Les Jones: Blinker Fluid

December 23, 2005

Nifty > Blinker Fluid

SayUncle is having his Festivus airing of grievances and one of them is people not using their blinkers. Just yesterday Glenda at work explained why some people don't use their blinkers - they run out of blinker fluid.

Like me, you probably thought your car's blinkers were solid state. Not true! It turns out that they require blinker fluid. Most people don't realize that, so once their cars run out of blinker fluid they can turn their blinkers on, but nothing will happen on the outside of the car. (The little arrows on the dashboard still flash, because they don't use blinker fluid.)

This definitely explains why you see so few cars using their blinkers, doesn't it? Otherwise, you'd have to believe that lots of people don't know how to drive.

UPDATE: Troubleshooting

Blinkers don't work - No blinker fluid

Blinkers stay on for hours after use -Too much blinker fluid. Very common with cars driven by old people and farmers.

Blinkers come on just as the person turns or changes lanes - An air bubble in the blinker line is preventing adequate hydraulic pressure from building up until the last second.

Other problems - Older cars, especially foreign makes, require special blinker fluid. Using regular DOT 3 fluid will eat out the seals and require a blinker cylinder rebuild.

Posted by lesjones | TrackBack

Comments

This is seriously one of my pet peeves. It only frustrates the problem when they hit the blinker AS they are turning. What?! Did you feel guilty!? It's too late for that, stupid!

Posted by: Brian at December 23, 2005

Brian, It's just their way of saying 'i'm here. thanks for your concern.'

Posted by: SayUncle at December 23, 2005

I've noticed a high correlation between bad driving and Kerry bumper stickers. Way higher than just chance....

.....Mr. C.

Posted by: Mr. Completely at December 23, 2005

I always thought the blinkers stopped working when you have too much blinker fluid.

Posted by: persimmon at December 23, 2005

I figured they'd signed some manner of turn signal exemption form. I keep meaning to ask for one of those, whenever I'm renewing my tags.

Posted by: Tommy at December 23, 2005

Persimmon: well, you have to be careful not to use the wrong kind of blinker fluid. I used to have an MG Midget, and if you put regular DOT 3 blinker fluid in it it'd ruin the seals and you'd have to rebuild the blinker cylinder.

Posted by: Les Jones at December 23, 2005

"I've noticed a high correlation between bad driving and Kerry bumper stickers."
Mr. C, I couldn't agree more. One of those almost put a van full of my co-workers into the ditch this week.

"I always thought the blinkers stopped working when you have too much blinker fluid."
Persimmon, Too much fluid causes the equally annoying phenom of the blinker failing to cancel and flashing merrily down the road for miles on end.

S.F.

Posted by: Sandy Ford at December 23, 2005

Blinker fluid. Of course. And I always thought no one here in Florida used turn signals because they didn't want to burn out the $10,000 bulbs they use.......

Posted by: Homer at December 23, 2005

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