Messed up blinkers - how to fix?

[do2mind]

I took my car in to an auto electric place to fix the right brake light. But as I drove it out of the garage, my left blinker was blinking double speed... normally a burnt out bulb. I drove right back, I figure they were messing around with the bulbs trying to figure out the other problem.

The guy said the problem was corrosion in the bulb socket, and after sticking some sandpaper down there and jiggling a little bit, they got the blinker working again. I drove away. Half an hour later, my left blinker started blinking double time again... then an hour later, the right blinker did it also.

So... I tried to fix it myself... went and found the wire brush that cleans out the inside of copper plumbing tubing before soldering... stuck that thing down in the bulb socket while the blinkers were on, just like I'd seen the mechanic do... then did the other one... on the second one, I saw sparks inside the socket... didn't think much of it...

until...

after cleaning both bulb sockets... NONE of the blinkers work... front, or back... doesn't blink at the blinker, or at the dashboard... the corners don't work... the under bumpers don't work.

Okay... so what did I break? And how do I fix it? Oops. What parts do I need to buy? Where do I get them? What brands are good... a little flashier than OEM, but not pimped. Projector would be nice if I replace the headlights to replace the corners.

Okay... next question... supposedly the original problem was the brakelight burnout sensor(s)... the shop bypassed them... DO the aftermarket taillight assemblies come with those sensors built in, to get them back in the loop? A red light always on in the dashboard will get old.

Sorry for so many questions... will take a little work to answer...

As always... you guys are the best. Thanks!

D

[visualpoet]

First, you probably blew the fuse for the turn signals, have you checked it yet? Didn't your folks teach you not to stick things in an electrical socket? Electricity 101 - DON'T STICK THINGS INTO AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET!!! Especially one you have turned on. I'd guess it's just the fuse. get one from a parts store, gas station, Walmart, etc.
How much flashier do you need for a turn signal? I don't get what you are asking about aftermarket parts for. You don't need to replace any of the light housings themselves, but if you want to get new ones, go for it. Hit ebay and decide what you want. Be warned. Most people don't like the output from the projectors and end up retrofitting them to get better light.
As for the sensors, I have to say they are not part of the tail-light assemblies. I haven't seen them on my spare set of tails, and it leads me to believe they are somewhere else entirely. Why didn't the shop repair them instead of making a half ass bypass? If it was my ride, I'd have been bitching about the hack work they did.

[do2mind]

yep, it was the fuse... and a spare one in the box. blinkers are back.

i was worried i screwed up some relay or whatever electrical stuff controls the blinkers... but it makes sense that there'd be a fuse to prevent boneheads like me from toasting an entire assembly.

yeah... won't stick anything in electrical sockets anymore.

going with sonar taillights... will figure out the sensor thing when they get here.

[do2mind]

I don't get what you are asking about aftermarket parts for... As for the sensors, I have to say they are not part of the tail-light assemblies. I haven't seen them on my spare set of tails, and it leads me to believe they are somewhere else entirely. Why didn't the shop repair them instead of making a half ass bypass? If it was my ride, I'd have been bitching about the hack work they did.

It looks like the sensors are modules that clip into the OEM brake light assemblies (on the inner side of the taillight assembly that's in the car body)... there are snipped wires there, and therefore taped together wires of "off" color combinations at the brake light an inch and a half away. I'm guessing the aftermarket taillights/brakelights must also have the sensors built in, unless the whole concept is N/A for the aftermarket assemblies and they somehow turn the light at the dashboard off. I'll wait for my taillights and see what the instructions say.

Hack job... I had them squeeze the job in same day when they said they were a little tight... remind me not to do THAT in the future, either. At least it was only an $86 hack job.