Blinkers, flashers question.

I’ve always noticed on old cars the turn signals seem to blink too fast, what’s behind that?

And if it just needs a new flasher, what’s the correct part number for a 1973, I would assume the same as 1970-72?

 

The heavy duty flasher will sometimes cause that. It used to be the long was HD but they later made short HD ones.

 

I went through and cleaned all the grounds (bumper hardware), and I felt afterward that the rate of blinking was improved... Maybe just a placebo.

 

Well, only an "ole skool" guy from the 60's probably knows this, but different cars take different flashers. It matters more if it's the directional flashers. HD flashers will mostly flash anything, including a car and trailer. The different flashers are related to how many bulbs are being flashed. That includes the tail, directional and side lights if applicable. So, an early Corvette takes a different flasher than a 1970 Skylark. A 1969 442 takes a different flasher than a 1970 GS, because the 442 has 1 tail bulb on each side, while the GS has 2, etc. The speed can change if the wrong flasher is used. What the guys said above is true...the grounds, bulbs out, or just a failing flasher.

 

Bulb out makes indicator to stay on, not blink fast. So that’s out. Bad grounds would cause it to not work at all so that’s out.
Hmmmmmm?

 

It will blink fast if a bulb on one end is out; stay steady on if it’s the other (I don’t remember which).

You can substitute an electronic one; it will flash a steady rate no matter what’s going on.

https://www.grote.com/warning-hazard/flashers/2-pin-flashers/44690/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283627904397

Patrick

 

So I found one from a 1970 in our stash and it blinks slow and nice, so must be they go bad and different speed came with age, it was like 2 times a second and the replaced one is 1 time a second.
Looks more correct at 1 per second.

And as to “steady on”has always meant a burnt out bulb on any one in the system as far as I know, not specific to front or rear, but side to side indications.

 

Also adding a LED bulb somewhere will draw less and blink faster.

 

How old is the Blinker Fluid, it gets thinner as it ages causing the binker to go faster. Stop down at an Autoparts store and see if they can help you

 

LED problems are a different animal.


HaHa, I checked the fluid and topped it off!

 

A "bad ground" would only make it not work if it's a complete break. If there is increased resistance from a ground (like dirt or rust), the impedance of the circuit is increased, but the bulb still lights.

 

Exactly Frank . The flashers had different numbers . 323 , 525 , 324 and others . The number referred to the number of bulbs that were to flash . I forget the sequence but maybe some oldster like me will remember .

 

my blinkers did not work last time I went for a drive. what would be the first thing to check?

 

Will I give that a shot when I get home in a week or two, thanks I will post if that was the issue.

 

Had the same issue that I'm trying to fix for the past few days. Hazards and directional flashers work but the darn right indicator keeps staying on. Checked and cleaned all the grounds but still there. Also, the front right marker lights went out, checked the bulbs and they are fine too. Pure PIA!

 

Check your ground wire on the right side. Follow the ground from the headlight and turn light. Make sure it has a good ground.

 

Agreed . Bad ground at RF . Battery acid eats stuff up at that corner

 

The grounds were good, found out it was a bad RH light marker connector. Made the repair and its gone.