Turn Signal / Indicator / Blinker Problem

[wasabinuki]

I have a problem and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to solve it. I have a 1997 ti and it has a problem with its driver's side turn indicators not blinking. I cannot signal to make a left turn and it makes me look like a ****ty driver

Description of Problem:
All of the running lights work perfectly on the car, but only the passenger's side indicators work. If I use the signal arm or the hazard switch only the passenger's side indicators blink. The driver's side (including the arrow on my cluster) are completely non-responsive. No click, no response - nothing. I have swapped all the bulbs from one side to the other and they all work fine - so it's not the bulbs.

What I've Tried:
I read through what few threads I could find regarding this matter and decided to purchase a new flasher relay for $50 form Bav Auto. I thought - great problem solved. Well the flasher relay arrived and I installed it. When I turned on my car and hit the hazard light switch the lights appeared to work for a split second, but I heard a pop and all my indicators/running lights died. I thought to myself there goes $50. So I looked at the fuses and #34 (15 amp) had blown. So I replaced it and as soon as I hit the signal arm again the fuse blew. So I put the old flasher relay in and replaced the fuse, and I was back to square A (all running lights work, but only the passenger side indicators blink).

What's Next:
Well I am stumped - I thought the flasher relay would fix the problem and I would be able to make safe lane changes and left turns, but no. So does anybody have any more suggestions or a solution to this ongoing problem?

[zboot]

Originally Posted by wasabinuki

I have a problem and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to solve it. I have a 1997 ti and it has a problem with its driver's side turn indicators not blinking. I cannot signal to make a left turn and it makes me look like a ****ty driver

Description of Problem:
All of the running lights work perfectly on the car, but only the passenger's side indicators work. If I use the signal arm or the hazard switch only the passenger's side indicators blink. The driver's side (including the arrow on my cluster) are completely non-responsive. No click, no response - nothing. I have swapped all the bulbs from one side to the other and they all work fine - so it's not the bulbs.

What I've Tried:
I read through what few threads I could find regarding this matter and decided to purchase a new flasher relay for $50 form Bav Auto. I thought - great problem solved. Well the flasher relay arrived and I installed it. When I turned on my car and hit the hazard light switch the lights appeared to work for a split second, but I heard a pop and all my indicators/running lights died. I thought to myself there goes $50. So I looked at the fuses and #34 (15 amp) had blown. So I replaced it and as soon as I hit the signal arm again the fuse blew. So I put the old flasher relay in and replaced the fuse, and I was back to square A (all running lights work, but only the passenger side indicators blink).

What's Next:
Well I am stumped - I thought the flasher relay would fix the problem and I would be able to make safe lane changes and left turns, but no. So does anybody have any more suggestions or a solution to this ongoing problem?

So. You've established that your old relay is bad. Obviously, whatever is causing you to blow a fuse was what killed the old relay. Apparently, the newer one can handle it. . . (at least for now). So, what you need to do is find what is causing the fuse to blow.

You said you blew a fuse when you hit the signal arm - if you've got more fuses to spare, put the new relay back in and try the emergency flashers - does that blow the fuse as well?

Sounds like you may have a short somewhere. First, take out/disconnect all the lights that would be illuminated by that turn signal. Put one in and activate the turn signal. Do this individually for all lights - again, you may end up going through a few fuses. . but fuses are cheap. If all the lights causes the fuse to blow, then your short is located somewhere before the wiring splits off to each individual light. If only one light causes the fuse to blow, you've isolated your problem.

[wasabinuki]

Zboot - I did what you said and found the problem. It was the drivers side rear indicator socket. The sheet metal was depressed into the backing spring causing the connection with the bulb to fail/short. I just bent the metal back to where it should have been and everything works great now. Thanks again, and I'm sure the drivers around me will appreciate it too.

[newagecustoms]

This is with the new relay or did your old one work after you fixed the problem? I am having this same problem, but havent tracked down the problem yet.

[wasabinuki]

The old relay is toast - only the passenger side works. I am using the new one ($50 from Bav Auto) and I kept the old one with some 15 amp fuses in my glove box just in case

[zboot]

Originally Posted by wasabinuki

Zboot - I did what you said and found the problem. It was the drivers side rear indicator socket. The sheet metal was depressed into the backing spring causing the connection with the bulb to fail/short. I just bent the metal back to where it should have been and everything works great now. Thanks again, and I'm sure the drivers around me will appreciate it too.

Yay - score one for me :-). I'm glad I could help.

[newagecustoms]

ok, looks like i better have bavauto get a relay in the mail for me! thanks for the help.

[digitol]

i have the same problem...i'm gonna replace the relay and see what happens

[newagecustoms]

Question, what was the part number on the relay? because I went to the dealer today (laughed at them when they told me the price), but priced the relay they said it was, because the numbers on the blades matched up exactly. The part number for that relay was 61351383417. (it is number 5 on this diagram- http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...61&fg=25&hl=82 It is $90 from the dealer. The part on bavauto that i found is number 61361388547, but it is labeled the hazard relay, which the blades are in the same configuration, but they are not labeled with the same numbers, it is number 2 on this diagram-http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...61&fg=25&hl=20
Does the one you bought work fine?

[wasabinuki]

The P/N I got from BavAuto is 61361388547 (8-Hazard warning relay). It is #5 on this page http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...61&fg=25&hl=82

If you buy one from the dealer it will be more expensive. The one I purchased from BavAuto isn't stamped BMW - it's a Wehrle Autoelektronik, but it works perfectly fine.