Car People, I need help! Turn signal is not working properly...

[gopunk]

the left turn signal goes crazy when i turn it on sometimes... like super duper fast. is there a way to get it to go normal speed? my dad took it into the shop twice already but they have failed to fix it (despite them thinking they did).

thanks

 

[dugweb]

mine are going on the fritz too... i think there is an electrical switch that needs to be replaced, either that or to much voltage or somthing could be doing it. my cousin told me that when you see a blinker that is blinking too fast than it means they have an electrical problem (btw he's huge into cars)

 

[BatmanNate]

Usually that will happen when the other turn signal is out (the right one in this case) however if it is sporadic, perhaps you have a short somewhere. No fun tracking those down.

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: JudistPriest
mine are going on the fritz too... i think there is an electrical switch that needs to be replaced, either that or to much voltage or somthing could be doing it. my cousin told me that when you see a blinker that is blinking too fast than it means they have an electrical problem (btw he's huge into cars)

well, when we used to 'rice' our cars back in HS, we'd do that on purpose.

there is a relay you can purchase, but some cars, all you had to do was switch the wires around to get them to blink fast. if it hasn't been messed with like this, maybe the relay is bad. don't take it to dealer take it to an import performance shop and get them to fix it. don't pay more than like 20 bucks.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Usually that will happen when the other turn signal is out (the right one in this case) however if it is sporadic, perhaps you have a short somewhere. No fun tracking those down.

exactly. Most will go crazy fast if a bulb is out. my suzuki roughly tripples in flasing speed when a bulb is out. Either that, or you have a fault somewhere that is pulling more current and making the flasher overheat which can make it co crazy as well.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Generally the blinking gets weird when there is a bulb out. If it's intermittant though, it could also be the flasher relay.

ZV

 

[gopunk]

alright thanks guys....

i just went out and checked, and it looks like all the bulbs are working.... (1 per side from what i can tell).

so basically it is either:

relay
or
short/fault.... PITA

?

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: gopunk
alright thanks guys....

i just went out and checked, and it looks like all the bulbs are working.... (1 per side from what i can tell).

so basically it is either:

relay
or
short/fault.... PITA

?

my guess: relay. I paid 15 bucks just so mine would blink fast. then the cops made it illegal.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: gopunk
alright thanks guys....

i just went out and checked, and it looks like all the bulbs are working.... (1 per side from what i can tell).

so basically it is either:

relay
or
short/fault.... PITA

?

I assume you checked front and rear right?

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: gopunk
alright thanks guys....

i just went out and checked, and it looks like all the bulbs are working.... (1 per side from what i can tell).

so basically it is either:

relay
or
short/fault.... PITA

?

I assume you checked front and rear right?

goddammit. ugh. brb

 

[gopunk]

alright, i just checked and all bulbs are intact. all 4...

but i did make a discovery.... the left signal goes faster with the headlights on than if the headlights are off. but even with the headlights off, it is still slightly faster than the right side (which is always the same speed no matter what).

does this bring any new revelations?

 

[Tominator]

Sounds like either a bad bulb, possibly the headlight, or a bad ground. Something is causing excessive resistance in that circuit. That causes the flasher unit to operate faster. You might try a new flasher unit, but since it operates fine on one side we can probably eliminate it as the problem.

 

[Pepsi90919]

turn your headlights on and check the bulbs again. you may find your front side marker lights will also flash, alternating with the front lights (if you have that kind of system).. those might be out.

also on the rear, you may have dual-filament bulbs, possibly 2 or 4, and one of them is shot. (if your signals are shared with the brake lights).

it's easy though to check the back to just take out the bulbs (the bases should just unscrew from the inside) and visually check them.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: gopunk
alright, i just checked and all bulbs are intact. all 4...

but i did make a discovery.... the left signal goes faster with the headlights on than if the headlights are off. but even with the headlights off, it is still slightly faster than the right side (which is always the same speed no matter what).

does this bring any new revelations?

are you sure you only have 4 bulbs? Both Jeeps have 4 in the rear turn signals on either side plus 2 on top in the center brake light. The front has 2 amber signals on each side along with the headlights. That makes 14, not including fogs.

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
turn your headlights on and check the bulbs again. you may find your front side marker lights will also flash, alternating with the front lights (if you have that kind of system).. those might be out.

also on the rear, you may have dual-filament bulbs, possibly 2 or 4, and one of them is shot. (if your signals are shared with the brake lights).

it's easy though to check the back to just take out the bulbs (the bases should just unscrew from the inside) and visually check them.

If they're dual fillament, the signal uses the same fillament as the brake light.
First thing, go back to that shop that 'fixed' it and get your friggin' money back. That's the garbage that drives me nuts about garages and shops.. I never let anybody touch my car (if I can help it )

 

Tominator is correct in his diagnoses, increased resistancer in a flasher circuit will cause erratic flashing, carefully check all the sockets and bulbs for corrosion.

 

[Wolfie]

I also agree that it's either a bad ground, or something is shorting out. If it does it on one side and not the other, then I would focus on that that side. Take the side that isn't working corectly and while the signal is on, remove the assembly. Starting from the rear, and then move to the front. Wiggle the wires, make sure the bulbs are seated and check the wires going to the assembly. The hardest part about fixing something like this is the intermitent problem. Make sure you check the side markers as well. If it's a newer car, one bad bulb or wire can make the entire system act funny. If it's just one side, I don't think it's a flasher issue either..

If you lived closer I would help yeah out. I love electrical issues with cars.

Good luck.
Wolfie

 

[Alphazero]

Mine started doing that when a Golf took out my left front turn signal. It means there's something wrong

The bulbs are the most likely culprits. Go back out and make sure each one is working.

 

[Tominator]

Btw, I have seen one element in a dual element bulb break and then lay against the good element. Both elements would light up and this caused all kinds of problems, The mechanic had several hours of diagnosis invested before the discovery.

 

Btw, I have seen one element in a dual element bulb break and then lay against the good element. Both elements would light up and this caused all kinds of problems, The mechanic had several hours of diagnosis invested before the discovery.

Crappy mechanic, the first thing that should be done is to replace the bulbs.

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: Roger

Btw, I have seen one element in a dual element bulb break and then lay against the good element. Both elements would light up and this caused all kinds of problems, The mechanic had several hours of diagnosis invested before the discovery.

Crappy mechanic, the first thing that should be done is to replace the bulbs.

Right, first should be the blub and if its not the bulb its most likely the flasher relay, consider going to the junk yard to buy old one if you dont value ur car.. otherwise get new ones.

 

[XZeroII]

does it only happen during rain or heavy fog? Or hot days/when the car is warm?