Thanks for opening up my thread and taking the time to read it and hopefully respond.

Here is the issue.

First off I have a 2004 Impreza TS. No major issues and maintenence has been as regular as possible. Totally stock except for tires and brakes.

The problem is that when the car is on and no flasher (left, right or emergency) is on, the flasher unit clicks constantly, about twice a second. This has no effect on the directional signals outside the car or the arrows inside the car.

When I turn on the left, right or emergency flashers, the unit immediately starts to click as normal and the directional lights flash as normal. As soon as the directionals/emergency signals are turned off the flasher goes right back to clicking constantly.

All of the bulbs are in fully working order, all fuses are replaced and check out fine, the arm to engage the flasher works fine and so does the button to turn on the emergency lights. I have already purchased a brand new OEM unit relay (part # 8611TC001), plugged it in and the same thing happens, constant clicking when the signals are not engaged.

The problem started randomly and was not consistant at first. Initially the flasher would start clicking repeatedly for a few seconds and then stop. This went on for a week or so and then eventually it just started clicking constantly. Every so often, mabey once a month, I will start the car and the flasher will operate as normal, ie. no constant clicking. Though eventually, mabey 20 mins, it will go back to clicking constantly.

When the problem first started the flasher clicked constantly after a cold start and then just quit. It was a cold rainy day in western NY. So I checked the fuses in the engine compartment and the #12 fuse (correct me if I'm wrong I don't have my manual with me) for the emergency flashers had blown. So I replaced it and it went back to normal, meaning no constant clicking. Then about a week later the constant clicking started and has not stopped since, except for that VERY rare time once a month or so. The fuses have not blown since.

I've checked out what wiring I can see under the steering column and everything looks normal from what I can tell. I've looked at the wiring going to the front flashers and it looks just like it came from the factory with the exception of dirt.

So, I haven't replaced any of the bulbs or checked the connections because whenever the flasher is engauged in normal driving it works fine and the bulbs work fine. I've replaced the relay (piece bolted to the steering column that makes the clicking noise with an OEM part), checked what wiring I can see (I'm a laymen), checked the fuses and the bulbs to make sure they work. I'm really at a loss here.

The only thing I've noticed throughout the ownership of my car is that sometimes after I shut it off I can hear a faint high-pitched sound coming from the grille section of the car. I figured it was a minor electrical problem or mabey a grounding problem, but decided that the cost to get it checked out far outweighed the benefits of getting it "fixed".

So I'm really at my wits ends here and I'm about to bring the car into the dealership to have them check out the electrical systems and get totally raped on the bill. What should I do? Should I pull every bulb, clean the contacts and replace the bulbs? I no longer have a multi-meter at my disposal and won't even begin to get into the heart and soul of the wiring of this car (it looks clean from what I can tell).

Is there another relay or something that I can check out? The fact that everything works normal when I use the flashers/emergency lights normally really throws me off here.

For the love of all that is holy help me.