Yaris rear indicator + mechanic + dumb driver = 0

Speedwell

Hey boardsies who know something about cars, can you help?

I have a 2003 Yaris Luna. Good car in every way. I don't blame it for little issues any more than I blame a dog for getting fleas in July. But this issue is almost as irritating.

The left rear indicator stops working for no reason and instead of blinking on the outside of the car where I need it to, it blinks twice as fast on the dashboard to make up for it. It started happening when I drove to Dublin (I live in Sligo). I decided to limp it home to let my mechanic look at it, but just as I was passing Mullingar, the indicator started to work again. Fair enough. It didn't do that again for another week, but I was closer to home, and I took it home intending to take it to the mechanic in the morning. However, the next morning it was working again, and didn't fail for another few days. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Finally it stopped working and stayed stopped. The mechanic did nothing more than take out the little mount for the light bulb and dust it off and put it back in, and it worked again. Problem solved, he said. Oh, but wait, there's more. A few days later it stopped working again. I pulled over and pulled out the mount and the light bulb, and saw that all of the connections were intact, and put it back in, and it worked again. For an hour. I went home, cleaned the connections with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol and a bit of fine sandpaper, and everything worked again. For several more days. Then I took out the mount, bent up the connections so they would make better contact with the bulb, and got it to work again after a few more tries. It worked for three weeks that time. I went to take the car back to the mechanic, and it started working again completely on its own on the way back to the garage.

Clearly something is loose, faulty, not making contact, or shorting. But we can't figure out what. The bulb seems fine and no wires are obviously out of place. There are no sparks, noises, burning smells, foreign objects in the way, or kittens in the chassis. Water is not leaking or condensing where it shouldn't be.

Anyone have a similar issue, experience with similar cars with similar issues, or a psychic connection to Toyota?

Thanks

alpha13

1st thing is replace the bulb.. only a few euro and eliminate that fully.. it is not impossible to still be the bulb and look ok..it is rare but possible.. i have seen it hsppen.
that way if it continues to happen.. you KNOW it is definately not the bulb and more than likely a wiring issue.. could be a bad earth or issue with the bulb holder itself from the holder to the pin connector or even the block connector where it goes onto the bulb holder... but does sound more likely to be a bulb...
so replace it and dont take for granted that it is fine because it looks ok...

CrazyMark

I had pretty much the same problem with my corsa years ago, I just bought a new bulb holder for a few € on ebay and switched it out, never had a problem after that.

Speedwell

Well, that's a relief. I can start with a new bulb and holder and put it in myself, and there's a good chance it might just be that. Only if the problem persists will I do more involved diagnostics. Thanks, folks.

alpha13

start with the bulb first speedwell....you might be pleasantly surprised!!!

Wossack

swap the bulb with the one from the other side of the car, see if the problem follows. Otherwise you've eliminated the bulb from the possible issues

Speedwell

Wossack wrote: »

swap the bulb with the one from the other side of the car, see if the problem follows. Otherwise you've eliminated the bulb from the possible issues

Oh, good thinking. I'll try that.

Yawns

Yeah swap the bulb or buy a new one.

Try the holder after that.

If still persists it could be a wiring issue. My car had a kink in the wires where the boot closes. They were frayed after years of opening/closing. Sniped them all off the bad ends and reconnected each one with a crimping tool and crimps. All good now since a year ago.

ironclaw

Rear cluster on the Yaris is prone to a little corrosion as the weather seals can go in the older models. The bulb creates a resistance, the fact that is flashing quickly could mean the bulb is on the way out or there is a path of less resistance, hence the speed increase on the relay (The ticking you hear in the cab)

As has been said, swap the bulb and then the holder is that doesn't help. After that, I'd swap the relay.

fancy pigeon

Once in a past life an old gentleman arrived in needing g a bulb holder for his yaris. It was the late model with the wire free holder. He needed a new holder as he had the mot that evening and various attempts to get the bulb fixed failed.

When I got to it... The holder was bulled in at the wrong position. Wrangled it out, fixed the connections and put in the right way. Not even a new bulb needed. Worked flawlessly

I heard of another muppet/f*ckboy that needed, wait for it, 3 hours to change the reverse bulb in a yaris. I can picture what can only be a dopey voice "uhhhh the wiring was different". An 03 yaris. And this same genius wanted to be a mechanic???!!! With brains he'd be dangerous!!! :eek:

Needless to say with the same car, the same reverse bulb was fixed by yours truly in about 2 minutes. Still fixing mistakes of the past so I am