It's happened again (the third time). When I signal to turn left, the right hand indicators flash. When I signal to turn right the left hand indicators flash. Quite worrying really as this can happen in the middle of a journey. On each ocassion when I've noticed or have been blasted by another angry road user, I've pulled over and after several minutes of left and right hand signalling (while parked up) the problem has gone away. Anyone know what is going on? 2005 Skoda Ambiente 1.9 PDI.

This last happened to me on Saturday, on the busy ring road around Wolverhampton and I very nearly had an accident as a result. The first time it occurred was a couple of years ago. When I got to within a mile of my Skoda Dealer, the problem had gone away.

Wht's going on?

Excuse me if this sounds daft but are you sure this is not the convenience setting - i.e. the configuration that makes the indicators blink 5 times or some such every time you press the stalk? I turned it off because it drove me around the bend but some people use it.

Others have complained about this too, it turned out to be a dodgy indicator stalk.

You might be lucky, a quick squirt of WD40 around the 'ball' where the stalk enters the steering column may fix it, if not you'll have to remove it and open it up to clean the connectors.

If all else fails take it to a dealer, they won't fix it though they'll just replace it, gone are the days of mechanics in main dealers, only parts fitters now, so it may well prove to be pricey.

When we got our Octavia we had loads of problems with the convenience setting - constant mix ups with the indicators not cancelling. After a while though, you get used to it and now I wouldn't be without it especially for motorways.

The convenience setting is a seperate issue. People try and cancel the '3 flashes' and end up indicating in the opposite direction, then the other and then the other - and the saga continues.

Most people suss it out on the first journey home after picking up the car though

If the indicators are flashing in the opposite direction to the position of the stalk it is likely to be a faulty switch.

Don't use WD40 - Use contact cleaner and squirt it down the hole where the stalk enters the column. WD40 will attract more dust and dirt where as the contact cleaner will 'rinse' any muck off and leave no residue.

The convenience setting is a seperate issue. People try and cancel the '3 flashes' and end up indicating in the opposite direction, then the other and then the other - and the saga continues.

Most people suss it out on the first journey home after picking up the car though

If the indicators are flashing in the opposite direction to the position of the stalk it is likely to be a faulty switch.

As silver1011 mentions, I'm not getting mixed up with with the convenience setting as I use this all of the time. This problem has happened when using fully locked left or right hand indicator stalk position and the opposite indicator light flashes. As I mentioned, this problem has been cleared after some forcefull movement of the stalk from off to left and off to right, which I guess might be cleaning some muck off the contacts. I think I'll give the suggestion to use a contact cleaner a go (I have some guitar pot/switch cleaner which should be safe to use). Failing that, if it happens again I'm off to the dealer.

Thank you to everyone who replied.

Others have complained about this too, it turned out to be a dodgy indicator stalk.

You might be lucky, a quick squirt of WD40 around the 'ball' where the stalk enters the steering column may fix it, if not you'll have to remove it and open it up to clean the connectors.

If all else fails take it to a dealer, they won't fix it though they'll just replace it, gone are the days of mechanics in main dealers, only parts fitters now, so it may well prove to be pricey.

+1 had this on SWMBO's MK5 Golf (same stalk)

Tried all the contact cleaning first with no avail so bought a new stalk and fitted it myself - all works perfectly again.