Left blinker sometimes doesn't work?

[Vikram]

95 explorer xlt 4wd manual - I notice lot of times, usually in cold weather when I go to use my left turn signal, it doesn't work and it just blinks really fast. The front turn signal blinks really fast and the rear turn signal does not blink at all - but it's intermittent and later in the day it will work fine like nothing is wrong.

Any ideas? At first I thought it was the bulb but obviously not since it's intermittent. Which makes me think it's not a fuse or relay either.

What else could it be? I been doing some googling and seeing about a flasher module, but can't really figure it out, I looked up the part and it seems like another relay?

Any ideas?

thanks!

 

[EB4X]

Your bulb that occasionally goes out either has slightly broken filament that occasionally "reconnects" or the bulb contact points to socket need cleaning. >>

A bad bulb is by far the most common reason that a signal blinks faster. This is because a bad bulb alters the resistance in a circuit, sending a different current through the blinker.

 

[J_C]

I had an erratic blinker when my multi-function switch needed cleaned out. The copper (or were they brass?) corrodes and the grease hardens. I used... think it was brasso metal polish, then lubed with dielectric grease.

Some people just buy a new MFS, but I figured I might as well try and it wasn't hard to clean... needs a torx something for the 5 or so screws holding it together.

 

[Vikram]

Your bulb that occasionally goes out either has slightly broken filament that occasionally "reconnects" or the bulb contact points to socket need cleaning. >>

A bad bulb is by far the most common reason that a signal blinks faster. This is because a bad bulb alters the resistance in a circuit, sending a different current through the blinker.

Makes sense thanks. How do you recommend cleaning the socket? Should I just spray it with wd40 to displace any water and then just wipe off any corrosion or what do you recommend?

 

[J_C]

^ Take the socket out and go from there. If corrosion is really bad you might want a new socket, or could clean light corrosion off with metal polish on a piece of cardboard slid between the (type 3156 bulb socket AFAIK) contacts, or sandpaper for a medium amount of corrosion, then flush debris out with contact cleaner, and ideally add some dielectric grease though if you have to buy supplies, a replacement socket isn't very expensive.