Turn Signals Quit
 

Over the last week, my turn signals went from blinking (as designed) to flickering to now they don't work at all. Is that the sign of a bad flasher in the dash? Is 'flasher' even the right term, or is the proper term a 'flasher relay'? Is this 'flasher relay' behind the dash (from where the blinking noise used to come from)? Thanks

Sounds like you're on the right track. Yes, it is called the flasher relay and it is located just in front of the fuel gage, under the cowel. First a question. Although the lights no longer flash, do they light up (exterior lights and the indicators on the gauge) when you move the stalk to the left/right positions? If so, the problem is most like the relay. First try removing the relay, cleaning the contacts and reinserting it--that is often the problem. If that does not fix it, try replacing the relay.

Thanks ossi - when I turn the stalk, nothing happens at all, no lights come on, no clicking sound either.

My confusion about the correct term stems from the price for the flasher relay. I see on our host and other Porsche parts houses that these things are $35 - $50. I can call my local NAPA store and when I ask for a relay flasher for an '84 Carrera, it is $5. Either I am asking for the wrong part or there is wide disparity in what these things cost.

Thanks for the help.

Wow, that's a big difference. Not sure about the NAPA part but someone may have an answer. Before you invest, try to borrow a known working relay and see if your flashers work. Also, does your emergency flasher system work?

edit: Just did a quick Google on the relay and the $5 one offered for a 911 is not the correct one for an 84--it has only three contacts and you need four. The correct relay, from a brief look, runs around $30 from different suppliers--some a bit less, some more, but they are not Hella if that matters to you.

The two different relays appear to change with the 85 model. Pull your relay and check to see what you have--three or four contacts--that will tell you for sure.