Problem with signal/hazard lights in rear (new to the forum)

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Burkely

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Hey folks,

So happy I found a forum dedicated to Pontiacs.

2001 SE 2.2l here.

So the past few days my driver side rear signal isn't flashing as well as my rear hazards.

Right turn signal works fine. When left turn is activated, the flasher is going real quick as though there's a dead bulb. I've changed the bulbs and still no dice

Have any of you guys come across this issue if so, how'd you remedy it?

Cheers!
 
this is what I would do if the problem is mine to try and solve.

first double check all your lights on your car inside and out, take notes of anything that is not working or working correctly, look if any of the bulbs are dimmer.

check the simple stuff look for a wrong bulb stuffed into a socket that it doesn't belong in , your looking for a single element bulb getting stuffed into a double element socket.

this not common but it does happen with the older style bulbs I am not sure what style bulbs you have I am guessing yours has the plastic base that plugs into the socket, not the metal base bulbs that push and twist into place.

do you have a factory installed or dealer installed factory alarm system or do you have a aftermarket alarm system?

if it is not a factory installed alarm system look under your dash board for a rats nest of wiring near the drivers side and check all the connections.

look around the rear of the car for any signs that someone messed around with the rear harness for towing purposes inspect the entire rear harness look for cut and spliced wires.

once you check all of this if your still having a problem let us know.
also it is just possible the flasher is starting to go bad so before you go too crazy on it swap the flashers to see if the problem is the same.
 
are you using a 3057 bulb
on the 3057 bulb gently bend the metal contacts at the base of the bulb outward to get a better contact
if that doesnt work use a voltmeter or test light to see if you have power to the socket
 
EaOutlaw said:
this is what I would do if the problem is mine to try and solve.

first double check all your lights on your car inside and out, take notes of anything that is not working or working correctly, look if any of the bulbs are dimmer.

check the simple stuff look for a wrong bulb stuffed into a socket that it doesn't belong in , your looking for a single element bulb getting stuffed into a double element socket.

this not common but it does happen with the older style bulbs I am not sure what style bulbs you have I am guessing yours has the plastic base that plugs into the socket, not the metal base bulbs that push and twist into place.

do you have a factory installed or dealer installed factory alarm system or do you have a aftermarket alarm system?

if it is not a factory installed alarm system look under your dash board for a rats nest of wiring near the drivers side and check all the connections.

look around the rear of the car for any signs that someone messed around with the rear harness for towing purposes inspect the entire rear harness look for cut and spliced wires.

once you check all of this if your still having a problem let us know.
also it is just possible the flasher is starting to go bad so before you go too crazy on it swap the flashers to see if the problem is the same.
Click to expand...

Yes they are the bulbs with the plastic base.

It would be the factory alarm, however, I installed an aftermarket deck well over a year ago with that awful wire harness to save my chimes.

Rear harness is totally intact, the car hasn't been towed and other than myself has only ever been worked on by one other mechanic. I contacted him to find out if he touched anything last time he had the car, told me no.

If a wire was spliced, would there just not be any power to the bulbs at all?

They are working as running lights, just the flashers no working.

When I replaced the bulbs I did them at the parts store, removed them bulb by bulb and went into the store each bulb to have them replaced. I'm certain they are an exact match.

I read it may be a relay or switch? But I've tried to find this relay without any luck. No idea where it is...
______________________________
 
melsg5 said:
are you using a 3057 bulb
on the 3057 bulb gently bend the metal contacts at the base of the bulb outward to get a better contact
if that doesnt work use a voltmeter or test light to see if you have power to the socket
Click to expand...

Not sure if they're 3057 bulbs. The bulb number was 194. There's definitely power going to the socket as they are running as running lights
 
melsg5 said:
something is wrong with the bulb number. Unless the owners manual is wrong, page 6-62, the tail light bulb is a 3057 not a 194. The 194 is a side marker. So are you using the correct bulb?
http://www.vadengmpp.com/owners-manual/pontiac/2001-Pontiac-Sunfire.pdf
Click to expand...

I think you're bang on about bulb 3057. It's a larger bulb, for some reason, and I have no idea why but that bulb wasn't replaced with #3057.

So odd. I'm going to pick up that bulb and give it a shot.

Sorry if I've wasted all y'alls time. I will reply with the result of changing this bulb.
 
it is not a waste of time, it common when changing bulbs to get them mixed up.
sometimes a problem like this can get much stranger like hitting the brakes causing all the brakes in the car including the dash lights to light up.

Hopefully it will be a simple fix.
______________________________
 
EaOutlaw said:
it is not a waste of time, it common when changing bulbs to get them mixed up.
sometimes a problem like this can get much stranger like hitting the brakes causing all the brakes in the car including the dash lights to light up.

Hopefully it will be a simple fix.
Click to expand...

lol. Hitting the brakes and all lights coming on is probably the next thing that is going to happen to me. With my luck any way.

This car had always been reliable. But as of lately every week I'm sinking something into it. Nothing major, just normal preventative stuff.

Serpentine belt is going to be my next project I think. Not looking forward to it. Have never done the belt myself before. Hoping I'm not biting off more than I can chew.
 
serpentine belts are normally pretty straight forward, Look under the hood for the routing diagram, if you do not have one take pictures of draw it out on paper before you take the old one off, when you buy the belt make sure to compare the new one to the old one. ( make sure it has the same number of ribs and is the same length

while you have your belt off inspect all the pulleys belt tensioner water pump etc
for play or noise in bearings etc.
 
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