Turn signal flasher - 94 Accord

For a 94 Accord, is there a separate flasher that can be easily and
inexpensively replaced - like cars had back in the day? Or is it
more complicated than that?

When I move the turn signal lever, I get rapid clicking for a few
seconds, but the indicator arrows don't light up. But then it
settles down and flashes normally. Happens left and right. So I
figured the flasher is just wearing out.

 

It's your combo switch, not any "flasher" wearing out.

The combo switch is the assembly behind the steering wheel which houses the
turn signal lever and the headlight and wiper levers.

Rapidly move the turn lever from left to right 20 times or so in
succession. This may clean off enough of the corrosion to ensure proper
contact for a while longer.

 

You might also try spraying a liberal dose of WD-40 if corrosion is the
problem. That's how I fixed nearly non-functioning switches on my old
gen 2 Civics...

JT

 

Tegger says...

Thanks for the information.

In case that doesn't work, or doesn't work for long, is
replacement of the switch something a reasonably handy
normal human being can do without special tools or a magic
decoder ring?

Also, in looking at the Honda parts sites in your FAQ, it
appears that the entire combination switch, including both
the light side and the wiper side plus the center section, is
about $155. But just the light side switch is $25. Since
they are sold separately, would I be correct to assume I
could replace just that part? Is it likely that's where the
problem is, or is it more likely in the center section?

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inpu
tstate=5&catcgry1=ACCORD&catcgry2=1994&catcgry3=4DR+LX&catcgry4=KA4A
T&catcgry5=COMBINATION+SWITCH+%281%29

 

Pretty much, yes. The tough part is getting the steering column shrouds
off. Without removing the steering wheel, you have to play with tilt
position and flex to get them off.

The only way of telling for certain is to remove the unit and
test/visually inspect it.

 

Pretty much, yes. The tough part is getting the steering column shrouds
off. Without removing the steering wheel, you have to play with tilt
position and flex to get them off.

The only way of telling for certain is to remove the unit and
test/visually inspect it.

 

Tegger says...

I looked at it briefly this afternoon, and didn't see any
seam in the shroud that would let me do that, but I'll look
again. Is there a guide to this procedure anywhere online -
a video perhaps?

Yeah, I was hoping if I could get it out I might be able to
clean it up and get it working again.

 

you need to buy the honda service manual. access to the shroud requires
steering wheel removal, and with the airbag, contact coil [or whatever
it's called] etc, you need to follow detailed instructions on how to do
it safely. buy it online at helminc.com.

 

jim beam says...

Well, I looked again, and I was wrong about the shroud.
There is indeed a seam, and the top appears to be held on by
three Phillips-head screws, two on the right and one on the
left.

I may not be able to remove the light switch without first
removing the steering wheel, but I might be able to get to
it well enough to clean it, or maybe spray some contact
cleaner into it and exercise it a bit.

I'll give it a try this weekend.

Oh, and I did confirm that, as Tegger predicted, it's not
the flasher module that's going bad. The emergency flasher
uses the same flasher, and it has no problems when the turn
signal is screwing up. Of course I don't know for sure it's
the combo switch, but it seems awfully likely at this point.

Thanks for everybody's help.