The customer brought in this 1996 GMC Sonoma Pickup with and inoperative turn signal complaint. I checked the fuse and it was oaky. Next step is to check the turn signal flasher. This is a pretty straight forward repair except that most people do not realize where the flasher is at. Both the hazard and the turn signal flashers are located in what is referred to as a convenience center. I think it is a strange name, as it is anything but convenient to get to get to.
They are located behind the lower dash cover and just to the left of the lighter and power outlet assemblies.
The black plastic hush covers have to be removed in order to get to all of the screws and there are quite a few screws that have to be removed. If you loosen the lower screws and remove the upper screws the panel will tilt down enough to change the flasher. Be careful and do not bend the panel as it is metal and you will have a very difficult time reinstalling it.
The hazard flasher is on the left and the turn signal flasher is on the right. The new flasher is installed and the turn signals are now working again.
Thanks very much for the help it was in the same spot on my 1996 GMC Jimmy
Thank you! Thank You! Thank you! Your instructions & especially your photos helped guide us in finding the flasher in order to replace it…and Your’re RIGHT-why DO they call it a “Convenience Center”??? Anyway, since we went to all the trouble (have carpen tunnel from undoing all the screws – we decided to replace both flashers in the hopes of avoiding having to do this for a long time. Thanks again – you saved us time & money!
It could be a faulty flasher but more than likely it is a faulty bulb or socket. Is the condition worse with the park lights on? Please email me back at
info@the-electric-connection.com
I am also having a blinker problem. I installed a new flasher and they worked right away. a few days later they started flashing really slow. Then they worked again a couple days later just fine. Now they are flashing really slow again. Is it a defective flasher or a wiring problem?
Thanks for this info. I was going crazy trying to find that flasher.
This was a lifesaver.
D.Newkirk