Signal Light doesn't work when lever is in the fixed position

Check fuse.
Check if center light works.
Check for power at light sockets.
Check brake light switch.
Manipulate the turn signal lever.


- To check the brake light fuse, open the passenger door and remove the fuse panel cover that is located around the corner from the glove compartment. On the back side of the fuse panel cover there should be a fuse location chart. The brake light fuse is #23, located in the socket that is dead-center among the mini fuses. I believe it is supposed to be a 15A fuse. Confirm the condition of the brake light fuse and replace if necessary. If the fuse fails again, determine and correct the cause.
- Also, see if the center brake light is working properly. If it is, then the brake light switch is working. If the center light is not working, the brake light switch is suspect. That switch is a spring-loaded plunger switch that is of the "normally closed" variety. In this application the switch is usually held open by the brake pedal arm, except when he pedal is depressed. Then the spring within the switch holds the contacts closed so that the brake lights will operate.
That switch is located under the instrument panel. Look for a push-button switch that is contacting the brake pedal lever. If the car has cruise control there will be two switches, one above the other. I believe that the lower of the two is the brake light switch.
- With the brake pedal depressed, see if you have power and ground at the brake light sockets. One good way to confirm that is to remove a brake light bulb and connect a 12v. test light across the contacts in the socket.
- An operating center brake light combined with no power to the 12v+ terminals at the left and right brake light sockets could indicate a defect within the turn signal switch. If you get to the point where you suspect a defect there, try applying rearward pressure on the turn signal lever and see if the brake lights work then. If that procedure confirms that the defect is within the turn signal switch, you can replace the turn signal switch. Or you could try my trick which cost me less than a dollar and has worked for years.
See attached photo.

Spacer (piece of rubber tubing?) is used to apply rearward pressure on turn signal lever. I have not disassembled the switch assembly, but evidence suggests that electrical contacts inside the switch depend on the mechanism being positioned properly. If the internal positioning device failed (perhaps the lever was pushed forward) then an external device can be made to hold the lever and switches in proper location.
If you attempt this repair, consider applying some lubricant as deemed necessary.
Good luck.

Good job on the fault isolation!
The left and right brake light wiring goes through the multi-function lever on that car.
When the lever's internal positioning device is not working properly, an external device can be installed that in some caes will do the same job.
Since you have confirmed that your car is a likely candidate for this 50 cent repair, try this:

The space between the lever and the forward edge of the steering column shroud is of no use, so you can fill that space with something that will apply rearward pressure on the lever thereby maintaining switch contact. See picture (1000 words). I used a piece of rubber hose, cut it to length, and sliced it lengthwise. Then I slid he sliced hose into position and used adhesive to hold it in place. Put some lube on it if you want. For my car, it has worked that way for years.
Good luck!

Only the left and right brake lights are wired through the turn signal switch. Don't go out and buy a new turn signal switch until after you try my trick.
Does the center brake light illuminate when you depress the brake pedal? If it does, that will confirm the operation of the brake light switch at the brake pedal.
Now try this:
First get a helper to watch the lights, or park where you can see the reflection of the brake lights.
To see what you have to work with, perform the following steps:
1 - Sit in the driver's seat and turn the ignition switch to "RUN".
2 - Pull the turn signal lever part of the way back in the direction you would to operate the high beam switch.
3 - While holding the lever back operate the turn signals.
4 - If both of the signals work, smile! If the problem is the same as it was on my car, the internal positioning mechanism may be all that is damaged an there is an easy fix you can do that will cost only a dollar.
Imagine that there is a thingamabob inside the steering column that prevents the lever from moving forward. With the lever in that position, the switches remain in contact. Then imagine that the dimmer switch was pushed forward and caused the positioner to fail. Now there is a situation that allows the switches to separate and no longer make contact.
The trick is to build an external positioning device that keeps the lever from moving forward.
See how the lever extends through an opening in the steering column shroud?
Fill the gap between the turn signal lever and the forward edge of the opening in the shroud.
I found a piece of black rubber hose and:
A - Cut the hose to the same length as the forward edge of the opening in the shroud.
B - Slice the hose lengthwise.
C - Position the hose so that it fills the gap between the shroud and the lever, and secure the hose in place so that it applies rearward pressure on the lever without interfering with the necessary movements of the lever for operation of the signals and dimmer.
I hope that helps.
If you need a photo, let me know.
Good luck.

check the elements in the light bulbs sometimes they short together

Defintely sounds like the turn signal switch is bad.
If the flasher was bad, your right blinker wouldn't work.

Will your Center High-Mount Stop Light (CHMSL) illuminate when you depress the brake pedal, but the lower/outer lights will not?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the turn signals to flash?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the lower/outer brake lights to illuminate?
-- Will the signals work in one direction, but not the other?
If you answered yes to any of the preceeding questions, your turn signal switch is likely malfunctioning.

**One more question before we continue: Is the turn signal lever not "cancelling" (returning to the "off" position) after you make a turn? If this is the case, you have a broken "cancelling spring."


Before you begin disassembly of your steering column, verify the turn signal flasher is not malfunctioning. If your brake lights work fine, but not the signals (either direction,) then it's likely the flasher is burnt out. The flasher itself is located underneath the dash near where the steering column passes through the firewall

Will your Center High-Mount Stop Light (CHMSL) illuminate when you depress the brake pedal, but the lower/outer lights will not?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the turn signals to flash?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the lower/outer brake lights to illuminate?
-- Will the signals work in one direction, but not the other?
If you answered yes to any of the preceeding questions, your turn signal switch is likely malfunctioning.

**One more question before we continue: Is the turn signal lever not "cancelling" (returning to the "off" position) after you make a turn? If this is the case, you have a broken "cancelling spring."


Before you begin disassembly of your steering column, verify the turn signal flasher is not malfunctioning. If your brake lights work fine, but not the signals (either direction,) then it's likely the flasher is burnt out. The flasher itself is located underneath the dash near where the steering column passes through the firewall

Will your Center High-Mount Stop Light (CHMSL) illuminate when you depress the brake pedal, but the lower/outer lights will not?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the turn signals to flash?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the lower/outer brake lights to illuminate?
-- Will the signals work in one direction, but not the other?
If you answered yes to any of the preceeding questions, your turn signal switch is likely malfunctioning.

**One more question before we continue: Is the turn signal lever not "cancelling" (returning to the "off" position) after you make a turn? If this is the case, you have a broken "cancelling spring."


Before you begin disassembly of your steering column, verify the turn signal flasher is not malfunctioning. If your brake lights work fine, but not the signals (either direction,) then it's likely the flasher is burnt out. The flasher itself is located underneath the dash near where the steering column passes through the firewall

Will your Center High-Mount Stop Light (CHMSL) illuminate when you depress the brake pedal, but the lower/outer lights will not?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the turn signals to flash?
-- Do you have to hold the signal lever in a certain spot to get the lower/outer brake lights to illuminate?
-- Will the signals work in one direction, but not the other?
If you answered yes to any of the preceeding questions, your turn signal switch is likely malfunctioning.

**One more question before we continue: Is the turn signal lever not "cancelling" (returning to the "off" position) after you make a turn? If this is the case, you have a broken "cancelling spring."


Before you begin disassembly of your steering column, verify the turn signal flasher is not malfunctioning. If your brake lights work fine, but not the signals (either direction,) then it's likely the flasher is burnt out. The flasher itself is located underneath the dash near where the steering column passes through the firewall

for both issues, could possibly be the flasher unit for the blinkers.....which could be separate from the hazard flasher unit...(happened on my 92 chevy lumina) or the actual turn signal switch which is located in the steering column....not the stick you push, but the part inside that the lever controls (also happened on my lumina............3 times)

TIP:

start by checking the flasher....its cheap maybe 3-4$ for a new unit.....if thats not it and you figure out its the switch, go to a junkyard.....its wayyyy cheaper