blinkers/turns signals inconsistant

[6speedvette]

hi guys, my blinkers have been sporadic lately. at times either right or left blinker will start flashing super fast..almost as if you have a bulb out(but none are out) i do have leds in the back which i installed about a year ago..i'm wondering where the signal-"flasher" is on a c5? maybe its going bad? is there a heavy duty one that out there? could my led taillights be part of the problem?
thanks!

 

[Toms007]

I'm no expert, but I think you found your own problem. LEDs.....They require so little energy to make them work, they "hyper flash" when installed without a resistor (I think that's what it is) in line.

 

[6speedvette]

ok. do you know where i can purchase a resistor? something an autozone would have or is it gonna be a car specific special order type deal?

 

[Toms007]

Here's a place that you can buy the harness you need .

C5 LED Hyperflash Harness

 

[Junkman2008]

Here's a place that you can buy the harness you need .

C5 LED Hyperflash Harness

Good call Tom. That's exactly what the problem is. That cable will bypass the hazard switch and resolve the issue.

 

[6speedvette]

ok great. thanks!

 

[Curious George]

You can also do it yourself for $13 and about an hour of time. Search my name and you will find the info. You guys are killing me... why spend $60?

CG

 

[Junkman2008]

You can also do it yourself for $13 and about an hour of time. Search my name and you will find the info. You guys are killing me... why spend $60?

CG

Some people have better things to do than fool with their cars. I can't blame them. If I could find a reliable mechanic around me, I probably wouldn't fool with mine.

 

[dougelam]

I have a similar but different problem; my right turn signal indicator in the instrument cluster only works half of the time. You can hear it click and the lights flash normally though. The left is fine, would this wire kit have anything to do with this?

 

[Junkman2008]

Try this. The next time that your blinker acts flaky, hit the hazard switch rapidly a bunch of times. If the blinker starts working, then the cable will fix your problem.

Understand this, the hazard switch is the problem. The way that the circuit is designed, runs the turn signals circuitry THROUGH the hazard switch. The cable bypasses the hazard switch (or isolates the turn signals from the hazard switch), and that what corrects the issue. You can also replace the hazard switch but that's a lot more work. Parts cost is about the same. The hazard switch will still work after installing the cable.

 

[dougelam]

Fixed

I solved my "right turn signal indicator only works sometimes" Problem. It turns out that the printed circuit was not seated all the way into the socket on the circuit board on the back of the IPC. The right turn signal positive was the 1st one in the line and you could see it was not in all the way. Re seated it and it is back up and working. it took less than an hour to find and repair, Oh what a relief

 

[Junkman2008]

Can you post some pictures of what you did? It would make it a lot easier to understand and be helpful for others in your situation. What made you look where you found the problem?

 

[Toms007]

Yea, what Junkman said. Pictures and more explanation would be really handy for those of us in the future.

 

[dougelam]

I did not take any pictures, SORRY

As you can see from the date of this post it has been some time, the junkman was adamant about the cause being the hazard switch so I was going to wait until this spring to address it. Looking at the wiring schematic he sent me it looked like the turn signals are after the switch and if the outside lights worked the inside indicator malfunction must be an inside job-pun intended. So I started my diagnoses by going to the hazard switch connector C-215 and monitored pin-G while the hazards were on and also pin-F for the left side for comparison, both had flashing power.

Next I removed the IPC and as I pulled it away from the dash I had to unplug C-1 to remove it, I back probed pin A-16 again with the hazards on and again I was getting flashing power. Removed the IPC from the car and brought in to the dinner table.
Amazing how much better of a work bench it is while the wife is away
Anyway, I could see the bulb holder in its socket so I took my multimeter and measured resistance across the bulb socket at the printed circuit = 2.0ohms. I then measured from pin A-16 to the bulb and got an open reading. I was not sure if it used logic or was a direct connection so I took of the voltage invertor on the back of the IPC and then the circuit board carrier which was also the back cover as well, it has 3 sets of connections from the printed circuit which are about an inch and a half long each and as I lifted the cover back hinging on the 3 sets I looked at them to release them, the first one which just happen to be the one closest to the right turn indicator I saw it was uneven within the socket. Removed it from the socket and reset it back in and rechecked my measurements and now it has continuity.

 

[Toms007]

The emergency flasher is probably the most common problem with the signals. I even had the same problem with my wife's Bonneville. It's good to hear that you troubleshot the issue.

Thanks to you for stepping us through the solution.

BTW, I understand about not taking pictures......I always get wrapped up in the repair and forget about taking pictures.

 

[Junkman2008]

After going back and reading this thread again, I realized that you were having an issue with the indicator on the IPC and not the turn signals themselves. I would have given you a different direction to go in had I been reading with some better comprehension. Somebody smack me.

 

[froggy47]

Some people have better things to do than fool with their cars. I can't blame them. If I could find a reliable mechanic around me, I probably wouldn't fool with mine.

I don't believe that, you get too much satisfaction from servicing the car.

Job well done.

 

[Junkman2008]

I don't believe that, you get too much satisfaction from servicing the car.

Job well done.

lol! You're probably right.