The left turn signal indicator light has burned out and I just replaced it a few weeks ago.

The bulb failed after I had driven the car for 2.5 hours to the beach. It wasn't raining.

What could be the cause of this problem?
And the solution?

10/16/2010 12:01:36 PM

Did you check to make sure it's actually burned out and not just coming loose from the socket?

10/16/2010 3:34:21 PM

lack of blinker fluid ITT

10/16/2010 7:24:48 PM

make sure youve got the right voltage and type bulb, generally most are rated 12v+ but some are sensitive to varying voltage ranges.

10/16/2010 11:44:15 PM

2 out of 3 good suggestions

thanks, TWW

10/17/2010 10:34:28 AM

make sure the pigtail isnt fucked up. might need to take a flathead and pry out the pins

10/17/2010 4:10:40 PM

ill go corrosion for 200 alex

10/18/2010 8:05:28 AM

corrosion on the contacts of the pigtail or on the bulb?

the original bulb, which was burned out, left the socket of the pigtail pretty corroded

but I cleaned it out with circuit board cleaner and cotton swabs until the new bulb worked

I'm going to take a crack at it in a few

10/18/2010 10:15:02 AM

The plastic around one of the terminals of the bulb is a little melted so the bulb is no longer making contact at that point

what would cause this?

10/19/2010 1:27:21 PM

you just answered your own question

10/19/2010 1:29:20 PM

no what would cause the melting?

I sanded away the melted plastic that was causing the terminal not to make contact, bent the pin out slightly and put a little piece of plastic as a shim in there and now it works

but I suspect that it will melt again

10/19/2010 1:45:01 PM

I would probably buy a new socket and bulb, just to avoid the chance of having my car go up in flames.

10/19/2010 2:17:24 PM

the melt is due to heat from bad connection, probably originally from weakening of the spring contacts or corrosion... If your fix maintains a good tight connection it should be fine. Couldn't hurt to lube the contacts up with some dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion.

10/19/2010 2:20:03 PM

^foshizzle

10/19/2010 3:56:15 PM

^^^ I looked for a new socket but none of the local auto parts stores have them - they recommended I go to a junkyard (where my car belongs? :beatup

^^ I hope that this shim I put in there solves the problem

10/19/2010 5:13:31 PM