UglyRhoda95

95 4runner SR5
Problem: Buzzing noise instead of right turn signal.
I have tried replacing the flasher (ep35) with three different new flashers and none work. The new flashers cut out all turn signals. With the original Toyota flasher installed all hazards work, left turn works, and if I fiddle with it, the right turn will come back to normal as well but quickly quits again. I'm stumped.

RAD4Runner

You observed both front and rear lights, correct?

Sounds like bad contacts in the turn signal stalk switch. Inspect them. If u see nothing, time to break out the multi-meter.

Thommo Thompson

this happens when theres not enough load on the circuit. so probably one of the globes is blown, or the contacts are dirty. try removing the globe and cleaning its bayonet. the reinsert and try again.
pretty sure that will be ur problem.

UglyRhoda95

yes, all bulbs are working. I can't figure out why the new flashers won't work at all tho. It's the flasher itself that I wiggle, the right turn comes back and everything operates normally. With the new flasher installed, no signals work at all.

scope103

The flasher powers the left and right equally; there's nothing you can do to the flasher (replace it, wiggle it, burn incense) that will affect one but not the other. So (one of ) your problem is almost certainly in the turn sign switch (stalk).

But messing with your flasher ALSO causes problems. I really doubt you purchased a bad flasher (certainly not three in a row!!), so most likely you have a bad socket, loose wire, broken connection.

The buzzing is mysterious (you definitely localized it to the flasher, didn't you?), but a bad connection on the turn signal switch could provide a sufficiently poor load that the coil in the flasher can't quite pull in.

So try to test one (switch or flasher) without touching the other. Don't forget that your probably have two problems going on at the same time.

UglyRhoda95

The buzzing is definitely the flasher. It's also the thing that makes the "tick tock" noise when the signal is on. I've tested the switch on the steering column and it checks out. I went to a Toyota parts website and typed in my vin, they came up with a slightly different (and more expensive) flasher than the ep35. I took the new part number over to rockauto.com and ordered, what is supposed to be, the correct flasher. I should have it by Dec 20th and we'll see what's what from there. Thanks for all the advice guys! 🤞

Thommo Thompson

I have the problem regularly on my jeep.
Humidity here causes rust on the bulbs contacts to rust, and it makes that side of the car inoperative and buzzes like u describe, BZZZZZZ.
So anywhere along the wire could be high resistance, which reduces the load, liek i mentioned before.
What happens when u turn on the emergency flasher (both sides)

akwheeler

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but there may be two flashers, one for the hazards and one for the turn signals, you may be trying to replace the wrong one.

scope103

One Flasher.