Okay guys,
I have a unusal problem. Please help. I have tried all I know. 1997 Firebird. The right front blinker will not work. It is the only blinker that will not work. The daytime runnling light works but when you turn on the blinker the bulb just simply goes out. When you turn the blinker off, then the bulb comes back on, which serves as the daytime running light as well. The right rear blinker works. Both left side blinkers work. I have changed out the socket and the flasher. It has three wires going into the socket. Two of them are hot and one of them is a ground. They all three check out as working. I have even cut the ground and tried grounding to to the chassis only to get the same result. Any ideas?? Could something in the blinker assy at the steering wheel be causing this? It is odd the right rear blinker works but not the front. Remember, the daytime running light on the right front works but when you turn the blinker on, the bulb simply goes out and doesn't blink. When you turn the blinker off, the daytime running light simply comes back on. All other blinkers work. When you turn on the emergency flasher, all the bulbs flash except the right front. It just simply goes out. It is almost like something is not letting the bulb blink on and off. And it is just the one bulb. The other thing is, if you leave the right blinker on long enough, then the bulb will usally eventually start blinking. YOu can then turn it off and back on and it will work. After doing this on and off a couple times, then it goes back to not working. The indicator arrows inside the car always blink and show that everything is working properly. Any ideas? Am I missing a ground somewhere. The blinker assy at the steering wheel, is there a way it wouldn't allow the right front only not to work. Only thing odd about that is it doesn't work with the emergency flashers either. Again, it is the only bulb that doesn't work. Please help.

JMAC

 

I think the socket is messed up.

Have you looked at it? It kind of sounds like my issue when my light socket melted.

 

Yea, I already changed the socket out. It was burnt and melted as well. Thought for sure that was the problem but after replacing it, I still have the same problem. But good answer. I would of thought for sure that was what it was, but I am still looking. Any suggestions are appreciated.

JMAC

 

my problem is simular to that but on the left side
subscibing and hoping someone knows whats wrong

 

I think if you do a search on here you'll find a lot of discussions on this problem. I fixed mine by putting the correct bulb in (was switched from an 1156 to 1157 or something like that somewhere along the line) and I also bought some good quality Sylvania bulbs instead of the cheap chinese crap.

 

Wow! I was checking out the wiring diagram to see if I could help you and it is involved. It seems that the turn signal flasher and hazard flasher only work on the rear lamps and the fronts,being on all the time, are controlled by the DRL module and the DRL relay.If you know you have the correct bulb in the socket,dbl check that, then I would change the DRL relay( because it sounds way cheaper than a DRL module).Accordind to the service manual it is supposed to be about 12 inches behind the winshield wiper motor which,now that I'm thinking about, it sounds pretty damn inaccessable.
Hope this helps.Good Luck!

 

I have thought about the bulb thing. I went and bought brand new Sylvania 3057 bulbs. Both of my front bulbs were burnt out and that is how I come about coming across this problem. When I replaced them, I realized the right front wasn't blinking. I have thought maybe just maybe even though new, I might have got ahold of a bad bulb. How ever the filament lights up in the bulb for the DRL but it just doesn't blink when you turn the blinker on. Simply just goes out and then will come back on when you turn the blinker off. I think I will switch the left bulb with the right bulb and just see what happens. The left side works fine. And the bulbs came from the same pack but I haven't tried another bulb since the one I had was new.
The DRL relay sounds interesting. I consider that but figured since the DRL was coming on it couldn't be that. I looked at a wiring diagram as well and WOW you are right it made my eyes crossed. I traced it and the DRL do have a relay in there. So that may could be the problem if that controls the front blinker as well. Seems I saw where each DRL is controlled by it's on relay. Did you gather that as well? I just am not very good with wiring diagrams. I will check the bulb and into the relay. I will let you guys know what I find if anything. IF has to be something, I am sure.

Thanks,

JMAC

 

Yes,there are two relays, a right and a left and both are controlled by the DRL module so I'm thinking you have got a 50/50 chance of fixing it by replacing the right relay.I think thats what I would do in your situation.If it's not the relay I have to think it's the DRL module.Let us know what you try and how it turns out.Good Luck!

 

Wait! It just occured to me maybe you can swap the relays and see what happens.Yeah,thats a better idea than buying a relay just yet.

 

Well an update on the blinkers. I have used them and checked them quite a few times in the last two days and the blinker always works now. Everytime I have turned it on and checked it, the blinker is working. So I don't know. I will keep an eye on it and post anything different. IF it does act up again, I will be trying the DRL relay and then the DRL module if necessary. I think if there is a problem, that is where it is at. Thanks for all the info, and for now, all is good. Doesn't make sense to me but long as it works.

thanks again,

JMAC

 

May have been a loose connection that got fixed by you poking around.Hopefully it stays that way.Good Luck!