Accidents happen so many times on the road. As a driver, you need to know everything you can to avoid car problems and car accidents.
One of the critical things you should be an expert about is learning your turn signals. If you want to avoid accidents on the road, you must use turn signals. Many car accidents could have been avoided if only people followed the law of turn signals.
A turn signal means that you alert drivers and even people to what direction you are turning. Good drivers are very well equipped with the knowledge of using turn signals. In everything you do while driving, always use turn signals.
This is not only a law of driving but also a law of the state. So you always have to check if your BMW turn signals are working correctly. There is no way you will drive with broken turn signals.
Today, we will be talking about your BMW turn signals and the reasons they are not working. Let us get started.
Table of Contents
What Causes BMW Turn Signals to Stop Working?
Turn signals are a very crucial part of driving. It is an essential safety precaution, and all drivers must know this. So before going on the road, make sure that your turn signals are working and in good condition.
But if they are not, you need to have them fixed right away. Here are the possible reasons why your BMW turn signals stopped working.
1. Broken Flasher Module
Check if the turn signals are working correctly in your car but not on the blinker. If the turn signals work okay in your car, but it is not working in the blinker, the problem could be a broken flasher module.
What provides power to your turn signals system is the flasher module. There is a fuse that connects these two through a lead. If the blinkers are not working, the fuse could be damaged.
2. Blown Out Fuse
A fuse protects electrical units that are producing too much energy. So if an electronic device is producing too much energy, they allow this to happen without really damaging the device.
A fuse powers the lights inside a vehicle. If the fuse is broken or blows out, the turn signals will be shut off entirely because there will be no electric power.
3. Broken Turn Signal Switch
There is a turn signal switch that sends the signal to the blinker for it to work. The turn signal switch is located beside your steering wheel.
The turn signal switch can be broken. There can be something wrong with the switch itself or the wiring of the signal switch.
4. Burnt Out Bulbs
The same with every light bulb, they tend to burn out and die. A signal light might last many years, but there is always the chance of it burning out earlier than expected.
5. Dirty Bulb Sockets
You could have a dirty bulb socket. There can be dirt, debris, or anything that can stick between your socket and the bulb. This can stop the turn signals from working entirely.
Why Do My Blinkers Randomly Stop Working?
Blinkers were communicated and commanded before working. There is a flasher module and fuse that commands the blinker to work. If your blinkers randomly stopped working, you have some possible reasons.
The first one is that you could have a broken turn signal switch. If you have a broken turn signal switch, it cannot send a signal to your blinkers. Check the stitch or the wires.
The blinker will not work if the turn signal switch cannot give the signal. The second one is that you have a broken flasher module.
There are situations where your turn signals work in the car but not on the blinkers. The problem could be in the broken flasher module.
How Do You Know That Your BMW Turn Signals Are Not Working?
There can be many signs for you to know that your BMW turn signals are not working. You need to know and learn these signs to know when to have your turn signals fixed.
Of course, you cannot drive a car without turn signals. It can be very dangerous. So here are some signs that your turn signals are not working.
1. Turn Signal Indicator Coming Solid
You can check if your turn signal indicator is coming solid and won’t blink. You can check this if your vehicle is not running.
This is a common problem. You can check this by selecting a direction in your turn signal and check where it is not illuminating.
2. Turn Signal Indicator Is Blinking Really Fast
If your turn signal indicator is blinking fast, that is already a common failure problem. You can also check it even if your car is stationary.
3. Turn Light Bulbs Are Not Blinking
This is also a common failure. If the two turn light bulbs are not blinking, you might need to consult a service center or a mechanic.
How Do I Know if My Turn Signal Relay Is Bad?
If you have a bad turn signal relay, it can be easy to fix it. You can even do the fixing yourself.
But how do you know if your turn signal relay is bad? Here are two symptoms you can look for.
1. The Turn Signal Relay Is Not Working
This is the most common indicator of a bad turn signal relay. If you press the hazard light button, the lights will not function.
This might not cause a very serious problem on your vehicle’s performance, but it is dangerous if your turn signals are not working.
2. Turn Signal Relay Keep Lighting
You can check if your turn relay signal is damaged if it keeps on turning on and it is not flashing. Though the light may turn on, it will not blink, and the other drivers will not be alerted to the direction you are going.
How Do You Know if Your Turn Signal Switch Is Bad?
You can tell if your turn signal switch is bad if your turn signal indicator keeps on blinking. Even if your steering wheel comes back to the center, your turn signal indicator is still blinking.
The second one is that your turn signal lights won’t stop flashing unless you hold down the turn signal lever. The last one is if the left or turn signals or your hazard warning light is not working correctly.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a BMW Blinker?
If you have a broken blinker, you need to replace it immediately. So how much does it cost? The answer can be in ranges.
The specific cost will depend on the mechanic, the extent of the problem that needs to be fixed, and your BMW model.
However, on average, it would take $200 to $300 for the labor. The broken blinker might cost you $270 to $400 for replacement.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Turn Signal Light?
Replacing a turn signal light will cost you around $90 to $150. This will depend on the model of the car.
You will also have to consider the mechanic and their price. It is good to have good negotiations so make sure to negotiate the price with a mechanic.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Turn Signal Relay?
The price will depend mainly on the mechanic and the model of your BMW. If you will replace your turn signal relay, the average cost is somewhere between $102 and $112. The labor cost is estimated somewhere between $37 and $46, while the parts are priced at $65.
Why Is My BMW’s Turn Signal Blinking Rapidly?
If your BMW’s turn signal is blinking rapidly, it would indicate that a bulb is out. Every turn signal has its flashing unit. It briefly pauses the circuit.
So there could be a problem with the ground connection. If the combination switches are dirty, the ground connections are in bad shape. You also need to check if the screws are installed tightly and adequately.
If you encounter a bulb failure, the turn signals will start to blink fast. This will happen if the bulbs are damaged or broken. It could also be that there is a lack of supply of voltage to the car.
How Do I Fix My BMW’s Turn Signal Blinking Fast?
If your BMW’s turn signal is blinking fast, here are ways to fix it.
1. You Need To Check For Bad Grounds
You need to check for the ground wire. Trace the ground wire to the termination point from the housing of the bulb. If the wire is damaged or loose, you need to tighten and change it immediately if it needs replacing.
2. You Need To Change The Turn Signal Relay
This can be easily rectified, and you can do it on your own. The first thing is to look for the relay cluster and the turn signal relay.
If you have located it, replace the old signal flasher relay with a brand new one. If you are done with it, check if your car has returned to normal.
3. You Might Need Further Electrical Troubleshooting
If you have tried the first and second ones and have no progress in getting your turn signal fixed, you might need further electrical troubleshooting. Trace down the wire and look for problems. Get it fixed as fast as you can.
How Do You Fix a BMW’s Stuck Turn Signal?
You need to remove the switch first. You can remove the switch by removing the skirt housing around the column of the steering wheel.
You also need to remove the mounting screws to the turn signal switch or the multifunction switch. You then need to unplug the switch. If it does not go back to the rest position, you need to replace it with a new one.
What Do You Do When Your BMW Blinkers Stop Working?
As mentioned, there is a lot of reason why your blinkers stopped working. You can check with the list given above and determine why your BMW blinkers are not working. These reasons need a mechanic or a service center.
You need a professional to get these fixed, so you might need to drive to an auto mechanic or the service center. However, blinkers are very important when driving. You cannot drive without blinkers.
There can be accidents and problems along the way. But that cannot stop you. If you drive your car with a broken blinker, you can use a hand signal instead.
Hand signals are a signal you make with your hand as a replacement with your turn signals. As a driver, you also must be aware of these hand signals. You can use this in cases where your blinkers are broken.
Can You Use Hand Signals Instead of Blinkers?
Yes, you can! Hand signals are an alternative to using blinkers. Of course, blinkers are the one that does the job. But in some cases where you have a broken blinker, here are the hand signals you have to know.
What Are the 3 Hand Signals?
There are three essential hand signals that drivers must know. The first is the hand signal for slowing down or stopping at once.
The second one is if you have to turn to the left. And the last one is if you have to turn to the right.
What Is the Hand Signal for Turning Left in a Car?
If you are turning left, you can extend your arm straight out of the window.
What Is the Hand Signal for Turning Right in a Car?
If you are turning right, you can extend your arm at a 90-degree angle upwards.
What Is the Hand Signal for Stopping in a Car?
If you stop, you can do the hand signal of extending your arm downward with your palm facing the back.
Summary
In summary, turn signals are vital in driving a vehicle. This is used for safety precautions and the law as well.
Turn signals can avoid so many accidents. As a driver, you need to learn these to keep safe. If your turn signals are broken, it is essential to have them fixed right away.
Resources
Image credits – Canva
[1] Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Turn Signal Bulb
[2] The Hand Signals for Driving Explained: Left Turn, Right Turn, and Stop
