmer switch" should also not be operational. Do you mean the dimmer switch associated with the brightness of the dashboard, to the left of the steering column? I keep my dashboard fairly dim, and didn't observe any difference in its brightness when the turn signals weren't working.
     
    #4 Jonathan Epstein, Jan 24, 2014
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Hi Jonathan,

    I am referring to the headlight high beam/low beam dimmer switch which is part of the left switch stalk.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Jan 24, 2014
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    No, he meant the switch that on the steering wheel stalk that controls your turn signals and lights (parking, headlights, highbeams).

    SCH-I535
     
    #6 xliderider, Jan 24, 2014
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