Why Is My Turn Signal Blinking Fast?

“Why is my turn signal blinking fast?”  is a common question among drivers. Turn signal lights up quickly on one side of their car, but not on the other. This is a  common occurrence but some people aren’t sure what the main cause of this is.

Simply stated, a malfunctioning bulb is the most common reason for a car’s turn signal to not work, aside from poor lighting and bad connection.

How Do Turn Signals Work?

Turn signals are used to show that you’re going in the right direction. In most cars, the turn signal circuit is pretty simple: From the battery, the power goes through a fuse and to a turn signal relay, where it is turned on and off.

When you choose a turn signal direction, you finish the control circuit and send power thru a secondary load circuit, which makes the lights work. This second circuit has the bulbs that are supposed to light up as the signal direction is chosen. It’s also not good for the bulbs to stay on all the time, so the electricity goes through a flasher.

Some of the different types of flashers have a tiny section of metal that is very easy to get hot. The metal bends and straightens to finish or break the circuit when electricity flows through the strip. This means that the flasher is temperature-controlled, and it is made to bend at specific times depending on electrical conditions.

Turn signals that work usually blink between 60 and 120 times a minute. Speed of the blink or sound of the click can speed up if something is wrong. But why does this happen?

Why Is My Turn Signal Blinking Fast?

The amount of current is also influenced by how many bulbs are in use, or how much power they use. Even though the circuit is simple, it was made with very precise calculations about voltage, current, and resistance. Changes to any of these things can change the blinker speed.

#1 Failed bulb

Many signals blink faster when there is a bad bulb in them. This is because a bad bulb changes the resistance in a circuit, which changes the flow of electricity through the blinker.

The best way to figure out if this is the problem is to check all the signal lights to determine if any bulbs are out. Unless the turn signal bulbs have failed, look for signs of failure, such as a broken filament or dark, cloudy glass, in each one. Remove and replace any bad lights you find. Then, retest the lights again.

#2 Failure in lighting

Replacement parts that don’t match the system can also slow down the blinking speed.  Don’t switch out halogen bulbs for LEDs or buy new parts that add extra lighting or don’t take the blinkers into consideration. A bad part isn’t likely to be to blame if you haven’t lately done any work on the lights.

#3 Connection is bad

Wiring that has been fried, corroded, worn through the insulation, or is loose at a connection point will change the resistance and blinking speed of the lights. Ground connections that don’t work well should be looked out for.  With time, water damage, too much heat, and other factors, relays and flashers can break down and not work. Don’t forget to change like with like.

How To Fix a Fast-Blinking Turn Signal

A bulb, relay, or fuse might have been easy to replace in older cars. Today, though, it’s not as easy. Modern cars have a lot of little things that can make it hard to do simple things.

Most likely, if your car has an electrical problem, taking it to a trusted auto mechanic will save you time and trouble.

To fix your car’s problem with its turn signals flashing too quickly:

• Check all of the wirings for damage.
• Turn signal parts and the areas around them should be cleaned.
• Change the fuse
• Check the battery in your car.
• Put in new bulbs

Final Words

It’s not a good idea to panic if your turn signal blinks quickly. It does, however, mean that there is something wrong with the circuit. Fortunately, the fix isn’t very painful when you know what to look for.