Quick Blinker

[KeithD]

Lately, when signalling for a right turn the blinker works, but is amost at twice the normal speed. The left turn blinker is fine, this is only on the right. It's not a serios problem (light works), but it's mildly annoying.
Any suggestions on how to hunt down and fix the problem? :?
Thanks very much,
KeithD

[Black Dawg]

I think that means that one of your blinker bulbs is burnt out.

[SupraFiend]

all turn signal systems are wired that way. It tells you when you've got a bulb out.

[RobMK2]

accually, it has something to do with resistance, and the capasitiors in the turn signal circut fire off too quickly when there arnt enough bulbs to flow through... or something... I learned something about it once, but its quite possible the signals are purposely wired that way. but yeah, I don't even know why said anything... because suprafeind is right: one of you're bulbs is out

[Supra Bob]

It could also be the actual unit the controls the flasher. When they start to go it makes the thing flash faster too.

[dohc82]

This happened to me bulb was fine and it only did it when wet-broken wire to the signal light. :o Start simple though check the bulbs. :)

-Wil

[SupraFiend]

that would be very rare Bob, I don't think I've ever seen a car that didn't do this when one of the bulbs goes out. You can always spot a car with turn signal out from the outside too cause the one that is still working blinks just as fast in the dash.

[ZZT231]

Hey All,

I agree with dohc82... One of the bulbs are out, if you have replaced the bulb and still blinks too fast, check the wattage of the bulb. you may have replaced it with a lower watt bulb, you may need to replace it with a higher wattage bulb to slow the flasher relay...

Cheers.

[Supra Bob]

that would be very rare Bob, I don't think I've ever seen a car that didn't do this when one of the bulbs goes out. You can always spot a car with turn signal out from the outside too cause the one that is still working blinks just as fast in the dash.

Oh, I know... but I figured I would throw it out there, in case he got done checking his bulbs and there wasn't one out... Never hurts to have too much info when your trying to trouble shoot :)

[dohc82]

Right on Bob...Knowledge is power :D

[KeithD]

Thanks to everyone for their advice, I would have felt like an idiot if it was just a blown bulb. Went to check today, and the car is dead.
No juice whatsoever. And this battery is two weeks old. The car sat for a whole week since the last time I drove it; shouldn't kill a new battery.
Didn't jump it; but tried a few times to "pushstart" it (gotta love manual transmissions) but no dice. Wouldn't fire up at all.
Having it towed to the shop tomorrow who put the new battery in 2 weeks ago.
Hoping to have a nice drive today; no such luck.
Any ideas what would drain the battery in a week? (I did not leave the lights/radio/etc) on; I'm 100% sure of that).

(Have to change my signature at the bottom to "not running") :(

[Voyn238]

You probably just need to change your blinker fluid:

http://www.kalecoauto.com/fluids.htm


But seriously, it probably is just a bulb blown out. It happened to me just the other week....

The dead battery may or may not have anything to do with the blinkers, it's hard to say. If you have a partial short in a wire somewhere, it can drain the current slowly enough to not blow a fuse, but enough so that over a week's time, the battery is totally flat... Even if you manage to jump start the car, don't drive it without changing the battery - the work of charging it up all the way from zero is likely to blast your alternator to smithereens.

[dohc82]

[quote="Voyn238"]You probably just need to change your blinker fluid:

http://www.kalecoauto.com/fluids.htm

:lol: Are these available in synthetic :wink:
-Wil

[SupraFiend]

why did you replace your battery in the first place, cause it was dead? I'm guessing its actually your alternator thats dead. The easy way to tell is just run the car and check your voltage, if its above 13, should be about 14, then your alternator is charging. If its only spitting out 12 volts or less then your alternator is toast. I'd check your old battery, it still may be good. But what ever you do be sure to charge up your dead batteries before you try and start the car or you will kill your alternator trying to charge them from that low.

[KeithD]

I replaced the old battery because the car basically sat all winter, leaking oil into the street. When I had the oil leak fixed, they dropped in a new battery (the last one was about 4 years old). Car ran fine, but I had the "quick blinker". My garage jumped the car yesterday, checked the "new" battery, and found out it had a bad cell. Replaced the "new" battery, and everything is fine. He checked the alternator and siad it was putting out 16 volts (I think? can't remember what the exact number was) but he said the alternator was in good shape. I'll keep checking the volts, hopefully I just got a bad battery. He said these things happen.

I did get a quart of the blinker fluid, but can't find where to fill the reserve tank. There's no mention of blinker fluid in the manual either. Did I mention this car has a manual transmission? Would that make a difference?

Thanks,
KeithD

[dohc82]

I did get a quart of the blinker fluid, but can't find where to fill the reserve tank. There's no mention of blinker fluid in the manual either. Did I mention this car has a manual transmission? Would that make a difference?

Thanks,
KeithD

Of course :roll: You would need the manual blinker fluid :wink:
-Wil

[SupraFiend]

if it is putting out 16 volts then your alternator is overcharging (bad regulator), which can also kill batteries. But if he said it was fine I'm sure it was 14 something. Now you just need to change that bulb, or add the blinker fluid to that black cap on the top of your engine, quickest way to recharge them blinkers :wink:

[Henge]

:rofl:
BLINKER FLUID!
Does it happen to work on headlights :?: :lol: :lol:

[KeithD]

I checked all the directional signals today, and they're working fine. No more quick blinker. My mechanic must have added the blinker fluid when he replaced the battery and not told me. When you find a mechanic like this guy, you don't let him go.

[batmobile]

Hello people, everyone should know that the relay is bad. Jeez no wonder everyone has so many problems with their supras.

[Dave A.]

The "quick blinker" syndrome is usually a dead giveaway that you've got a burned out bulb. Especially if the flasher operates at a normal rate for the side that has all good bulbs. :) 16 volts from the alternator is a tad high and that can blow bulbs since the bulbs are rated at 12 -14 volts. Double check the charging voltage to be sure that you're not exceeding 14 - 14.5 volts. A completely dead battery will cause the alternator to put out it's full charging current after a jumpstart until the charge in the battery rises. The alternator is designed to operate at it's max. output for reasonably short periods of time. In fact, this is a good way to see if your alternator is up to par or beginning to fail.

[xsoarerx]

hey, i got this problem as well... check the bulbs and fuse's are all fine, where do i go from here? (blinker fluid is full too :P) 13.8 volts with out lights, 13.4 with head lights on.

where's the blinker control normally located?

[TorqueMasterJay]

oooooh...I get to be the first one to comment....this thread is 4 years old...YAY!!!


The relay is iirc on the fuse pannel next to your left foot.