Turn signals don't work, make gauges go crazy when activated

So the turn signals do the above mentioned. When activated they send the dash gauges all the way to the right until they bounce on the post on the gauge face, then they bounce around or stay all the way right until signal is turned off. Then all gauge needles go back to normal with the turn signal still not functioning. I pulled the fuse box, but none are labeled for the turn signal relay so I do not know which turn signal relay box to break open and clean the contacts or to buy if needed. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I have a suggestion. How about you mention a year, make, and model?

Might help someone give you a better diagnosis.

Sounds like a bad ground somewhere...
Or possibly 2 wires in the harness that have rubbed insulation off and are shorted.

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Originally Posted by 68Charger

Sounds like a bad ground somewhere..

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That was going to be my guess. But could be something in the BCM or possibly the IPC. Hard to say without more information from the OP.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

I have a suggestion. How about you mention a year, make, and model?

Might help someone give you a better diagnosis.

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I was afraid someone was going to ask- 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan, and I'll admit it, I like it.

Who cares what car you drive? no need to worry about being embarrassed. Electrical bugs are annoying. I'm assuming you searched the web to see if other owners have run into the same problem?

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Originally Posted by Dave_L

Who cares what car you drive? no need to worry about being embarrassed. Electrical bugs are annoying. I'm assuming you searched the web to see if other owners have run into the same problem?

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Indeed and no worries. I did spend about 2 hours looking on the internet, tried a few minor things and then threw it up on the post for some more insight from the good fellows here.

Dang, some of the car forums can help out big time. I'd agree that it sounds like a short but I don't know the fastest way to track it down. Test light, voltmeter and time testing wires, I believe. You could try a new turn signal switch first. They look to be about $35. Some say it could be a BCM issue when they had issues with the turn signal shutting down their cluster.

Sounds like the circuit board in the cluster may have a burn in it. Definitely a short to ground through the ground circuit of the instrument cluster. Before you replace anything pull the IC and visually inspect for damage, it is usually very easy to see.

Does the turn signal switch control anything else like head lights? If so, does using those functions also cause issues?