I have one for the Gurus....rapid blinking

[matroe11]

So I was leaving the GFs house tonight. I was towing an empty light trailer connected to my electric towing harness. The train happened to be coming and as I got into the left lane and put on my blinker while waiting for the train to pass through, I noticed that the blinker was blinking super fast. I thought for a second to make sure I wasn't imagining things. I then turned it to the right blinker and that blinker was blinking normally. So I put it back on the left blinker and since the train was still there i got out and checked to see if the front blinker was working. It was not, but the rear blinker and the trailer's left signal were blinking super fast. I then put it to the right and checked that side. All of the blinkers (front, back, trailer) were functioning properly.

My question is, since the front left is out, does the trailer have some sort of override or signal that will cause this? I have a feeling its directly related to the front bulb being out, but I would love for one of you to explain why (electrically) this would be happening. OR is it another issue all together. I did not think try the hazard signal at the time. Thanks guys!!

 

[dk27]

That's normal. I believe it works to alert you that a blinker is out and is caused *basically* due to less resistance in the electrical system. Once you fix the one not working it should return to normal.

Edit: If you try it with the trailer unhooked your rear light should do the same thing trailer did.

 

[kdub627]

To put it simply is the reason it is blinking so fast is pretty much a way of telling you that one of your blinkers is out. Since we dont have a specific light like some cars to tell us out light is out it just blinks rapidly and its up to you to figure out at that point (which you did)....


I hope I am correct but im pretty positive. hope this helps

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

All of you are correct. it does it on both the blinkers and daytime running lights. I replaced both on my dt lights as I like them plus it looks weird with just one.

 

[ran]

My '07 does the fast blinking during heavy rains sometimes. It's fine when things are dry ?????

 

[corrado]

yes, this is how it works w/ pretty much every car equipped w/ blinkers. its a resistance thing that happens to double as an "alert".

 

[obxfishn]

Mine did that and it ended up being the rear bulb was burned out.

 

[ran]

Mine starting doing it again in sunny weather. I finally got around to spraying the connectors and bulb sockets with 'Contact Cleaner'. no more problems so far.

________________
2007 SE Titanium

 

[krupnation]

I just had that happen to my left front turn signal (DRL). I knew that it probably was the bulb out so I went and replaced the bulb. Bulb wasn't burned out like normal but it looked like it had shorted. Sure enough, removed the socket from the wire harness and that was fried. Went to the stealership, they had it in stock, $9 later I changed it in the stealership parking lot in 2 seconds and good as new!

If the changing the bulb doesn't work check the socket, cheap part and easy fix.

 

[PaulB-2006 T4R]

Years ago the fast blinking when a trailer is connected to the electric towing harness was solved with a heavy duty flasher relay. I am not sure if there is a heavy duty flasher for our 4Rs but installing one should solve the fast blinking problem with a trailer.


Update, I found this: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/4199869 it may answer all the questions posted.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

yes, this is how it works w/ pretty much every car equipped w/ blinkers. its a resistance thing that happens to double as an "alert".

This is partially true, the reason your blinkers start blinking rapidly is due to a resistance issue in the circuit caused by the burnt out light. Our vehicles, like most vehicles is equipped with a simple flasher unit. Its a relay designed to blink on and off at a specified rate with a specified load/resistance.

Newer vehicles that use LED turn signals or lights will be equipped with an "electronic flasher unit" that is not affected by a change in resistance. You can probably pick one up from an autoparts store to swap yours.

 

[Paisano]

I had a front passenger side turn signal bulb go out and replaced both sides. Tested it with the hazards and both sides are blinking normally. It's my wife's 4Runner and she said it's still blinking fast w/ right turn signal on. Haven't checked it out myself but that doesn't seem quite right.