Signal lights blinking 5x as fast!

[marpua]

All of a sudden my signal lights on the dashboard are acting like they are on speed! If I go to turn right and put my signal on, the light blinks RAPIDLY both on the dashboard and outside the car. Like 5 blinks a second! If I turn the car off and turn it on again, sometimes it goes away only to come back later. Any thoughts on what is causing this?

[lewisnc100]

Usually this indicates that one of your bulbs is out either front or back, have you checked them to see if one is dead.

[marpua]

Yeah no bulbs look out. My guess is it would be an electrical issue because if i leave the signal on, it will go really fast, then slow down to regular, then really fast again, etc... with no particular pattern. Almost like a heart murmur!

[lewisnc100]

Still could be the bulbs if they are making a bad connection or going out. Swapping them out for new ones is probably the easiest thing to try first.

[Oldpirate]

..but it helps to know how old your vehicle is. Sockets can become rusty or corroded with age and just replacing the bulb doesn't help much if the socket is corroded.

Clean the sockets up real well (I shoot some WD40 in there) then use some bulb lube to keep moisture out.

Fast blinking can also be the sign of a faulty ground somewhere in the system, but check the bulbs and sockets first. Good luck with it!

Craig

[lewisnc100]

Originally Posted by Oldpirate

Sockets can become rusty or corroded with age and just replacing the bulb doesn't help much if the socket is corroded.

He's only got a 2001 but then again he's in Boston, thought checking the socket was a given when you pull the old bulb but doesn't hurt to spell it out.