Blinker's Too Fast! Killing Battery??

[Norrin]

I'm having this problem where my front blinkers blink waaaaaay to fast. Both of them do it at the same time, all the time. Back blinkers are fine. I'm also getting some kind of draw on my battery when the truck is off. If I leave it for more than a day without starting it, the battery dies. Tested the battery, it's fine. Dunno if this is related to the blinkers. Any thoughts?

 

[espnfreak]

No i dont think its related to the battery. Most likely related to the bulb. I thought they are abouat to go bad when they start blinking fast

 

[Jason_25]

Actually there should be a little module that plugs into the fuse box under the dash that controls how fast it blinks.

 

[Alec]

but a bad bulb can make it blink fast, too.

the battery drain problem may or may not be related. there could be a short somewhere causing both problems.

 

[Norrin]

Heh, sounds like fun. Any easy way to track a short down for that? Would a short make it blink faster? Wierd...

 

[Howard]

Normally with indicators (sorry blinkers) the rate depends on the load so when a lamp (bulbs grow lamps light) goes the load lightens and the blink rate quickens. In a short situation the load has reduced because resistance has reduced therefore blink rate increases. Try removing both front lamps and test the blink rate. Also leave them out overnight to see if the drain continues. You could try disconnecting the battery lead and fit an ampmeter in series with the batt and see if there is load. There will always be some load due to electronic components (alarm, locking if you have the remote system, radio etc). My bet is both front lamps have a partial short.

PS just a thought if the front lamps were dead short that would still not explain the dead batt because the circuit to the lamps is not active except in use and you'd blow the fuse

 

[jarlien]

I had a similar problem with intermittent speeding up and then slowing down of the turn signal. Used to drive me nuts while waiting for a green arrow in left turn lanes. Anyway, I replaced the flasher relay above the fuse box in my '93 XLT and all is fine now!

 

[Norrin]

Thanks for the help guys. Replaced the flasher relay, all fixed. Gotta love simple problems.