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I am having a problem with the turn signals on my 93 base convertible LT-1. The turn signals blink really fast both right and left.
However; the hazard lights blink at the normal speed. All the bulbs work and are of normal brightness. I'm guessing it's the flasher
but I don't want to take everything apart on a guess! Has anyone else had this problem and have a solution? Thanks in advance.
Check all the lights' function with the hazard and park lights on at the same time. All 6 should flash dim-bright-dim-bright simultaneously. If operation is normal on all 6, it is the turn sig flasher causing the fast-blink. If one or more lights go off when they should be bright, that light has a bad ground, probably at the bulb/socket.
All lights blink with the exception of the 2 rear red sidelights, they don't blink but do come on with the park lights. Another thing I noticed
is the blinkers only blink fast with the engine running. With the engine off they blink normally. I checked the voltage at the battery with
the engine running and it's 15 volts. The factory manual says 13.5 to 15.5 is normal. The hazard lights blink normally with the engine on
or off.
Your flasher relay sounds bad. On our cars the flasher relay and hazard relay are separate parts. In addition, those red side lights on our cars are not linked to the turn signal circuit.
The rear red sidelights don't blink. Just ON with park lights. Your car is normal.
The flashers used for the turn signals are current-sensitive. That's how they 'know' to fast-flash when a bulb is out. Voltage changes the current flow through the flasher, but it shouldn't be sensitive to normal charging system ranges.
You have a bad flasher. As long as you're not running LED bulbs, I'd suggest a 552 flasher. This is the same as the hazard flasher, and will plug right in. A 552 isn't sensitive to varying loads. It won't fast-flash for a bulb being out, but is more trouble-free in the long run.
Thanks ihatebarkingdogs. I was leaning in that direction but wasn't sure and it looks like a pia job to get to the flasher. When I get a new flasher in I will let you know if
it fixes the problem.
I can also say that while it's definitely easier to do if you remove the aluminum brace, you don't have to if you're dextrous and/or have small hands. The flasher is a round silver can-looking thing with a plug on it that is held in a metal clamp. If you carefully rotate this while pulling straight down it'll snap out of the clip and fall down so you can access it and remove it from the wiring harness. Then plug the new flasher in and snap it back into place. Be careful when snapping back in as if you apply pressure at an angle it can actually cause the clamp to unclip itself from the column and that unfortunately does require removing the aluminum brace to correct. Ask how I know. :P
Replaced the flasher today with a 552 and it solved my problem. I just had to remove the two end screws on the aluminum plate and it bent enough to get the flasher out. Thanks for the advice and help on this job! I'm about ready to put it away for the winter. I changed the oil today and when I check from last year I put about 3k miles on it this year.