HELP: Signal Light Works Intermittently

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replyme - 29 Mar 2005 02:58 GMT

I have a 96 Automatic and the driver sider rear signal light act up every
once in awhile. I have changed the bulb a few times and it still does it.
Right now the bulb doesn't seem to be blown but the signal does not work for
a while then when I go over some bumps in the road, the signal starts
working.
Sometimes when I start the car fresh, the signal does not work and if I go
to the back of the car and bang my palm on th elight casing the signal
starts working.
If I attempt to take the whole light housing out to check the bulb, the
movement will cause the light to start working. then when I put everything
back together again, it might stop working. What the hell is going on?
Someone told me that it could be the flasher.
Can this be true? Where exactly is the flasher located and is it easy to
change it by myself?

Hope someone can help me out here. I would really appreciate any response.

Thank you all
Winston

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Overlord - 29 Mar 2005 06:15 GMT

Actually the turn signal is supposed to be intermittent...
Oh! Ow! damn... sorry.

It's unlikely to be the flasher if whacking the rear light makes it work,
as the flasher is no where near it. I'd look for corrosion in the socket
and maybe replace the socket. Since your light stops and starts pulling the
housing, it could be the wiring close to the socket. I'd pull the housing,
pull the socket, put a meter on it, and take a good look at the wiring while
moving the socket/wiring around.
Replacing the socket you could cut and splice far enough back from the socket
to maybe take out the bad wire.

Don't know where the flasher is but if you turn on the turn signal, whack the
light enough to make it flash, you can find the flasher by the ticking sound
it makes.

>I have a 96 Automatic and the driver sider rear signal light act up every
>once in awhile. I have changed the bulb a few times and it still does it.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>Thank you all
>Winston

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lab~rat - 29 Mar 2005 14:24 GMT

>Actually the turn signal is supposed to be intermittent...
>Oh! Ow! damn... sorry.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>light enough to make it flash, you can find the flasher by the ticking sound
>it makes.

Not to mention, I doubt it's the flasher if only the driver side is
giving him trouble. Sounds like the socket or maybe the wires leading
to it...

--
lab~rat >:-)
The less you care, the more it doesn't matter.

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brxsep - 31 Mar 2005 03:15 GMT

> >Actually the turn signal is supposed to be intermittent...
> >Oh! Ow! damn... sorry.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> lab~rat >:-)
> The less you care, the more it doesn't matter.

There was a recall, can't remember is it was 95 or 96, for defective
sockets. Take the car's VIN to your local Pontiac dealer and ask if
they can check for a recall notice. I believe if its on the recall
list, and the recall work not done, the deal does the work reguardless
if your the original owner or the 10th.

Also, try another brand of blub (pick up a few while at the Pontiac
dealership) and replace them again. This time, use some WD40 to knock
out any corrosion in the socket.

Had trouble with my 95 and replaced the blubs, solved the problem.

Post back if when you get the fix that works.

Take care.

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David V.N. - 31 Mar 2005 10:11 GMT

Remove that rear housing and give a tug to the wires there.
I'll bet you'll find the ground is loose.
4th gen firebirds are notorious for bad tailight sockets.

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>> On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 05:15:49 GMT, kurt_SPAMLESS@hotmail.com
> (Overlord)
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
>
> Take care.

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