She?s tired with 246K miles. ‘98 2nd gen. Nellie Belle gets driven maybe 500 miles a year now. Short trips only.

Turn signals have gone crazy. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don?t. Garage can?t find the problem. (In fact, they don?t work, I make the appointment to bring it in. They start working reliably again. What!!!) When, they do work, they click and blink normally, for a short while, then they double up or triple up. Then blink normally for a few seconds?

Doesn?t seem to be a fuse problem. Fuses check out. Doesn?t seem to a bulb problem. All bulbs check out. Any ideas? Something in the steering column?

 

Flasher unit?

 

From the turn signal DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING section of my 2000 manual:

(1) Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Actuate the turn signal switch or the hazard warning switch. Observe the turn signal indicator lamp(s) in the instrument cluster. If the flash rate is very high, check for a turn signal bulb that is not lit or is very dimly lit. Repair the circuits to that lamp or replace the faulty bulb, as required. If the turn signal indicator(s) fail to light, go to Step 2.

(...a short in the lamp wiring or a loose bulb connection could result in the behavior you describe...)

COMBINATION FLASHER DESCRIPTION The combination flasher is a smart relay that functions as both the turn signal system and the hazard warning system flasher. The combination flasher contains active electronic Integrated Circuitry (IC) elements. This flasher is designed to handle the current flow requirements of the factory-installed lighting. If supplemental lighting is added to the turn signal lamp circuits, such as when towing a trailer with lights, the combination flasher will automatically try to compensate to keep the flash rate the same. While the combination flasher has a International Standards Organization (ISO)-type relay terminal configuration or footprint, the internal circuitry is much different. The combination flasher does not use standard ISO-relay inputs or provide ISO-relay type outputs or functions. The combination flasher should never be substituted for an ISO-relay or replaced with an ISO-relay, or else component and vehicle damage may occur. Because of the active electronic elements within the combination flasher, it cannot be tested with conventional automotive electrical test equipment. If the combination flasher is believed to be faulty, test the turn signal system and hazard warning system circuits as described in this group. Then replace the combination flasher with a known good unit to con firm system operation. The combination flasher has five blade-type terminals intended for the following inputs and outputs: fused B(+), fused ignition switch output, ground, turn signal circuit, and hazard warning circuit. Constant battery voltage and ground are supplied to the flasher so that it can perform the hazard warning function, and ignition switched battery voltage is supplied for the turn signal function. Refer to Turn Signals in the Contents of Group 8W- Wiring Dia grams for complete circuit diagrams. The combination flasher is located in the relay and fuse block which is located on the back of the junction block near the dash panel under the left end of the instrument panel. The combination flasher cannot be repaired or adjusted and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.

(might be able to find the combo-flasher unit in a junked rig...but not sure about year-to-year compatibility...access to the relay junction block is a bit tricky...schematic image attached)

OPERATION The IC within the combination flasher (Fig. 2) contains the logic that controls the flasher operation and the flash rate. Pin 6 of the IC receives a sense volt age from the hazard warning circuit of the multi function switch. When the hazard warning switch is turned on, the 9hazard on sense? voltage will become low due to the circuit being grounded through the turn signal bulbs. This low voltage sense signals the IC to energize the flash control Positive-Negative Positive (PNP) transistor at a pre-calibrated flash rate or frequency. Each time the PNP transistor energizes the hazard warning circuit, the pin 6 ?hazard on sense? voltage will become high and the IC signals the PNP transistor to de-energize the circuit. This cycling will continue until the hazard warning switch is turned off. Likewise, pin 8 of the IC receives a sense voltage from the turn signal circuits of the multi-function switch. When the left or right turn signal switch is turned on, the ?turn signal on sense? voltage will become low due to the circuit being grounded through the turn signal bulbs. This low voltage sense signals the IC to energize the flash control PNP transistor at a pre-calibrated flash rate or frequency. Each time the PNP transistor energizes the turn sig nal circuit, the pin 8 ?turn signal on sense? voltage will become high and the IC signals the PNP transistor to de-energize the circuit. This cycling will continue until the right or left turn signal switch is turned off. A special design feature of the combination flasher allows it to ?sense? that a turn signal circuit or bulb is not operating, and provide the driver an indication of the condition by flashing the remaining bulbs in the affected circuit at a higher rate (120 flashes-per minute or higher). Conventional flashers either con tinue flashing at their typical rate (heavy-duty type), or discontinue flashing the affected circuit entirely (standard-duty type). During turn signal operation, the combination flasher IC compares normal battery voltage input on pin 2 with the shunt resistor voltage input on pin 7. If the IC ?senses? that the voltage difference between pin 2 and pin 7 is different than the pre-calibrated value of the IC, it will increase the rate at which it signals the PNP transistor to energize the pin 1 output. Thus, the inoperative half (left or right side) of the turn signal circuit will flash faster