Lights Turn off When Using Indicator

Archi on 09/09/2019 - 10:35
Last edited 09/09/2019 - 13:03

recently my car lights would just turn off completely as soon as use the indicator and will switch back on again a few seconds after the turn signal is turned off.

this isn't one of those fancy new cars that turn off one side of the lights as you use the turn indicator.

this just started to happen over the last week
has anyone come across this? will need to take to auto electrician on the weekend, just seeing if anyone has had a similar problem with their car and how they fixed it

2013 Hyundai santa fe DM

Automotive

Comments

    • Archi on 09/09/2019 - 10:56
      +5

      what does it have to do with the battery.. the car works and drives fine. except when I use the indicator the lights turn off.. if don't use the indicator.. the lights are on and fine

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 11:52
          +5

          What exactly should one check on a perfectly functioning battery, as OP has clearly described?

          • afoveht on 09/09/2019 - 12:23
            +2

            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: Headlights would take out the battery well before an indicator. Won't be the battery according to all logic. But once the bonnet is open it's practically a zero cost test and sometimes our logic doesn't consider other unknowns - so test it anyway.

            • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 12:31
              +2

              @afoveht: It's not the battery.

              I was entertaining cameldownunder due them posting a ridiculous response to OP.

              so test it anyway.

              What test exactly?

              • Logical on 10/09/2019 - 23:34
                +1

                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: I used to test a 9v battery by putting my tongue on both poles, perhaps a tongue test is needed in OP's case too?

          • HighAndDry on 09/09/2019 - 12:36

            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: OP hasn't described a perfectly functioning battery. It's unlikely to be the battery, but diagnostics is all about getting the cheap/free possibilities out of the way before incurring costs, like an auto-electrician.

            • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 12:42
              +1

              @HighAndDry: The car starts.
              The lights work. No mention of dimming.

              It's not the battery :)

              Still waiting to know what test OP should be performing?

              • HighAndDry on 09/09/2019 - 12:52

                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: Honestly? Check voltage/etc. Again, unlikely to be the culprit, but it's one of those "cheap and easy, so why not" kind of things.

                • ESEMCE on 09/09/2019 - 13:39
                  +3

                  @HighAndDry: By the same logic, check the tyre pressure and make sure the washer fluid is topped up…
                  It's all irrelevant to the headlights being on the fritz while the engine is turning over…

                  The power for the headlights will be supplied by the alternator.
                  If the battery voltage was low, and alternator non-functional, the headlights would still operate but might dim in time with the indicator light.

                  I had an issue where my lights would turn on with the indicator due to the switch being on a hair trigger… Possibly this is similar?
                  You hit the indicator stalk (where the rotating light switch is also) and the switch disengages and then natural vibration returns full contact and the headlights come back on.
                  Could be as simple as a dirty contact in the switch.
                  Simple experiment would be to deliberately operate the indicator closer to the steering column (avoiding contact with the rotating light switch) and see if the problem remains.

                  That's where I'd start problem solving!

                  • HighAndDry on 09/09/2019 - 13:45

                    @ESEMCE:

                    If the battery voltage was low, and alternator non-functional, the headlights would still operate but might dim in time with the indicator light.

                    This is actually what I'm thinking. Again, unlikely, but the battery voltage isn't completely irrelevant like washer pressure or indicator fluid. It's also free and extraordinarily easy to check.

                    • ESEMCE on 09/09/2019 - 14:10

                      @HighAndDry: If your time is free it is..
                      OP confirms below that the Hazard lights on have no effect on the headlights.
                      It's indicator only and this car has a rotating tip to the indicator stalk to control the headlights.
                      It's a switch issue almost definitely.

              • afoveht on 09/09/2019 - 13:26

                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: Check the voltage without and then under load of the indicator. That may also advise you if it is a problem with the indicator shorting something (big voltage drop), or not - which is a good first step in diagnosing this.

                • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 14:20

                  @afoveht:

                  without and then under load of the indicator.

                  There's no light dimming. There is no point checking lol.

                  indicator shorting something (big voltage drop

                  ie….suspense…. a wiring issue requiring an auto electrician.

                  • afoveht on 09/09/2019 - 14:29

                    @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: You are missing out on a free but valuable data point by not checking the voltage when the indicator is switched on. There may well be no dimming - a significant and fast transient due to a load dump could reset a latched relay, or anything…

                    ie….suspense…. a wiring issue requiring an auto electrician.

                    You're one step closer to that by not doing the one check above.

                    Good luck.

                    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 14:35

                      @afoveht:

                      There may well be no dimming - a significant and fast transient due to a load dump could reset a latched relay

                      Say OP did what you said. Say you're actually correct (you're not). What likely steps will they then take?

                      They'll contact an auto electrician lol.

                      • afoveht on 09/09/2019 - 14:47

                        @Typical16-bitEnjoyer:

                        What likely steps will they then take?

                        That comes down to them.

                        You may prefer engaging a service economy, others like tinkering themselves. Whatever floats each person's boat.

                        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 15:01

                          @afoveht: Electricity shouldn't be tinkered with.

                          • Euphemistic on 09/09/2019 - 20:08
                            +1

                            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: In a car it is 12v and pretty safe. Tinkering is not a problem.

                            • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 20:41

                              @Euphemistic: Everyone seems to say that. "Electrocution doesn't happen with 12v". Sure, but fire and explosions do.

                              Ask the last person who accidentally bridged a gap and started a fire.

                              • Euphemistic on 09/09/2019 - 20:57

                                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: That may be true, but as much as vehicle wiring carries electricity, it is a very different animal to the stuff in your wall sockets.

                                Accidentally bridging a gap and starting a fire is certainly possibly, but the times I’ve done it (yes, I tinker) it doesn’t flash to a fire. It smoulders, melts stuff and gives you enough time to disconnect. If you grab one of those wires with your bare hand you get a burn related to the heat, but typically not an electric shock that is going to kill you.

                                There are wires capable of carrying a lot of current in a car, but they are not the ones in the light/indicator switch that are also protected by fuses.

              • cameldownunder on 09/09/2019 - 14:30
                -2

                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer:

                The lights work. No mention of dimming.

                "my car lights would just turn off completely"

                Well, if that is not dimming …..

            • cameldownunder on 09/09/2019 - 14:28

              @HighAndDry: Oh finally someone who is using the right approach. Thanks for clarifying this to all the people still stuck on Sunday.

          • cameldownunder on 09/09/2019 - 14:27

            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: And where does the OP even mentioned a battery? Just because it starts does not mean it's perfectly healthy.
            For a Start check Voltage when disconnected and then when under load. Replacing a battery might be less expensive.

            • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 14:34

              @cameldownunder: Do you know the alternator's role in your little story?

              • HighAndDry on 09/09/2019 - 15:08
                +1

                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: Testing and replacing the alternator is a lot more work and expense. Again - yes, it may well be the alternator, but in all diagnostics, eliminate other options if cheap/free/fast to do so.

                • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 20:42

                  @HighAndDry: It's not the alternator either. I was testing to see their response based on their google skill - which is all they appear to have.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 10:51
    +7

    auto electrician

    This.

  • qwerty on 09/09/2019 - 10:52

    Get someone to check that all lights are working when you indicate or you have a blown globe

    if not it could also be a fuse

    • Archi on 09/09/2019 - 10:55

      all the lights work. just when you use the indicator, all the lights just turn off.

      • Gumster on 11/09/2019 - 07:51
        +2

        Sounds like your indicator is shorting your battery to earth..

        Its possibly the light fitting but more likely the indicator stalk on the steering wheel

        You can try remove your indicator bulbs check there is no water and see what happens

        You will need an auto electrician

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 10:57

    May as well close this thread lol.

    Auto electrician is clearly the only answer. It's a wiring issue. Not a fuse or battery issue clearly.

    • Archi on 09/09/2019 - 11:00
      -1

      like I said I know I need to take to auto electrician, just wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar problem and what they did.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 11:02
        +10

        just wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar problem

        Yes. Me. I had a similar problem.

        and what they did.

        Took it to an auto electrician.

        It was a wiring issue.

  • Hithere on 09/09/2019 - 11:06
    +1

    The control switch module in the steering column needs fixing/replacing.

    Unless you are mechanically minded it's a job for either a motor mechanic or an autolec.

  • singlemalt72 on 09/09/2019 - 11:08
    +3

    sounds like a bad connection/wire or faulty switch in the lighting stalk, I assume your car is one where the headlamp switch is on the end of the indicator stalk?

    • HighAndDry on 09/09/2019 - 12:54
      +3

      Actually good hypothesis. Could OP check if that's the issue by turning on hazard lights? Presumably that wouldn't be on the same stalk, so:

      • Hazard lights, headlights fine = stalk wiring issue;
      • Hazard lights, headlights also off = maybe another issue.
      • Archi on 09/09/2019 - 13:02
        +1

        no hazard lights are separate switch and that works fine when the lights suddenly turn off

    • Archi on 09/09/2019 - 13:01

      Yes the light switch is at the end

      • Euphemistic on 09/09/2019 - 13:50

        Park the car. Test the light switch jiggling it around etc while turning indicators on and off.

    • Speckled Jim on 10/09/2019 - 07:55
      +1

      This. My old Elantra has the same issue. I expect a good cleaning of the switch may be enough to sort it.

  • Euphemistic on 09/09/2019 - 11:49

    What type of vehicle? Hard to say anything without this fairly important bit of info.

    • Archi on 09/09/2019 - 13:04

      its a 2013 Hyundai santa fe DM

  • hey aj on 09/09/2019 - 12:47
    +10

    Not night? Not problem! You have day car now.

  • Snake 4 on 09/09/2019 - 21:18

    Could be the clock spring.

    • ESEMCE on 10/09/2019 - 07:55

      Probably more likely to be an issue when turning the wheel no?
      It's almost definitely the rotating Light switch that's faulty.

      If not this, then the Clock Spring (wiring that winds around the steering column) is a known issue for this era vehicle.

      • Archi on 10/09/2019 - 07:57

        The light thing happens even when stationary.

    • brendanm on 11/09/2019 - 06:54
      +1

      Lights and indicators don't go through the clock spring, that's for the airbag and steering wheel buttons.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/09/2019 - 07:37
    +1

    it's probably a combination switch issue, had the same thing happen with Santa Fes, Tucsons and Elantras of that era before.

    • cimrak on 10/09/2019 - 17:41

      This. GF's 2004 Elantra currently has the same problem as diagnosed during the cars last service.

      Haven't bothered fixing it yet. She doesnt drive at night anyway.

      • Archi on 11/09/2019 - 17:20

        i'd be careful as @amayzingone suggests below… your GF's car could just turn off by blasting the horn

  • Archi on 10/09/2019 - 07:58
    +1

    Thank you everyone. Much insight and better understanding of a few things when speaking to a professional in the coming days.

  • gbarlett on 10/09/2019 - 08:41
    +2

    i would start by checking for a bad earth. Generally when you go to switch something on and something else switches off, it usually points to a bad earth somewhere.

  • naplutetium on 10/09/2019 - 08:44

    Had a similar issue (albeit on a motorbike), it was (like others mentioned) a wiring issue. The right indicator had a short with the tail light. Once I switched on the indicator, the tail light went off. Good luck!

  • HeWhoKnows on 10/09/2019 - 18:24
    -5

    Its a 2013 Hyundai santa fe

    What did OP expect?

    If that has started happened I wonder whats next?

    Maybe the engine will turn off when OP blasts the horn…
    and why not? Great safety feature

    • Archi on 10/09/2019 - 21:08

      that was last week's problem, So I just don't use the horn. With this light thing it's a lot harder I just can't not use the right indicator or drive at night.

      So your comment was kinda not helpful.. but thanks anyway

  • NGPriest on 10/09/2019 - 23:20
    +1

    Have you tried turning it off and on again?

  • Melong on 11/09/2019 - 03:11
    +1

    Headlight fluid needs replacing

  • Snake 4 on 11/09/2019 - 17:14
    -2

    Clock springs do need affect headlights.

    https://wheelzine.com/working-of-clock-spring-in-car-explain…

    • brendanm on 11/09/2019 - 21:39

      No, they don't.

  • Georgeshtc on 19/09/2019 - 19:48

    I’m a auto electrician,

    This is almost always attributed to a bad earth in the wiring harness otherwise;
    It could be poor connection at the housing to the bulb,
    corrosion in the bulb holder caused by moisture,
    Have you replaced the globe recently? The soldier in the globe can wear away from a bad connection or internally be blown causing an intermittent short.

    Try inspecting the globe, if it looks fine scratch the base and rim of the globe and spray the housing with WD40 or similar

    • Archi on 19/09/2019 - 21:03

      No bulb changes recently

  • Haysass on 24/09/2019 - 16:17

    My 2013 Santa fe does this. Headlights on and cruising down the freeway go to change lanes to overtake, turn indicator on and headlights go out. Yet mine still work on auto or parking lights with turning on the indicators. Hubby is a mechanic and suggested a new stalk but I'm leaning towards a wire issue. Might find a good auto elect.

  • Archi on 22/11/2019 - 15:47

    got a replacement indicator stalk and was able to plug it in after removing the cover. and can confirm that's what fixed the problem. however I need to remove steering wheel and a couple of other thing on the steering column before being able to replace indicator stalk and that's where this goes beyond my DIY capability. another 150 bucks later its all working fine.

    thanks for all your suggestions good and bad.. hahaha

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