Feedback

The Ultimate Guide To Turn Signal & Dimmer

Turn signal lights are installed on all four corners of your vehicle. These turn signals are frequently shown on the inside of your automobile as green arrows pointing toward the desired turn. To understand more about the Turn Signal & Dimmer, keep on reading this article and get all your questions answered.

What Is A Car Turn Signal & Dimmer?

Turn signal lights the roadway for the driver and increases the visibility of the vehicle, allowing other drivers and pedestrians to see a vehicle's presence, position, size, direction of travel, and the driver's intentions regarding direction and speed of travel. 

A car dimmer switch is a switch inside the car that controls the brightness of the lighting. There are car dimmer switches inside the interior, overhead lights, and dashboard gauges. The speedometer, temperature, battery, and oil gauges are often lit by lights controlled by the dimmer switch. Most cars have two dimmer switches that work in different ways. One switch inside the car controls the dashboard lights and instrument patterns, adjusting them from a bright glow to dim light. Another dimmer switch controls the headlights, switching them between extremely bright high beams, bright low beams, and dimmer parking lights.

Where Are Car Turn Signal & Dimmer Located?

Have a look at the location of the car turn signal & dimmer:

Turn signals lamps are mounted near the left and right front and rear corners of a vehicle, on both fenders, and sometimes on the sides or the side mirrors of a vehicle. They come in different sizes and shapes. 

Some cars also have a third dimmer switch which controls the brightness of in-cabin lights, allowing passengers to turn on low lights when the car is driving so as not to disturb the driver.

What Are The Important Features Of Car Turn Signal & Dimmer?

Here are the important features of car turn signal & dimmer:

  • Auto turn signal lights are mounted at the corners of a vehicle. It shows the direction of travel. 
  • One or two green indicator lights are on the vehicle's instrument cluster, and a Tick-Tock noise is generated electro mechanically or electronically. 
  • The headlight dimmer switch is the electrical switch that is used to control the vehicle's headlight. 
  • The speedometer, temperature, battery, and oil gauges are often lit by lights controlled by the dimmer switch. 
  • Some cars also have a third dimmer switch which controls the brightness of in-cabin lights. 
  • A dimmer switch may be a button or knob mounted on the dashboard or center console.

How Does My Car Turn Signal & Dimmer Work?

Have a look at the working of car turn signal & dimmer:

When the turn signal lever is activated in either direction, a circuit is completed that allows power to flow to the front and rear turn signal lights on the selected side. When the signal lights are turned on, they are not illuminated constantly. They flash in a rhythmic pattern because of a flasher unit. 

The headlight dimmer switch controls two separate circuits. When the normal lights are turned on, the dimmer sends a small current to an electric switch called a relay. This current closes the switch, turning on the normal headlights. When the dimmer switch is turned to high beams, it triggers a different relay, turning on the bright high beam headlamps. The normal driving lights are used for parking lights, only with an added resistor to dim the light.

What Are The Common Car Turn Signal & Dimmer Problems?

Have a look at the common car turn signal and dimmer problems:

  • Problems can occur in any wiring connector. 
  • Lights not working due to loosely fitted connector, or water in the connector, plug in connector bend or broken, wire not crimped properly in the lug, low quality of connector used, the connector of the wrong size used, broken wire in connector, rusty lug in the connector. 
  • The fuse is an incorrect amperage rating due to which the fuse gets blown. 
  • Devices or lights on the circuit can pull too much power, causing the fuse to blow. 
  • The vehicle might have a loose electrical connection. 
  • A blown bulb will cause problems. 
  • Overheat wire due to improper gauge of wire. 
  • Socket not clamped properly. 
  • Negative wire not connected or loose with the body, flasher unit faulty are some of the problems.

Which Tools Do I Need To Repair My Car Turn Signal & Dimmer?

Do you enjoy repairing your car on your own? Thinking of opening up your car body shop? It is a great business opportunity if you love cars and possess a good work ethic. If you want your shop to be successful, you will require a combination of effort and car mechanic training. And of course, the correct equipment would upgrade your speed and make your repair work easy. If you have the right tools, then you can easily meet the demands of today's car body structures. Here are some of the most essential tools which you might need to repair your Turn Signal & Dimmer.

Which Top Brands Turn Signal & Dimmer Parts Should I Choose?

You won’t have to think a lot while purchasing if you are already using a particular car part brand and are fully satisfied with it. Some people trust a specific brand and would go with it once again with a minimum of thought. Here we have the best Turn Signal & Dimmer brands to help you out in choosing your favourite one in case you don’t have any. So what are you waiting for? Have a look below and choose the best brand for your Turn Signal & Dimmer. 

  • Blue Streak (Hygrade Motor) Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Standard/T-Series Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Bussmann Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Dorman/Help Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Crown Automotive Jeep Replacement Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Denso Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Dorman/Techoice Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Dorman/Conduct-Tite Turn Signal & Dimmer
  • Painless Wiring Turn Signal & Dimmer

Which Parts Are Related To My Car Turn Signal & Dimmer?

Do you want to know what are the related parts of the car Turn Signal & Dimmer? Say no more! We are here to help you out. Have a look at Turn Signal & Dimmer related parts below:-

What Is The Repairing Cost Of My Car Turn Signal & Dimmer?

Failure in the Turn Signal & Dimmer comes in a lot of forms. But take note it is not an inexpensive repair. Sometimes in the end you might find out that there is a need for a complete Turn Signal & Dimmer replacement. There is no fast and hard number how much a Turn Signal & Dimmer replacement would cost as it depends upon a lot of factors like the brand, make, model and the mechanic who is going to repair/replace it. The average cost for turn signal or dimmer replacement is between $2 to $912.For replacing turn signal or dimmer, labor would cost about $30 to $50, depending on which part has to be replaced. To remove the turn signal or dimmer other related parts have to be removed first which may take about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the type of vehicle.

What Are The Steps Of Changing My Car Turn Signal & Dimmer Switch?

Keen to know about the procedure of changing the Turn Signal & Dimmer Switch? Well, we have simplified the entire procedure for you:

Steps of changing turn signal switch:

Step 1

Remove the negative cable from the battery. Remove the steering column plastic trim to gain access to the turn signal switch. Unbolt the turn signal switch keeping screws. 

Step 2

Disconnect the turn signal switch from the wiring harness. Remove the turn signal switch from the vehicle. Install a new turn signal switch. 

Step 3

Connect the new turn signal switch to the wiring harness. Tighten the turn signal switch retaining screws. 

Step 4

Reinstall the plastic steering column trim pieces. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Check the vehicle to verify the repairs made to the turn signal switch.

Steps of changing Dimmer Switch:

Step 1

The first step is to disconnect the battery, as installing a dimmer switch will require going into the electrical system. Disconnect the negative wire from the battery by loosening the retaining bolt on the battery grounding wire. Make sure the ground cable is kept away from the battery so it does not come into contact with it. Allow the power to drain from the wires for 10 minutes.

Step 2

The old light switch must be removed before the new dimmer switch is installed. Find the interior light switch. Depending on the vehicle, the placement will change. It could be hidden beneath the dash, on the floorboard, or the steering column. All the nuts that need to be loosened and removed will be easier to remove with needle-nose pliers.

Step 3

If you already have a wired connection, this should be quite simple. The new switch should come with a wire connector already installed, so all you have to do now is connect it to the old wiring connector in your car. These can be simply purchased at a local vehicle repair shop if you do not have a wiring connection.

Step 4

If you're not sure which wires to connect to what, you'll need to test them first. Set the dimmer switch to the lowest possible level. There will be an in-wire, out-wire, and grounding wire. With a neon tester, tap the lights.

Step 5

Connect the wires coming from the automobile to the wires coming from the switch. The grounding wire is usually green. Connect it to a grounding source nearby. Then check the rest of the cables. The in-wire is the one that makes your lights glow. Connect the cables as needed.

Buying Guides & Articles on Auto Parts

Articles and Guides written by auto parts experts to ensure you have all the required knowledge to make the correct purchase here at Parts Avatar.

Read all Guides & Articles
FAQ
Turn signal lights are necessary for your vehicle's safe operation. They signal that you're about to change lanes, turn a corner, or pull over to the side of the road. While not everyone uses their turn signals as often as they should, their use reduces the incidence of accidents and driver errors significantly.
Turn on your car and put it in the park position to check the signals. Push the blinker higher to test the turn signal. Get out of the car while it's still in the park position and check to see if the signal is blinking in both the front and back.
A faulty ground, such as one caused by a frayed or damaged cable, may generate resistance in the circuit, depriving the headlights of electricity and causing them to dim.
The electrical switch that controls the vehicle's headlight functions is known as the headlight dimmer switch. It may be a lever positioned on the steering column in some vehicles or a button or knob mounted on the dashboard or center console in others.
You should signal your turn at least 100 feet ahead of time so that other drivers can prepare. Make sure your vehicle's turn signals are in working order regularly.
persona image
John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.