What do turn signal lights mean?
The turn indicators signal when your car is turning left or right. If the lights are flashing faster than usual, the bulb may have burned out.
Everyone who has been in a car knows the characteristic sound of turn signals. This sound is the result of a small piece of metal being thermally bent back and forth. Inside the turn signal is an electrical connection that is not connected when the turn signal is not in use. One side of the connection is the turn signal lamp and the other side is the power supply.
When the turn signal is turned on, electricity is supplied through a wire wrapped around a small piece of steel. The electricity heats the metal, which flexes and expands, tying the electrical connection and illuminating the turn light bulb. Since the power passes through the connection and not through the wrapped wire, the metal cools again and bends, cutting off the power and turning off the turn signal light. This cycle repeats every time you turn on your turn signal and constantly heats and cools the steel connecting strip.
These days, car manufacturers use computers to control their turn signals instead of mechanical flashers, which can fail over time. Even these modern cars still use the traditional sound buttons and indicator lights on the dash to indicate when your turn signal is active.
What do turn signal lights mean?
The flashing left and right arrows on the instrument panel are only used to indicate when the turn signal is active. When you turn on the hazard warning lights, both direction indicator arrows flash. When the indicator flashes faster than usual, check all the bulbs, as one of them is probably burned out. Faster blinking is caused by a change in the total resistance in the circuit when one of the bulbs burns out. Turn off the light bulb and everything should be back to normal. If the bulbs are not burned out and the turn signal arrows are still flashing, check the rest of the circuit, namely the relay and turn signal flasher.
Is it safe to drive with turn signals on?
You should always use turn signals while driving. They keep everyone around you informed of your intended driving activities, so they won't be surprised if you start to blend into their lane. Always turn off your turn signals unless the steering wheel does it automatically. Replace any burnt out bulbs to keep your turn signals in good working order.
If your turn signals are not working properly, our certified technicians are on hand to assist you in diagnosing any problems.
