Why are indicators important?
Indicators / turn signals are very important to your car’s safety. They allow other drivers to know where you are going so that they can stay out of your way. They also double as hazard lights, which are activated during an emergency. Therefore, it is crucial that they are fixed if they begin to 
malfunction.
Modern cars usually have several different turn signal lights. These are located on the front of the vehicle by the headlights, on the back of the vehicle near the tail lights and sometimes mounted to the side panels of the car and the mirrors.
Have you failed your WOF for turn signal lights?
It is also illegal to drive a car when the indicator lights are not working. This is because you can’t indicate what way you are going or turn on the hazard lights in an emergency. You may fail your next warrant of fitness if these lights aren’t working as they should.
In order to pass a WOF, your turn signal lights need to be:
- Blinking correctly when the turn signal is activated
- Bright enough to be noticeable from a certain distance
- Fixed to the vehicle correctly
Learn more about WOF requirements for turn signal lights >
You can often tell when an indicator light bulb has stopped working because instead of “flashing” / “ticking” at once per second it will flash and make the ticking noise much faster at twice the speed (at around twice per second).
Causes of indicators not working
- Bulbs in need of replacement – Like any other bulb, indicator bulbs have a finite life and will eventually need replacement. Indicator bulbs can often blow from old age, excess vibration or a faulty regulator in the alternator that causes high car battery voltages and over charging of the cars battery.
- Malfunctioning indicator switch – The switch is what sends the electrical signals to the indicators to turn them on and off. If it breaks, these signals won’t be sent and the indicator(s) won’t work.
- Blown fuse – Fuses place a limit on how much electrical current can be sent to different parts of your car. Your indicator lights rely on a fuse to work. When the fuse blows, they will stop functioning until it is replaced.
- Interrupted circuit – An electrical circuit powers your indicator and hazard light bulbs. A damaged or broken wire in the indicator circuit can interrupt the current between the indicator or hazard light bulb(s), limiting or completely stopping the bulb from working. Sometimes a wire can intermittently go open circuit under certain conditions, meaning your indicator or hazard lights might work randomly.
Can you drive safely with malfunctioning indicator lights?
Turn signals let other drivers know what you plan to do, such as turn, change lanes, or merge. This helps to prevent accidents and ensure smooth traffic flow. Using turn signals can make your vehicle more visible to other drivers. This can be especially important in poor weather conditions, when visibility is reduced.
For these reasons, we don’t recommend driving without functioning turn signals. The best thing to do is bring your car in to a mechanic who will fix the lights for you and make your car safe again.
Indicator / Turn Signal Light Replacement in Hamilton
If your indicators are not functioning properly, we can help! When you bring your car in for an indicator light replacement, our mechanics will inspect the vehicle and quickly determine the source of the problem. We can then quickly fix the problem, regardless of whether it’s a blown fuse, blown bulb or another malfunctioning electrical component.
An indicator inspection and replacement will help you to stay safe on the road as well as avoid any unwanted fines. Bring your car to Grimmer Motors today for reliable service you can count on. Contact us today!