Two green arrow symbols appear on your dashboard when you use your turn signals. One points left, one points right. In normal operation, most drivers give them no thought at all. But when they start flashing too fast, make no sound, stay on without flashing, or one stops working entirely, drivers start searching for answers. This guide covers all of it.
What Do the Turn Signal Indicators Look Like
The left turn signal indicator is a green arrow pointing to the left side of the dashboard. The right turn signal indicator is a green arrow pointing to the right. On most cars, these are positioned at the outer edges of the instrument cluster, with the left arrow on the left side and the right arrow on the right side.
Both arrows flash in sync with the physical turn signal lights on the outside of the car when the corresponding indicator stalk position is selected. When the hazard lights are activated, both arrows flash simultaneously.
What the Turn Signal Indicators Are Telling You
The turn signal indicators are informational lights that confirm your turn signals are active and flashing. They have no fault meaning in themselves. A flashing left arrow means your left turn signals, front and rear, are currently flashing. A flashing right arrow means your right turn signals are flashing.
The indicators exist so the driver can confirm the signal is active without needing to look outside the car or listen for the click sound alone.
Normal Behaviour of Turn Signal Indicators
Under normal operation, each indicator arrow flashes at a steady, consistent rate, typically around 60 to 120 flashes per minute depending on the vehicle. Most cars produce an audible clicking sound in sync with each flash, generated either by a physical relay or a simulated electronic sound through the speakers.
The indicator cancels automatically after completing a turn when the steering wheel returns to centre. On some tighter turns or lane changes, the stalk may need to be cancelled manually by pushing it back to the centre position.
Common Turn Signal Faults and What They Mean
Indicator Flashing Much Faster Than Normal: This is one of the most searched turn signal problems. If the arrow on the dashboard is flashing noticeably faster than usual, it almost always means one of the bulbs in that turn signal circuit has failed. The technical reason is that the flasher relay, which controls the flash rate, is designed to detect the electrical resistance of the circuit. A working bulb provides a certain resistance. When a bulb fails and that resistance drops, the relay speeds up the flash rate as a built-in warning that a bulb needs replacing.
On cars with LED turn signals, the flash rate may be fine because LEDs draw very low current. However, when replacing standard bulbs with LED replacements without fitting a load resistor, the same fast flashing problem can appear because the relay reads the lower LED current draw as a failed bulb.
To find the failed bulb, walk around the car and check which indicator light is not flashing while the signal is active on that side. It is usually the front or rear indicator, though sometimes the side repeater on the wing.
Indicator Stays On Without Flashing: If the arrow on the dashboard glows steadily without flashing, the flasher relay has likely failed. The relay is the component that interrupts the circuit to create the flashing effect. A relay that has stuck in the on position will allow current to flow constantly, lighting the indicator and the external bulbs without the on-off cycle. Replacing the flasher relay resolves this.
On modern cars with electronic flasher control built into the body control module, this type of fault may need a diagnostic scan rather than a simple relay replacement.
No Click Sound When Indicator Is On: The clicking sound is either produced by a physical relay that makes noise as it switches, or by the car’s audio system simulating the sound electronically. On newer cars with electronic indicators, the sound comes through the speakers. If the clicking has stopped but the indicators still flash visually, the simulated sound may have been muted, or there may be a minor audio system fault. If neither the click nor the flash is working, the indicator stalk, relay, or body control module may have a fault.
Indicator Not Self-Cancelling After a Turn: The self-cancelling mechanism in the indicator stalk uses the rotation of the steering column to detect when the wheel has returned to centre after a turn. If this mechanism wears out, the indicator will not cancel automatically and must be cancelled manually every time. This is a mechanical wear issue inside the stalk assembly and is more common on older high-mileage vehicles.
Both Indicators Flashing Together When Hazards Are Not On: If both arrows flash at the same time and you have not pressed the hazard button, the hazard switch itself may be stuck or faulty. On some cars, a wiring fault or a body control module issue can also cause both indicators to activate unintentionally. Check the hazard button first to ensure it is not depressed or stuck.
One Indicator Completely Dead: If pressing the stalk in one direction produces no flash at all, no dashboard arrow and no external lights, the most common causes are a blown fuse for that indicator circuit, a failed stalk, or a wiring fault. Check the fuse box for a blown indicator fuse before investigating further.
Indicator Stalk Left On Accidentally
A very common driving scenario: a driver completes a lane change or a gentle curve, the indicator does not self-cancel, and the turn signal keeps flashing for a long distance without the driver noticing. This usually happens because the turn was not sharp enough to trigger the automatic cancellation mechanism. Most modern cars produce a visual and audio reminder if an indicator has been left on for an unusually long time without any corresponding steering input. If your car does this and the reminder appears, check whether you have left the indicator running without realising.
Hazard Lights and Both Indicators Flashing
When the hazard warning button is pressed, both the left and right arrows flash together on the dashboard simultaneously. This confirms the hazard lights are active on all four corners of the car. Hazard lights are used when the car is stationary in a dangerous position, such as broken down on the hard shoulder, or sometimes to warn following traffic of a sudden slowdown.
Pressing the hazard button again cancels them. On some cars, the hazard lights remain functional even with the ignition off, which is useful in a breakdown situation but can drain the battery if left on for an extended period.
Replacing a Failed Turn Signal Bulb
If fast flashing confirms a bulb has failed, replacing it is usually straightforward. Check which external light is not flashing on the affected side. Access to the bulb varies by car model. Front indicators on most modern cars require access from behind the headlight assembly, either from inside the engine bay or through a removable access panel. Rear indicators are usually accessible from inside the boot by removing a trim panel or from outside if the lens can be unclipped.
Always replace the bulb with the correct specification. If you are fitting LED replacements, check whether your car requires a load resistor to be fitted alongside each LED bulb to maintain the correct flash rate.
Quick Summary
|
What |
Detail |
|
Light Color |
Green |
|
Symbol |
Left or right pointing arrow |
|
Severity |
None in normal operation, fault indicated by fast flash |
|
Fast Flashing Means |
A bulb in that circuit has failed |
|
Steady On Without Flashing |
Flasher relay has failed |
|
No Click Sound |
Electronic sound muted or relay fault |
Related Indicators and Lights
These indicators and lights are closely connected to the turn signal system:
- High Beam Indicator – Blue lighting indicator on the dashboard
- Low Beam Indicator – Green headlight indicator and battery drain risks
- Auto Headlight Indicator – Automatic headlight sensor system explained
- Charging System Warning Light – Battery drain risk from hazard lights left on
This page is part of our complete guide to car dashboard symbols and meanings. To see every warning light explained in one place, visit our Car Dashboard Symbols.