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Do you know that the flasher relay in your Volkswagen is an important part of your car’s safety feature? This component is very important in all vehicles — without it, there would be chaos and lots of accidents on the road because drivers in front will not be able to communicate with cars behind them when they want to make a turn. Let’s understand this Volkswagen component better and find out how and where to fix it.

How Does The Flasher Relay Work

Imagine you have a small box that’s in charge of making the blinking lights on your car – like your turn signals and hazard lights – work properly. That’s essentially what the Volkswagen flasher relay is. This little box is made up of electrical components that fit into your car’s system, kind of like how a battery fits into a toy.

How does it work? When you flip your left or right turn signal on, it sends a message to this small box. The box then starts a sort of “blinking” rhythm for your lights, making them flash on and off to show other drivers you’re turning or in trouble. Inside the flasher relay, without getting too technical, there are parts that create an electrical circuit. This circuit opens and closes at a set speed, and this opening and closing action is what makes your lights blink. If this little box isn’t working right, your lights might blink too fast, too slow, or not at all.

Causes Of Flasher Relay Failure

  • Old Age: Think about a favorite toy you’ve had since childhood. Over the years, it might not work as well as it used to because it’s been played with a lot. The same goes for the flasher relay in your car. After years of helping your turn signals and hazard lights blink, it can simply wear out. It’s not that it wasn’t good quality; it’s just that everything has a lifespan, including car parts.
  • Dirt and Grime: Imagine wearing a backpack through a dust storm or a muddy rain. When you come out, you’re covered in dust or mud, right? Your car experiences similar conditions when it drives through dusty or muddy environments. This dirt and grime can find its way into small spaces, including where your flasher relay is. When too much dirt builds up, it can prevent the relay from making the connections it needs to work properly, just like how zippers on the backpack might get stuck with too much dirt.
  • Heat: Your car can get really warm, especially under the hood where the engine Over time, this heat can wear down the flasher relay. It’s similar to how leaving plastic toys out in the sun can make them brittle and breakable. The parts inside the relay can degrade under too much heat, leading to failure.

Fixing Volkswagen Flasher Relay

Fixing the flasher relay in your VW might seem easy at first because you can watch a few videos online where you’ll get the general idea. However, along the line, there’s a good chance that you’ll miss something important. This is because the electrical components and systems in every car are complicated, and when trying to resolve or fix a problem you might come across other issues that you don’t understand or didn’t plan for.

That’s why you need to call for someone that knows your car model inside and out. A professional mechanic is trained to figure out what has gone wrong and fix it properly. They have the right tools and knowledge, so you don’t have to worry about things getting worse. Leave the diagnosis and repair to the pros!

Volkswagen Flasher Relay Failure Fix

Book An Appointment With European Service Center Professional

If your Volkswagen starts acting up, especially with its blinky lights, don’t stress. At European Service Center, we’ve got your back. We’re like the 5-star hotel of car repair shops for your precious Volkswagen and other European brands. Dealing with a Volkswagen flasher relay failure? No problem! We’re the experts you need.

Since 1979, we’ve been the go-to place for VW owners looking for top-notch service. With garages in 4 locations each across Texas and Georgia, we are known to serve drivers from Alpharetta, Chamblee, Cumming, Norcross, Duluth, Dunwoody, Buckhead, and Roswell in Atlanta, GA; as well as Houston, and Dallas, TX. Ready for worry-free driving? Schedule your appointment now!

* Blue Volkswagen Car image credit goes to: Andrii Baidak.