98 Jimmy - Lights flicker & tick under glove box

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Hey guys im new to the forum and I recently purchased a 98 GMC Jimmy. I got the truck for a really good price but there were a few things i need to fix on it. When i first got it the headlights flickered almost like they were on a strobe and the dashlights faded in and out as well. I had the battery,starter and alt tested and it showed the battery was only at 50%, so i went ahead and put in a new battery. Now the dashlights dont seem to flicker anymore but the headlights have only gotten slightly better.

Also under the glove box theres a loud ticking noise, it sounds identical to when i use the blinkers but its goes off at very random times. I checked to see if the blinkers jsut had a mind of their own but they dont seem to turn on when the noise happens just when i use turn them on.

Any help would be appreciated thank you.

 

[barks507]

The ticking noise is coming from a turn signal relay (small black box) that is easy to get to once you remove the glove box.
I had the same problem and replaced it but, to no avail. It is more likely a bad switch inside the steering column.

 

[Molson02536]

Hey guys im new to the forum and I recently purchased a 98 GMC Jimmy. I got the truck for a really good price but there were a few things i need to fix on it. When i first got it the headlights flickered almost like they were on a strobe and the dashlights faded in and out as well. I had the battery,starter and alt tested and it showed the battery was only at 50%, so i went ahead and put in a new battery. Now the dashlights dont seem to flicker anymore but the headlights have only gotten slightly better.

Also under the glove box theres a loud ticking noise, it sounds identical to when i use the blinkers but its goes off at very random times. I checked to see if the blinkers jsut had a mind of their own but they dont seem to turn on when the noise happens just when i use turn them on.

Any help would be appreciated thank you.

Replace the hazard switch on the top of the steering column to cure this problem (to the tune of $18 GM part #15174447 from the dealer), you may want to start there.

If you mess with the hazard switch (turn it on and off rapidly), does the clicking go away? To replace the hazard switch is a 3 min job.

Take a pair of neede nose pliers and just pull the old one out.
Lube up you new one and just slide it in. If you use needle nose pliers you're gonna have to pull it up and get it out of the hole. It's kinda sideways when it comes out though. You'll understand once you see the new one. The new one goes in super easy.

The part numbers for the hazard switch are: 15174447 (retails for $16.23) & 15177379 (retails for $18.42). You have to look for the bar code on the top of the turn signal (multifunction) switch. If the number is 26083635, 26083636, or there is no bar code use the 15174447 hazard switch. If the barcode number is 26090641, 26090642, 26096832, or 26096833 use the other hazard switch (15177379). Now these numbers came off of the recall that was for the 2000 & 2001 S/T trucks so they may not work back too far. But I know that one of those switches works back to 96 (and maybe 95).

Also as mentioned by Barks, It's the hazard/turn signal flasher module (lower the glove box and you'll see a 1" square (approximately) box with a green zip-tie holding it in that's the culprit when it starts to go bad. I've seen this an several 1998 Blazers and Jimmys (for some reason 1998 only!)