Turn Signals Blinking Waaay Too Fast!

[stxbronco72]

I have my turn signals working, but they are flashing about as fast as a strobe light... All four (front and rear, drive and passenger sides) are working but behaving like this. Any thoughts?

Note: This is stock 1972 wiring.

 

[Major Tom]

replace the flasher

 

[broncodriver99]

Is it a new problem? Could be a bad bulb or the wrong bulb. Could also be a heavy duty flasher.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Replace the flasher. They do go bad. I had one get water in it once and it rusted internally a little and started acting like that.

 

[stxbronco72]

Thanks fellas. Does anyone have a pic of the flasher? I'm drawing a blank here.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Little can under the dash that makes clicky noises when the blinkers are blinking. Round can about an 1-¼" in diameter and length. There are two under the dash, one for the turn signals and the other for the hazards. Has 2 wires going to it (they are reversible so no worry about getting them backwards). http://www.amazon.com/Bussmann-NO-5...id=1417910269&sr=8-1&keywords=thermal+flasher

 

[Viperwolf1]

The one with the light blue colored connector is the one for the turn signals.

 

[Texas9902]

Before you check the flasher, check the bulb. When the bulb burns out the blinker will flash faster.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Newer computer controlled blinkers sense the load and will rapid blink when a bulb is out. Old blinker cans tend to stop blinking (just stay on) when a bulb is out. But this applies to OEM blinkers that are load matched. The replacements are not as load sensitive.

Back in the day when you plugged in a trailer the blinkers wouldn't be happy with the extra load. The quick fix was to swap the hazard and turn flasher cans. This would give normal turn but the hazards would be all screwed up. The typical heavy duty flasher didn't care about the load and was a better fix.

 

[DirtDonk]

To test the theory of a bad flasher (likely true, but a quick test is easy) is to simply swap the hazard flasher for the turn signal flasher to see if it changes the characteristics. If so, you know you're on the right path.

You already said that all four turn signals were working, so it would seem you walked around the truck and verified this visually. Which means it wouldn't be a bulb issue.

Two of my '60's GM vehicles (a Chevy and a Buick) would tell you which bulb was out actually. If a front bulb burned out, the flasher would double it's speed. If a rear burned out, it did what was mentioned above and stop blinking altogether. Weird, but consistent over many years and several bulbs.

Paul

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

I had the same problem, replaced the flasher and its all good now, bulbs too for good measure, wild horses sells a good heavy duty one

 

[stxbronco72]

Flasher was the issue. Thanks!