Right Blinker blinks at double speed

[Border Walker]

This has been a recent issue that has been on my 03 Trailblazer that baffles me. For some reason, at random, the right blinker, both on dash and exterior lights, will blink at double the rate of what it normally blinks at. It does not do this constantly, and it only seems to be the right blinker, not the left. When it does do this, it seems to do it for a while, then a day or so later will stop doing it for a day and return to normal.

Anyone had this issue or no what it might be? I'm hoping it's an easy fix, especially since I'm fairly okay with electrical work. I'm also hoping it's not due to the audio setup I put it, though I recall the issue happening before the audio set up was put in.

Thanks in advice.

 

[jrSS]

Replace bulb....its about to go

 

[Mark20]

Or the bulb socket is getting dirty.

 

[tblazerdude]

First check all lights, look at the filament and make sure they all work. The fast flash is supposed to happen when a bulb is out, or there is a short. I assume you knew that already. My $ is on the rear socket connected to the back of the tail light. Take it apart and clean it, try to remove the pins from the connector (it's difficult but doable), then lube them with heavy duty silicone or dielectric grease. Every and all metal parts need grease all around. A dead giveaway that this is your problem is to look at the ground pin (black wire) and looking for burning/darkness, around the housing. It can also happen with out the burning/darkness so keep that in mind.

 

[C-ya]

Don't forget to check all the bulbs/sockets that could be turn signals. When this happened on my GMC C1500, I didn't know what to think because I had blinkers at both ends on that side. Turns out it was the vertical marker on the outside of the headlight that blinked opposite the one below the headlight. I verified what should be blinking by turning on the blinker for the opposite side and figured out which bulb was bad. Since it sounds intermittent (bad/dirty socket), it may be harder to narrow down, but when it does it again, check both sides and compare to see if you can narrow it down quickly.

 

[97blazer]

Don't forget dielectric grease is non conductive. You should be able to find actual "bulb grease" at the auto parts store.

 

[DFWWIZ]

When a bulb is not functioning there is less resistance inline which causes the flasher to only go thru a half cycle so to speak. Same thing happens when switching from filament bulbs to LED/SMD bulbs.

 

[CaptainXL]

Don't forget dielectric grease is non conductive. You should be able to find actual "bulb grease" at the auto parts store.

A common misconception. Silicone/di-electric/boot grease/weatherstrip greas/bulb grease..They are actually one in the same. Besides bulbs and sockets make physical contact. There isnt an air gap or anything mystical. I just grab some of those small packets of spark plug boot grease at the parts counter whenever I need it.

Amazon.com: CRC Bulb and Connector Di-Electric Grease: Sports & Outdoors

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[97blazer]

Thanks, never paid that much attention. I was primarily going by the goop that I find factory installed and just figured it was different because it "looks" quite a bit different. I use dielectric grease all the time on spark plugs without difficulty.

Just remember: Assumption is the mother of all screw-ups.

 

[wm-webb]

I had to replace the terminals and the plug that plug into the light-board. The old ones rusted away.