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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTurn signal question
Reported or suspected cause
search will prove difficult
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suspected cause · Original poster
But since the state won't allow shops to charge what it actually costs to perform an inspection, I suspect my search will prove difficult.
Leading evidence: 'search will prove difficult' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'search will prove difficult' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check into it' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion · Original poster
need to find a place that will just inspect my car(s).
Inspect where they don't have such "knowledgeable" technicians
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Suggestion
If I were you I would drive to a rural area of the state and get your car inspected where they don't have such "knowledgeable" technicians.
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Suggestion · Original poster
But that's a few days off since I still have to replace the outer tie rod before I go back.
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Suggestion
Run an extension wire from the front blinker to the side light, change the socket to a dual purpose one (ie 1156 to 1157 or whatever the side marker is) and put in the corresponding bulb.
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Suggestion
Run an extension wire from the front blinker to the side light, change the socket to a dual purpose one (ie 1156 to 1157 or whatever the side marker is) and put in the corresponding bulb.
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Outcome without a verified action link
I tried to use the Foxwell to do it to the Cayenne but it didn't work.
I live in VA and just attempted to get the annual safety inspection done. This is my first time getting an inspection as I purchased the car in the Fall of 2018. The car didn't pass for two reasons; 1) it needs an outer tie rod, and 2) the side turn signals are inoperative.
Here's where I need help: AFAIK the side markers don't blink with the turn signals, they only illuminate with the headlights. Is this correct? Can someone confirm this? (BTW, they do illuminate when I turn on the headlights.)
<rant>This whole process in VA is a pain (probably other states too). VA only allows shops to charge $20 for the inspection, which is a loss (it takes almost an hour to do the inspection properly). So shops find things that need to be fixed so they can make up the difference. Since I do all my own work, shops end up becoming difficult to deal with since I don't spend any money with them. I have six cars, so you can see the problem. Grrrr.<end rant>
Thanks for listening, and for the help.
The "side turn signal" is not a thing in the USA for passenger vehicles. I suspect there is some regulation that requires them for a vehicle over X feet long and is probably regulated by the US DOT.
Do this for fun--start looking at the sides of cars in the USA and you will notice almost NONE of them have side markers at all. I've generally only seen them on German marques--Audi, VW, BMW.
Here's a video of my 996 side marker "not flashing"
https://www.bitchute.com/video/BQ465ekn0EdP/
So, report this inspection station to the state authority for making up stuff and find another inspection station, or move to Georgia where we have no safety inspection, because TRUST ME, there are a lot of cars that wouldn't pass a basic inspection.
It is not meant to blink. There is a hack for this - I think Hurdigurdiman may have typed up a DIY if you WANT it to blink.
In the United States, amber front and red rear side marker lamps and retroreflectors are required. The law initially required lights
or
retroreflectors on vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1968. This was amended to require lights
and
retroreflectors on vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1970.
[42]
These side-facing devices make the vehicle's presence, position and direction of travel clearly visible from oblique angles.
[42]
The lights are wired so as to illuminate whenever the vehicles' parking and taillamps are on, including when the headlamps are being used.
[10]
Front amber side markers in the United States may be wired so as to flash in synchronous phase or opposite-phase with the turn signals;
nevertheless, they are not required to flash at all.
[43]
(
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting
)
Gentlemen, thanks for confirming what I was 99% sure of. I hadn't pulled the light as I had to return to work.
Thanks even more for the
thorough
pieces of info! Wow, even a video. This community is such a great asset.
Hmmm... That's a thought. I'll probably check into it.
I haven't been to this shop in several years. It's a well-kept building and I think they typically do good work, but they always find something extra that's needed. However, this place is somewhat convenient to my workplace and they
used
to provide a shuttle. Here's a funny about that: I actually stopped by there yesterday afternoon (~2:00) to drop it off. They said the shuttle driver was already gone for the day but they could handle the inspection in the morning and the driver would be back. This morning (~7:40) when I stopped, they said they don't provide shuttle for inspections because they lose enough money just doing inspections. Odd how that hadn't been mentioned the previous afternoon. So yeah, this will be my last visit there for a while.
Supposedly on a 997 you can program the side markers to be turn signals with a Durametric Pro or a Foxwell. The caveat being that they no longer work as side markers. I tried to use the Foxwell to do it to the Cayenne but it didn't work.
Run an extension wire from the front blinker to the side light, change the socket to a dual purpose one (ie 1156 to 1157 or whatever the side marker is) and put in the corresponding bulb.
Done
You didn't say where in VA you are located. I'm in Southwest VA where we have NO EMISSIONS compliance testing as part of the inspection. You must be either in Northern VA, Richmond or Tidewater where these inspections are mandated. Any inspection station that would have no knowledge of the side marker vs turn function is to be avoided. If I were you I would drive to a rural area of the state and get your car inspected where they don't have such "knowledgeable" technicians.
I actually
do
live in Southwest VA, southwest of Roanoke actually--definitely rural here.
As I said, my experience with this shop is that they always find something wrong so they can make some money by doing the repair and the "turn signal problem" is most likely that thing. If I were to play along and let them "fix" it I wonder what they'd say they found during diagnosis. I'd almost bet they'd find a "problem" and charge some portion of an hour of labor and send me on my way. But I'm not willing to play that game (too cheap). I'll either take it somewhere else for the inspection or point out the law.
But yeah, I
do
need to find a place that will just inspect my car(s). But since the state won't allow shops to charge what it actually costs to perform an inspection, I suspect my search will prove difficult.
Thanks again to the community for your help.
They're idiots! Why not just tell them that - the side markers don't blink, and they're not supposed to blink and they owe you a sticker for wasting your time! If they refuse, report them to the VA State DMV for ripping off consumers (and the BBB for that matter).
I get it - you probably don't want to waste any more time on them, but maybe you can save someone else the hassle as well...
They may actually be idiots. But I think they're just greedy and most of the public have no idea that they're being ripped off.
I haven't decided how I'm going to handle it to be honest. I lean toward just going back and telling them they're wrong. If they give me any grief I'll report them to the state, which I may do anyway. But that's a few days off since I still have to replace the outer tie rod before I go back. And I can't (won't) do that until I get my Miata out of the garage (replacing the valve cover gasket and crank angle sensor o-ring on that). I'll update this thread with how it turns out.
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