Turn Signals Blinking Too Fast
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 166
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From: Milltown, NJ USA
Turn Signals Blinking Too Fast
Here's the deal...Trailer wiring is hooked up properly with a new 4 pin plug set (m & f). When I have the trailer(5X8 utility NO brakes) disconnected the vehicle's lights ALL work properly. Hook up the trailer lights and all works properly EXCEPT both turn signals. BOTH will blink nearly twice as fast as normal. NOW when I depress the brake pedal so the brake lights go on the turn signals slow to the normal speed. Let off the brake and they speed up again. WHAT THE..!?!?! Anyone else have this happen? Any sollutions?
Thanks,
Ken
Thanks,
Ken
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
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From: Burnsville, MN
Don't know about modern cars, but it used to be that a turn signal blinking too rapidly was an indication that one of the lights was burned out. It was like maybe there was a capacitor in parallel with the lights, and when one light was burned out the capacitor could charged and fire more quickly.
A lot of car brake lights - like a T2057 - have two filaments, one for the blinker, and one for the brake. I'm guessing that when you activate your blinkers, you are activating ONLY the blinker, and not the blinker IN ADDITION TO the brake light?
I guess the first question is how many filiments do you have in each trailer brake light, and are both the brake filament AND the blinker working at the same time?
A lot of car brake lights - like a T2057 - have two filaments, one for the blinker, and one for the brake. I'm guessing that when you activate your blinkers, you are activating ONLY the blinker, and not the blinker IN ADDITION TO the brake light?
I guess the first question is how many filiments do you have in each trailer brake light, and are both the brake filament AND the blinker working at the same time?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 7
From: Burnsville, MN
Actually, the better question might be whether, when you don't depress the brake pedal but do use the turn signals, do both the signals on the trailer AND the tow vehicle blink, and are they the same type of bulb?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 797
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From: Wickenburg, AZ
I like the suggestion to put in a beefed up flasher, but the filament thing that BareBones speaks of has gotten me more than once.
If you have the blinker bulb filament shorting inside the bulb over to the tail light (parking light) filament, you might have a similar problem.
A check that might help you on this would be to have the key shut off and turn on the running lights. If you get one really bright bulb or you have one of your little arrows light up on your dash, you've got a short in one of those bulbs or in one of the sockets.
It has to be in the trailer somewhere. Do you have an ohm meter? If you do, remove the plug from the truck and hook onto the trailer's ground pin. Then check resistance on each of the other pins. If you have one that is really close to zero ohms, I'd suspect you've got a short.
Don't forget about the ground on the Truck side, by the way. A crappy ground on that side could run the resistance through the roof and mess up your flashing, too.
If you have the blinker bulb filament shorting inside the bulb over to the tail light (parking light) filament, you might have a similar problem.
A check that might help you on this would be to have the key shut off and turn on the running lights. If you get one really bright bulb or you have one of your little arrows light up on your dash, you've got a short in one of those bulbs or in one of the sockets.
It has to be in the trailer somewhere. Do you have an ohm meter? If you do, remove the plug from the truck and hook onto the trailer's ground pin. Then check resistance on each of the other pins. If you have one that is really close to zero ohms, I'd suspect you've got a short.
Don't forget about the ground on the Truck side, by the way. A crappy ground on that side could run the resistance through the roof and mess up your flashing, too.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Gents, If plugging in the trailer connector makes the lights blink faster, what has changed in the bulbs????
The HD flasher is what it's calling for.
John
The HD flasher is what it's calling for.
John
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Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Every truck I have owned in that vintage I had to change the flasher when pulling a trailer (1980s).
Denny
Denny
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by jowilker
Gents, If plugging in the trailer connector makes the lights blink faster, what has changed in the bulbs????
The HD flasher is what it's calling for.
John
The HD flasher is what it's calling for.
John
A mechanical flasher has a fixed contact and a flexible contact. The flexible contact is a laminate of two different metals, each one with a different expansion rate (the amount that the metal expands when heated).
When your blinker is off (cool), the flexible contact touches the fixed contact. When you turn your blinker on, current starts to flow through the contacts, and the flexible contact heats up a little, this causes the bimetal flexible contact to curl, and break the circuit. Once the circuit is broken, the flexible contact cools back off and straightens back out, touching the fixed contact, and the cycle is repeated until you cancel the turn signal. A mechanical thermostat works in much the same way.
So, when you hook up a trailer, your flasher is now flashing more lights. So the current flowing through the flasher is greater. This causes the flexible contact to heat up faster. So the flasher blinks faster.
The fix is to install a HD flasher that is rated to take the increased current load.
I have no idea how an electronic flasher works.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Flashers are usually rated for the number of filaments connected.
The mechanical flashers rated for more filaments will correct the flash speed when the trailer is connected, but when the trailer is off the rate will be slower than normal.
The electronic flashers flash rate will not be affected by more or less filaments connected.
The mechanical flashers rated for more filaments will correct the flash speed when the trailer is connected, but when the trailer is off the rate will be slower than normal.
The electronic flashers flash rate will not be affected by more or less filaments connected.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
I am going to agree with everyone that has said that you need a HD flasher or an electronic flasher, of which is what I would recomend. Flashes same speed with one or mulitiple lamps hooked up. Another, more involved method would be to use the signal from the flasher and use relays to the trailer. Then you would be able to fuse each section of the trailer seperate from the trucks lighting system.
New User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Slightly Different Issue
I am having a similar issue to 'bluesuedetruck' except that the flashing does not heal itself when the brake is depressed. I purchased an HD flasher, Tridon EL12, rated for 1-10 lamps. Upon installing the problem persisted. I then checked the bulb at the truck and at the trailer - each was a dual filament. I then removed the bulb from the truck and the trailer blinker worked at normal speed.
Any recommendations to keep both truck and trailer blinkers going at normal speed would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Any recommendations to keep both truck and trailer blinkers going at normal speed would be appreciated.
Thanks!
