Dear Tom and Ray:

Do you know of any device that would alert someone that the directional lights are still blinking? I have a hearing deficit (please don't suggest a hearing aid!), and I know the blinking is annoying and perhaps dangerous to other drivers. -- Lilly

Ray: Well, we won't mention a hearing aid since YOU'VE already mentioned it, Lilly.

Tom: We have two other good options for you, Lilly: louder flashers and more visible flashers.

Ray: The easiest thing to do is to go to an auto-parts store and get a louder turn-signal flasher. The flasher itself is a little device that plugs into a socket under the dashboard. And you can simply ask your favorite mechanic to replace your current flasher with a louder unit.

Tom: If your local auto-parts store doesn't carry one, you can always call JC Whitney (312-431-6102) and order one of its "very loud turn-signal flashers" for about five bucks. Or for a few bucks more, you can get an extra-loud "beeping" flasher, or one that plays "Love Me Tender." If you think I'm kidding, you've obviously never seen the JC Whitney catalog!

Ray: Another option is to have your mechanic mount an extra set of turn-signal lights on top of the hood at the end of each front fender, facing you. Old Chrysler cars used to have these. You can't miss them when you're looking out at the road. JC Whitney has those, too.

Tom: Or if that's not good enough, just have him mount some lights right on your glasses!

Ray: The only possible problem with adding lights is that we don't know the resistance limit of your flasher, Lilly. If the resistance gets too high (by adding too many lights to the directional circuit), the flasher may not flash at all. So your mechanic may have to replace your flasher or take the existing dashboard indicators out of the circuit to get everything to work right. It's not likely that you'll run into these problems, but we have seen it happen.

Tom: So I'd start by just replacing the flasher with a louder one. It's cheap, it's easy and it may be all you need . . . at least until your hearing gets worse.

Auto repairs can be costly! Save money by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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