left turn signal/hazard problem
 

Hey. I have a (very low mileage) 92 LX that I've had since new. Recently the left (and only the left) turn signal intermittently stopped working: fast clicking, no dashboard arrow, no exterior lights at front or rear. At first the problem came and went, it'd show up maybe once every 9 or 10 times I'd use the turn signal. Hazard lights were fine (more proof that it wasn't a bulb problem), with the normal click speed, and the right-hand side worked fine, both outside and on the dashboard, therefore I don't think it's a problem with the relay near the interior fusebox.

At first I figured the multi-function switch at the base of the turn signal stalk was giving out (since the hazards worked fine). But now even the lefthand hazards have given out: right hand blinkers are still ok, but left hand corner blinkers and dashboard arrow are 100% dead. Parking lights are fine.

Any ideas? Fuses seem fine (unless I'm wrong in assuming that all 4 corner blinkers are on the same fuse and relay). The car is bone-stock, so there's no new equipment that might be causing a short or anything.

I'm hoping it's a $5 fix, like a fuse or relay, instead of a $50 (or more) fix, like the control switch. I'm selling the car as soon as I can get this fixed. Thanks in advance for your help.

It is a zero dollar fix if you have a soldering iron! I had the same problem. The fix for me was to re-solder all the connections inside the flasher control module. That was about 50K miles ago and it still works.

The fix is on Miata.net. Go to http://www.miata.net/garage/turnsig.html and there are images of the flasher module. If I recall, it is in a similar place as on the miata -- under drivers side dash. The connections are large, so it is an easy solder job.

JQ

JQ: Belated thanks for the response. I bet that's exactly the problem. Same module as the fix you posted, for sure. In the meantime I'd (briefly) fiddled with the harness connector for the flasher module, and the problem improved a lot, but I'll pull the module and re-solder.

Ironic (or poor searching on my part) that the fix is on Miata.net: the car I'm replacing my Protege with is a Miata, so I've been hanging out over there quite a bit. Not enough, it seems....

Thanks again for the info.

PS: And yes, as a matter of fact I will be a little sad to see the Protege go....It's a great car.