The main reasons behind the turn signal sound not working are blown fuse, bad relay, faulty speakers, wrong radio installation, clogged indicator, damaged instrument cluster, and faulty head unit.
Keep reading this article to find out more about these issues behind the turn signal noise not working and learn how you can fix them. We’ll also discuss some common reasons why the turn signal lights don’t work. Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
Why Turn Signal Sound Not Working [Reasons + Solutions]
The turn signal not working properly causes many accidents every year. If you’re wondering why are the turn signals not working, you’ll find the answer in this section. Here are the main reasons behind it:
1. Blown Fuse
Whenever any of the electrical components in your car goes bad, it’s always a great idea to look at the fuse first. And since the indicator runs on electricity, you should rule out a blown before moving into anything else.
The fuses in a car act as a safety mechanism to protect the electrical components from being damaged when there’s a short in the car. If the fuse draws more current than what it’s supposed to, it blows up and prevents the current from reaching the main electrical component.
The first fuse you should check is the indicator flasher fuse. It could be located in the fuse box by the dashboard or the engine bay. If the metal piece in the fuse is intact, that means the fuse is good.
But if the metal piece is broken and divided into two parts, that means you’re looking at a blown fuse. Check the other fuses and make sure they’re okay as well when you check the indicator fuse.
Solution:
Replace the indicator fuse if it’s blown. If any of the other fuses are blown, you need to replace them as well. Make sure the fuse you get is the right amperage for your vehicle.
If replacing the fuse solves your problem and your turn signal makes the clicking noise, you’re good to go. But if the fuse keeps blowing, there are other issues in your car and you need to keep on diagnosing.
2. Bad Relay
The relays in your car act like switches that are designed to open and close instructions electronically. It also works as a protection device for the electrical components in your car. The relay converts a small current input to high electrical output.
When the indicator relay goes bad, it can keep the lights from coming on. And if the relay that controls the speaker is damaged, you won’t hear the clicking noise when you turn the signal.
Diagnosing a faulty relay is easy. Swap the relay in question with a functional relay and see if the new relay solves the problem. If swapping the relay solves the problem, that means a bad relay was the main reason behind the turn signal not clicking.
Solution:
Get a new relay of the same part number and replace it with a new one. Fuses and relays are both inexpensive parts that are easy to replace. You’re lucky if these were causing the issue as you can get them replaced in a jiffy.
3. Faulty Speakers
The clicking sound that you hear when you use the indicator is played through the speaker in your car. This speaker can be located in the back of your instrument panel or in other areas in your car. The radio and the turn signal can share the same speaker.
When the speaker goes bad, you won’t be hearing anything from it. If you’re wondering why can’t I hear my turn signal make the clicking noise, faulty speakers are the most likely cause of it. Not hearing the seatbelt warning chimes is also a good indicator of a faulty speaker.
Solution:
If you don’t hear any noise coming from the speaker, you can conclude that you have a bad speaker. Locate where the faulty speaker lies in your vehicle and replace it to get the turn signal to work properly again.
4. Wrong Radio Installation
Aftermarket radios are getting more and more popular among car owners these days because of all the cool features they have. But the problem with using them is that many people mess up the installation process and cause a whole range of problems.
The wrong installation of the radio can cause the radio itself to not have power, keep blowing the fuse, have poor reception, and so on. Check out our guide on the main problems when installing aftermarket radio the wrong way.
But another thing that could go wrong when you mess up the installation process is that you’ll find the indicator noise not working anymore. That’s because you have not connected the wires to the speaker so that it can make the clicking noise of the turn signal.
It’s also important to note that when you get an aftermarket radio, you need to get a unit that integrates with the chimes of the audio system in your car. If you’re thinking why doesn’t my turn signal make noise, it could be because you get the wrong radio.
Solution:
The first thing you need to make sure of is that you got the right radio for your car. The turn signal noise through speakers can only be heard if you’ve installed the radio the correct way.
You may have cut the wires that lead to the front speakers in the car. Connect those wires to the front speaker and your indicator should work properly when you do that.
5. Clogged Indicator
The problems we’ve discussed so far are the ones where you don’t get the clicking sound from the turn signal at all. But another common problem that you’ll face is that the turn signal clicking noise stays on constantly even when it’s not supposed to be on.
The main culprit behind it in most cases is a clogged indicator. Dirt and debris can build up on the side of the indicator and keep it from working properly.
Solution:
If the turn signal sound won’t stop and you’ve noticed that dirt has piled up on the indicator, you need to clean it. Spray some WD-40 contact cleaner on the side of the indicator to get rid of the dirt. A can of compressed air will also help you get rid of the dirt.
Spray the contact cleaner in short bursts front and back. Ensure that your car is turned off when you’re doing it. Put your indicator in different positions and keep applying the contact cleaner. Apply a little bit at a time as it dries up quickly and gets rid of the dirt.
Use some compressed air once you’ve sprayed contact cleaner to the indicator in all possible positions. Leave it for an hour like that so that it can dry. If the sound doesn’t randomly come on anymore, your problem is solved and a clogged indicator was causing the issue.
Warning: Don’t use the normal WD-40 and only use the contact cleaner. The normal WD-40 isn’t meant to be used on electrical components and the oil in it can mess up your indicator for good.
6. Damaged Instrument Cluster
In some vehicles, the clicking sound of the turn signal comes from the speaker that is located at the back of the instrument cluster. When that goes bad, the turn signal lights will work but you can’t hear turn signal clicking.
Solution:
If you have a spare instrument cluster or you can get one at a cheap price with functional speakers, you can swap the speakers in that cluster with yours. If you can’t get your hands on a used instrument cluster with good speakers, you’d have to replace the entire instrument cluster.
7. Faulty Head Unit
The head unit in your car has some screens and buttons so that you can control the radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc from it. If you’re wondering why my radio and turn signal sound not working, a faulty head unit can be the main reason behind it.
Solution:
No sound coming from both the radio and the turn signal is a good indicator of a faulty head unit. If that is the case, you need to replace the faulty head unit with a new one to get rid of this problem.
Aftermarket head units are cheaper but they usually require an adapter harness to integrate with the sounds of your car. If you get a used head unit, you’ll need to reprogram it for your vehicle.
Why Are The Turn Signal Lights Not Working
You already know the main reasons behind the turn signal works but no sound. But what if the turn signal lights aren’t working?
Damaged fuses or relays can also make the turn signal lights not work. If the turn signals aren’t lighting up at all, it could be due to fuses or relays. Some other reasons behind the turn signal lights not operating well are:
Worn-Out Bulb
If one of the turn signal lights works properly and the other doesn’t, it’s a good sign that you’re dealing with a worn-out bulb. These bulbs can die with time and you can easily replace them to get the turn signal lights to work again.
Clogged Bulb Sockets
The build of dirt inside the bulb sockets can keep the bulbs from functioning properly. The dirt interrupts the connection between the socket and bulb and makes it work intermittently. Getting the dirt out of the bulb sockets will solve the problem in this case.
Damaged Flasher Module
If neither of the lights is working and there’s no issue with the bulb or bulb sockets, you most likely have a damaged flasher module. If the lights are on but don’t flash, that also points to a bad flasher. Replace the flasher to steer free of these issues.
FAQs:
What are the signs of a bad turn signal or flasher relay?
The turn signal lights not turning on is the biggest indicator of a faulty flasher relay. If the turn signal doesn’t turn off or the other lights malfunction, it could also be due to a bad flasher relay.
How much does it cost to replace the turn signal relay?
The turn signal relay isn’t an expensive component to replace as you can get a new one for $10 and you don’t need to pay any labor charges.
How does the turn signal work?
When a driver turns on the indicator, a bimetallic spring gets heated and touches a metal strip. That completes the circuit and makes the light flash and causes the clicking sound.
What if the turn signal lights flash too fast or too slow?
The turn signal lights flash too fast or too slow when the bulb is damaged. It can also happen if you’ve installed the wrong flasher for your car.
Conclusion
The turn signal sound not working properly can bring a lot of trouble for you and the people around you. You shouldn’t sit on this problem and you should address it as early as possible to prevent any accidents.
Hopefully, you’ve learned the most common reasons that keep your turn signal from working properly and how you can fix each of these issues. Drop a comment below if you’d like to know more about turn signals.
About John M
John contributed as a technical head at an automobile company just 2 years after his post-graduation in Automobile Engineering. He loves to lead a free life, so he left his job & started blogging. Now, he does research on every automotive problem, part & product and seeks a better solution & best products & shares his findings with his readers to help them as well as to minimize their struggle.