Why YSK: Your signals alert other drivers as to what you’re doing; a signal bulb costs a few bucks and is usually a quick and easy repair to do yourself (consult YouTube); and any place that regulates motor vehicles probably requires you to have working turn signals. So knowing when and how to replace a burned out signal bulb can save you an interaction with law enforcement.

Adding: You can diagnose which bulb is out by turning on your hazard lights and checking all four corners of your car. It’ll be the one not flashing.

This is also probably a good time to check your brake lights. Put something heavy on the pedal or have a friend hold it down and check that all three brake lights illuminate. Replacing a burned out brake light is also usually pretty cheap, quick, and easy.

  • wilberfan@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Many seem to have the attitude that if you never use them, the bulbs will never burn out. Problem solved.

        • acockworkorange@mander.xyz
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          11 months ago

          Here’s the EVERY FUCKING ONE. Seriously what’s wrong with you people? It’s bad enough that cars in the US aren’t forced to use amber turn signals, but I guess it doesn’t matter here because no one ever touches the damn blinkers!

                • acockworkorange@mander.xyz
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                  11 months ago

                  I can’t speak for everywhere, but in Brazil the emitted light must be amber by law. Some after market parts and some auto makers get creative and manage to put a red mask on it that somehow still lets amber light through. But it’s rare.

                • dubyakay@lemmy.ca
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                  11 months ago

                  It’s not by mandate. It’s a bad fad that is unregulated. Front blinkers are still amber.

                  Edit: I misread your comment.

          • CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world
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            11 months ago

            Except when they’re already merging in front of you. It’s like thanks bud, glad you thought to use the signal when two of your wheels were already over the line cutting me off. Cool cool cool.

            • acockworkorange@mander.xyz
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              11 months ago

              I am willing to cut some slack in a “oh shit, forgot the blinker this one time!” spirit. But yeah, using means using it properly. Enough in advance that other cars can react and don’t forget the fucking thing on forever. How do people not get annoyed by the clicks?

  • CADmonkey@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I sometimes back into parking spaces that are in front of a glass storefront so I can see that my brake lights are working.

    • Omar Khayyám@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      This is really smart. Considering tail light will get you pulled over, this can save you some pain. I never figured out a good way to check on my own. Thanks!

        • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
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          11 months ago

          One good way to make sure it isn’t working

          Reminds me of that jokes about the two hunters in the woods.

          “911, what’s your emergency?”

          “Help, my friend got bit by a snake, and I think he’s dead!”

          “Stay calm, and check to make sure if he’s actually dead.”

          BLAM

          “Okay, he’s definitely dead”

          • appeasing@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            I think he meant “putting a brick on the brake in order to check yourself” but I guess throwing the brike on the lights also work.

      • Hoomod@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Put on your emergency lights and walk around the vehicle?

        Oh for brake lights, yeah, some weight probably works best, or backing near something and seeing if it lights up, don’t even need a window

  • Mac@mander.xyz
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    11 months ago

    This 'hyperflash’ing will also happen if you have replaced an incandescent bulb with an LED bulb due to the different power requirements.
    LEDs draw so much less power that they don’t draw enough current through the flasher relay. The relay will then think that the bulb is burned out.
    To fix hyperflash due to having installed LED bulbs you can wire a resistor inline or replace the flasher unit with a unit designed for LED bulbs.

    • rufus@discuss.tchncs.de
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      11 months ago

      Yeah. And that’s why fitting arbitrary bulbs in your car isn’t allowed in some countries. You have to use something that is certified for use in your specific car. It’s the same thing with the normal headlights. You’ll annoy and blind oncoming traffic if you manage to get the wrong bulbs in. At least in some cases.

      • TheGreenGolem@lemm.ee
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        11 months ago

        Yes, there is mandatory inspection every 2 years here. Your car will absolutely fail if you use some uncertified shit.

    • rayyy@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Blinkers will flash fast with trailer hooked up too if there is a light duty flasher.

  • Dem Bosain@midwest.social
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    11 months ago

    You should also know that (most?) Auto Parts stores will either loan you a screwdriver to change the bulb, or actually do it for you. For free.

    • CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world
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      11 months ago

      Be prepared, though. It’s easier in some vehicles than others. Some will require you to move other things out of the way first just to get to the bulb. The bright side is these days there’s a YouTube video for everything.

  • just_change_it@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    This is like “I’m 16 and just got my car” level of YSK.

    Fun Fact: in the dominican republic it’s very common for cars to never get any replacement bulbs whatsoever throughout the life of the vehicle. The amount of cars you find on the roads with no working lights is terrifying, just like how their drivers behave in traffic.

    • Jay@lemmy.ca
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      11 months ago

      This is like “I’m 16 and just got my car” level of YSK.

      For you and me it is, but a lot of people don’t really know much about their vehicles, or haven’t had the opportunity to learn everything about them.

      It’s never too late to learn something new.

      • just_change_it@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Is there a part of the US, Canada, Britain or EU that doesn’t have a law mandating working blinkers for a vehicle registration on a regular cadence?

  • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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    11 months ago

    signal bulb costs a few bucks and is usually a quick and easy repair to do yourself

    Heh. $200 sealed units are fun.

  • mycatiskai@lemmy.one
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    11 months ago

    Everyone with a car should be checking their signals at least once a week.

    Park near either a reflective surface or close enough to a wall that you can see the lights individually. Apply your brakes make sure all of them light up, turn your signals on and make sure front and back on both left and right side flash, with emergency brake applied go into neutral and take your foot off the brake to make sure your reverse lights work, test your high beams and fog lights.