When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
When I turn on the parking lights, the left turn signal stays continually on. The turn signal light does not blink, it just stays on. This happens also when I press on the brakes. The right turn signal is working fine. I have been to the auto repair shop and they said they fixed it, but it started happening again later the same day as when they claimed they had fixed it. What do you think is causing this turn signal to activate at odd times and stay continually on?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello there, thank you for asking about your car. If the turn signal stays solid on the dash instead of blinking, that typically indicates a failed bulb. If the bulb is not the issue, check the connector at the turn signal for both power and ground. It looks like both turn signal bulbs share the same ground point, but the ground side wiring could be faulty. If power is not getting to the bulb, the problem could be the turn signal switch or wiring. I recommend having a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, look into this problem for you and replace the turn signal bulb or switch.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Your car uses the same bulb for the front turn signal, parking light and side marker. Like the rest of the lights on your car, these will eventually burn out and need to be replaced.
Yes. The filament of the brake lights and turn signals are shared. The flasher relay is connected to the big filament on the side you are indicating to turn, which is disconnected by the turn signal switch. Both or one of the brake lights may not work if the turn signal switch malfunctions.
Brake lights light up when you hit brakes to signal the drivers behind you to stop. Parking lights are located at the front and back of your vehicles; they are white or amber in the front and red on the back. All of them must be visible for 500 ft.
Parking lights are designed to make your car visible to other drivers when you are parked; they aren`t intended to provide light for driving in the dark (and are not bright enough to do so). When driving, you should use dipped beam headlights, as these are designed to light the road ahead for you.
By turning on the turn signal, it will provide information to other drivers behind, so as not to overtake in the direction of changing lanes. The turn signal can signal the driver at the front to maintain speed and not switch lanes in the direction to be addressed.
Check Your Fuses
The first thing to check is whether or not the brake light fuse has blown. This fuse is usually located in the fuse box under the hood, and it`s relatively easy to check. Just remove the fuse and hold it up to a light – if the wire inside is broken, then you`ll need to replace the fuse.
Why is the brake light on while driving? When your brake light comes on, your car is letting you know that either your vehicle is low on brake fluid, the emergency brake is activated, there`s trouble within the ABS unit, or there`s a problem with the sensors.
A bad bulb is by far the most common reason that a signal blinks faster. This is because a bad bulb alters the resistance in a circuit, sending a different current through the blinker. To figure out if this is the issue, test all signal lights to see if any bulbs are visibly out.
Flashing yellow arrow = Left turns allowed, but you must yield to oncoming traffic. Steady green arrow = Left turns allowed and protected.
It illuminates to show that the parking brake or emergency brake is engaged and must be released before driving. If it remains lit after the parking brake is released or if it turns on and off intermittently while you`re driving, it means you need to add brake fluid.
In road vehicles, the parking brake, also known as a handbrake or emergency brake (e-brake), is a mechanism used to keep the vehicle securely motionless when parked. Parking brakes often consist of a pulling mechanism attached to a cable which is connected to two wheel brakes.
Parking lights are sometimes referred to as sidelights. They are not headlights but do appear outside of them and are located at the front of the vehicle. Some cars have a similar pair of lights located at the rear of their vehicle, though those should not be confused with brake lights.
Most modern cars come with automatic daytime running parking lights. For cloudy days when your vehicle may be too murky to be seen from, say, 500 yards away, the running lights are on so that you can see it without having to turn on the headlights, as is the case in fog.
Fog lamps are not your parking lights or daytime running lamps, they are individual lights usually located low on the bumper of your car – most cars have at least two fog lights at the front with one or two rear foglights as standard – and provide a vertical beam to help improve visibility.
You need to check every socket that has the bulb that gives parking light and signal light for any signs of cross circuiting. Verify that the ground is good as well. A bad ground circuit can create a feedback issue where the signal will get its ground by backfeeding the parking light circuit when they get turned on.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
ANSWER : Hello there, thank you for asking about your car. If the turn signal stays solid on the dash instead of blinking, that typically indicates a failed bulb. If the bulb is not the issue, check the connector at the turn signal for both power and ground. It looks like both turn signal bulbs share the same ground point, but the ground side wiring could be faulty. If power is not getting to the bulb, the problem could be the turn signal switch or wiring. I recommend having a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, look into this problem for you and replace the turn signal bulb or switch.
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Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
My car shuts off when I turn on the light or even the turn signals please help need this car to get to work
ANSWER : Hi there. This type of electrical glitch can be very difficult to pinpoint or diagnose without a physical inspection. However, in general, the most common causes of this issue is an exposed electrical wire within the ignition system. It is best to have a professional mechanic complete an electrical problems inspection first in order to correctly diagnose and resolve this issue.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
signals, daytime running lights are not working, park brake light on dash is on steady and chime is dinging steady 4×4 wont engage
ANSWER : This is likely a brake light switch problem. I would suggest testing the brake light switch which should be located down by the brake pedal. This may also be a computer problem as well as indicated by the other lights on in the dash. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to possibly replace the brake light switch and diagnose with a scanning tool which will download useful data from the truck’s computer indicating what specifically the problem may be.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
My tail lights stay on even after car is off. The hazard lights and turning signals all work but the brake lights do not.
ANSWER : If the tail lights are illuminated even after you have used the on-off switch to command them off, that means the switch supplying power is fused shut and/or the circuit is being powered when it is not supposed to be due to a wiring fault. To resolve an issue such as that, the circuit powering the lights has to be traced, starting with the devices that should indeed be "off" if commanded off (such as the light switch, relay, etc.). If the brake lights are not functioning, it is possible the filaments in both bulbs are burned out and that possibility should be ruled out first. If the bulbs are OK, the brake light switch and the rest of the circuit will have to be traced. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an electrical circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this problem resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
Left turn signal and DRL aren’t working properly
ANSWER : A couple of faults could cause this issue. The most likely would be a wiring issue, the turn signal relay or an improper bulb. The most likely cause in this case would be a wiring issue, if the lights were shorted to power, they would stay on at all times and the fault would not trigger the ECU that a bulb is out. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose your light problems and proceed with the appropriate repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
Aftermarket headlamps, right parking light, and left parking light dashboard messages are on.
ANSWER : The message is on for the lights are not completing a circuit from the switch to the lights. Check all of the wiring on the lights and see if all of them are plugged in properly. Then look for any wiring that is disconnected that is in the streams of the light circuits. For the harness that you found, turn on the lights and use a test light and see if there is power on the harness. Then turn off the lights and see if the power goes away. If the power is operated by the light switch, then the harness is unplugged and that would be the reason the message is on. Otherwise, a loose connection or damaged wire will also cause the message to come on. If you need further assistance with the message on for the lights, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : When parking lights activate, left turn signal independently stays on
