Imagine your turn signal system as a small, simple network that includes a few key components: a lever (the turn signal switch), a relay (a type of electrically operated switch), light bulbs (the turn signal lights on the outside of your car), flashers, and the car’s battery.
When you decide to turn or change lanes, you move the turn signal lever up or down. This is located on one side of your steering wheel column. Moving this lever is like sending a “start” command. It sends an electrical signal to the relay, and when the relay gets the command, it then forwards this command to the turn signal lights on the outside of your car. It connects the circuit, allowing electricity to flow from the car’s battery to the lights.
The relay is designed to turn the lights on and off at regular intervals — this is why your turn signals blink. This blinking is important because it catches the attention of other drivers, indicating that you’re about to turn or change lanes.
However, flashers in your car are responsible for the blinking of turn signals. They work on a principle that regulates the on-and-off pattern of your lights. Older cars use a thermal mechanism, where a metal strip inside the flasher heats up and cools down to create the blinking effect. Newer cars might use electronic flashers, which control the blinking through electronic circuits.
