Audi Repair: 2001 A4 1.8T turn signals, turn signal flasher, flasher relay

Question
The turn signals on my 2001 A4 1.8T work intermittently.  Sometimes they
work as normal, other times they don't turn on at all, other times they start
then stop, and then still other times they work but at a variable speed rate
(i.e. sometimes flash slowly).

Is this the turn signal flasher that is failing?  How easy is it for me to replace
the flasher myself?  If it's not the flasher, what else could it be?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer
This could be either the turn signal flasher unit or the turn signal lever.  Have you tried wiggling the lever to see if the behaviour changes?  The flasher relay is located under the dash, you have to remove the lower dash panel to get to it.  Is the behaviour the same for both sides?  If so then perhaps it is the flasher unit, check if the hazard light switch also does strnge things, if it doesn't then it probably is not the flasher unit; suspect the lever mechanism for poor contacts.  Let me know,  Jan