Turn signal on 97 Honda Civic?

Question

I had a cracked tail-light on my car, which was replaced. During the time that it was being replaced, there was torrential downpours. Suddenly, that signal works only sporadically. The hazards, however work fine. What could be wrong with the signal? I assume it's associated with being wet at some time, but why would it work every now and again,and not others. Is it a loose wire? If so, which one?

Answer 1

If your tail light crack was caused by some impact, it may have also loosen the wires or cracked other connections behind your bulb socket.

If rain water manage to get into the crack, there could be corrosion developing at the base or behind the bulb.

Inspect and thoroughly clean out or buy a new bulb socket.  You can use a multimeter to measure the ohms for continuity to ensure the stability of your wiring surrounding your turn signals.

Any low resistance means their is continuity, 0 ohms or infinity means there's an open somewhere between the two points on your probes.

Good luck!

Answer 2

could be a loose wire i doubt its from being wet i mean you can drive in the rain so its probly a loose wire.

Answer 3

when you have a sporatic condition you have excessive resistance somewhere.  if its the same side as the taillight that was replaced then look into the socket where the turn signal bulb is.  the bulbs are usually sealed to the taillamp to keep them dry.  if you got water inside the socket you probably now have rust on the contacts inside the socket and that would cause the sporatic operation.

also, check the bulb.  the bulb has two filaments, one may be on the 'way out' and the other good.   changing bulbs side to side and see if the problem goes to the other side.  if so, just changing the bulb will usually fix that.

lastly, I don't know if the ground wire was disturbed when the lens was changed.  the ground is through a black wire to the sheet metal inside the trunk.  if that got rusted or corroded you'll have the sporatic operation.

my guess is the bulb is bad followed by rust in the socket or on the ground

hope that helps