Notices
996 Forum 1999-2005
Sponsored by:

Help! My left signal is blinking faster than a disco stobe light.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-03-2016, 09:14 PM
  #1  
ZuffenZeus
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
 
ZuffenZeus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Zuffenhausen, Georgia
Posts: 5,095
Received 1,665 Likes on 918 Posts
Default Help! My left signal is blinking faster than a disco stobe light.

To all the 996 forum expert, today I was out enjoying a nice beautiful ride in my 996 cab and noticed that my left signal (driver side) is blinking like 3x faster than my right blinker... looks like a funky strobe. I would imagine it would be one of the relays, but which one? I appreciate your help. Thank you!
Old 04-03-2016, 09:18 PM
  #2  
phil996cab99
Racer
 
phil996cab99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CVG-SFO-EWR
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

It's the bulb. Replace that bulb. They do that when they need replaced.
Old 04-03-2016, 09:27 PM
  #3  
Sneaky Pete
Rennlist Member
 
Sneaky Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mooresville, IN (Life Long Cheesehead)
Posts: 5,815
Likes: 0
Received 54 Likes on 35 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by phil996cab99
It's the bulb. Replace that bulb. They do that when they need replaced.
1+ Just like any other car that has a burnt turn signal bulb.
Old 04-03-2016, 10:02 PM
  #4  
ZuffenZeus
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
 
ZuffenZeus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Zuffenhausen, Georgia
Posts: 5,095
Received 1,665 Likes on 918 Posts
Default

Thanks guys! I'll confess that was a blonde moment for me. hahaha

I got out of the car and noticed the front signal blinking sporadically and didn't think to check the back. It was definitely the back left bulb. Replaced and all is fine. I appreciate you setting me straight.
Old 04-03-2016, 10:37 PM
  #5  
crmcgregor
Rennlist Member
 
crmcgregor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Luis Obispo
Posts: 210
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

mine did that too, the bulb was actually fine it was where the bulb touched the connector was not touching the bulb all the way and caused the short. Take it out and clean it up and pull out the metal tab so they touch 100% and that may work. Or the bulb is bad.
Old 04-03-2016, 10:53 PM
  #6  
phil996cab99
Racer
 
phil996cab99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CVG-SFO-EWR
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by crmcgregor
mine did that too, the bulb was actually fine it was where the bulb touched the connector was not touching the bulb all the way and caused the short. Take it out and clean it up and pull out the metal tab so they touch 100% and that may work. Or the bulb is bad.
1+ agree.
Old 04-04-2016, 02:38 AM
  #7  
Cuda911
Race Director
 
Cuda911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Oceanside/Vista (N. San Diego County), CA
Posts: 11,312
Received 440 Likes on 283 Posts
Default

2+ agree. Mine started blinking rapidly, but the bulb was fine. I just had to bend the metal tab contact beneath the bulb a bit to fix it.
Old 04-04-2016, 01:44 PM
  #8  
Sue Esponte
Three Wheelin'
 
Sue Esponte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in CT
Posts: 1,333
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Agreed. Always check the bulb but, before replacing it, check for corrosion on the tabs. One of mine used to blink fast intermittently before going out. Thinking back on it, that should have been enough to tell me it was the connection rather than the bulb but whatever. I replaced the bulb and it still didn't work so I took a closer look, scraped the green stuff off the tab, reinstalled the original bulb and it worked fine. It's easy enough to pull the unit that I figured I'd keep the new bulb for when it's really needed.

-Eric
Old 04-04-2016, 06:07 PM
  #9  
alpine003
Banned
 
alpine003's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 7,697
Likes: 0
Received 25 Likes on 24 Posts
Default

You guys should really try this if you're having all these issues.


Old 04-04-2016, 06:10 PM
  #10  
sweet victory
Three Wheelin'
 
sweet victory's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,381
Received 203 Likes on 119 Posts
Default

*Debate over superior blinker fluid ensues*
Old 04-04-2016, 06:22 PM
  #11  
mharrison
Burning Brakes
 
mharrison's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by sweet victory
*Debate over superior blinker fluid ensues*
Everyone knows that Porsche branded blinker fluid is far superior.
*Debate over superior blinker fluid ends*
Old 04-04-2016, 06:35 PM
  #12  
sweet victory
Three Wheelin'
 
sweet victory's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,381
Received 203 Likes on 119 Posts
Default

Debate isn't over until we see some ****.
Old 04-04-2016, 06:37 PM
  #13  
Sue Esponte
Three Wheelin'
 
Sue Esponte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in CT
Posts: 1,333
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by alpine003
I like that they used a Saaburu for the car.

-Eric
Old 04-04-2016, 06:40 PM
  #14  
alpine003
Banned
 
alpine003's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 7,697
Likes: 0
Received 25 Likes on 24 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Sue Esponte
I like that they used a Saaburu for the car.

-Eric
Because someone obviously knows that only flat boxer engines have issues with blinking.
Old 04-04-2016, 06:42 PM
  #15  
FRUNKenstein
Rennlist Member
 
FRUNKenstein's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Overland Park, KS
Posts: 6,013
Received 297 Likes on 171 Posts
Default

Uh, b3, hate to tell you this, but do you happen to have a magnetic drain plug in your car? And it's the driver's side blinker? That anomaly with the blinker can be caused by an accumulation of magnetic debris on the drain plug. It's not always IMSB related, but to be safe, I think you need to get the car over to your mechanic to have it checked. What happens is that as these cars age, the electrical connections (like the engine ground strap that connects near the sump plate on the driver's side of the frame) become susceptible to interference from magnetic fields that are caused by things like the debris build-up on the drain plug.
Probably best not to start your car and to have it flatbedded into your mechanic. You should probably call Flat Six Innovations and discuss a rebuild: 706-865-1963 and ask for Jake.


Quick Reply: Help! My left signal is blinking faster than a disco stobe light.



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 08:58 AM.