This morning on my way to work my right signal light was blinking faster than the other one. I looked up and it was because the bulb was burnt out. When I got out of my car to check however the lights seemed fine and when I got back inside the signal was blinking normally again. What does that mean?

Posted by Federal_Engineer_67@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 29 comments

I don’t mind getting it fixed but both lights work from what I’ve seen.

[-]

Overall-Tailor8949@reddit

Could be a loose/corroded connection for one of the bulbs causing it to be intermittent. Contact cleaner in the sockets is the cheapest thing to try.

[-]

It doesn’t necessarily mean the bulb is burnt out. I installed a larger intercooler on my car and when I got everything back together my turn signal started to act the same way. Tore everything apart again and I had not seated the plug correctly. It was almost there, but hadn’t fully clicked in.

Could be starting to short, could be a software thing, could have knocked the harness lose and it’s making connection again. Water could have found itself in the harness and temporarily shorted it. Bajillion things really.

I wouldn’t do anything about it unless it happened again.

[-]

Tractorguy69@reddit

It’s not a direct correlation to a burned out bulb, it simply means one bulb is not causing the expected load or draw on the system. Most commonly this is a burned out bulb, but any other break in the electrical circuit that stops the light from receiving power will also trigger the response. Inspect the socket at the bulb looking for corrosion or worn insulation on the wires feeding it, look at the bulb to verify that the filaments are good, if not at the light area there may be a break in the wiring that either grounds out, or bounces in and out of contact. Hoping it’s an easy fix or just a one time gremlin that has gone away. Good luck.

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

it blinking faster is a sign it’s about to go out, it’s like a warning

[-]

Federal_Engineer_67@reddit (OP)

But it stopped after I got to work so maybe we fluke?

[-]

7eregrine@reddit

He's pulling your leg, that's not a thing. Maybe the bulb is just loose.

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

maybe not in newer cars but it is with older ones

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Bruh what older cars? Ive worked on shit from the 40s up to todays cars. Never seen one that did a "hey bud your bulbs about to blow" cause the car has to way to predict that.

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

older bmws do, just bc u aren’t aware of them doesn’t mean they don’t exist…

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Please enlighten me

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

my 02 e46 does it, well did it. not much to explain

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Yeah it monitors with a pulse for voltage drops.

It doesnt magically predict that a bulb will burn out it simply tells you of an issue in your lighting system. The same voltage drop could be from a bad ground or loose bulb or a filament thats failed.

I relaize my reply is pedantic. But your car doesnt know when a bulb is failing. Your car knows when voltage in a circuot drops.

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

thanks for the full explanation as i was unaware of the reasoning, but i’m also quite aware it doesn’t just magically tell u. ofc it’s reading something, all i said was it was a warning.

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Yeah sorry im not trying to be a dick but people above were already confused by the reply.

And not to be the must frustrating ultimate pedant, but its also not a warning. Its reacting to a failure thats already occured!

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

well after looking it up officially, it seems newer cars are literally programmed to blink faster when it’s on its way out. so I don’t know

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Yes and my friend im telling you why - its senses a voltage drop. It could be a bulb on the verge of going bad or it could be stewart little wanted a snack or you drove down a bumpy road too many times.

Luckily - MOST newer cars fast blink in this situation so we can take all these examples to mean - if the turn signal is blinking fast i should check my bulb and connections.

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

i feel like i’m running in circles, explaining the same thing over n over. I don’t get why u started off w “enlighten me” and saying u don’t know any that did that and then started saying oh yea new cars do that… like obvi if it’s doing that, there’s a reason and u should take that as a warning is prolly going out soon

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Your missing this part -> its not necassarily a bulb

You can take that to mean whatever you want it mean man i wasnt explaining for you i was explaning for the people that didnt know what to do about a bulb fast flashing, especially if like OP they look at all their bulbs and see that theyre all working.

[-]

spiritual_stoner@reddit

ahh i was indeed missing that part, woops. But fr i get what ur saying now. i originally was sharing my experience. cars are weird it could literally be anything

[-]

Cool-Negotiation7662@reddit

I have seen bulbs that the filament broke, a bump was hit, and the filament reconnected in a semi permanent manner. The bulb will fail again soon so go get replacements and have them on hand.

Replacing them prematurely is a small price and reasonable to do.

[-]

Terrh@reddit

the filament is broken but still makes contact most of the time

The socket of plug for the bulb is dirty and making intermittent contact

Are the two primary likely possibilities here.

[-]

Federal_Engineer_67@reddit (OP)

Are these costly fixes? I’ll go to Firestone

[-]

FencingNerd@reddit

Honestly, ignore it until it happens again. You're more likely to get recommended a bunch of things you don't need than an actual fix. If it happening consistently then take it in.

[-]

Terrh@reddit

DIY somewhere between $0 and $5 if you have to buy a bulb

Mechanic maybe $50-ish, more if they elect to replace the socket assembly.

[-]

WittyFix6553@reddit

$50ish maybe, with another $1600 in “recommended” services.

[-]

moonlite_equilibrium@reddit

Just got to your local place and explain to them whats happening. They can check your bulbs and the connections.

With some confidence and google you can do this yourself! Bulbs are very inexpensive, sockets are very inexpensive but not every shop can replace one because its wiring. A firestone likely can becuase they do full auto care.

[-]