Fast blinker problem on 78 FJ40
- Thread starter AJSFJ40
- Start date
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I'd start by making sure ALL the lights work. Generally a fast flash means a burned out filament in one of the signal lights.
Are the bulbs incandecent (normal lightbulb) or LED type? Are they ALL working?
- Thread starter
- #6
Yes, the light bulbs are the incandecent type. They are all working, not just the blinkers, but both brake lights and tail lights, back up lights, both signal lights. I've spent several weeks working on this cruiser doing various things and had everything (lights) working perfectly and all of a sudden they start blinking real fast. Would the flasher unit allow the blinkers to blink slowely when it is on and then fast when they are used indepenently?
Check for grounding problems; I think the rears have a common ground lead. It may have come loose and the bulbs are finding a different ground, causing lower resistance and faster action of the flasher unit.
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- Thread starter
- #8
I did ground each light housing directly to the frame via a specific wire to each light housing. Have I possibly overgrounded (if that's possible)the system? Do the light housing ground themselves by just touching the bumper when their installed?
i dont think it is possible to "over ground"
I would start with the replacing the flasher
It is possible that the new bulbs have a higher watt rating and consume more power, leading to more rapid heating of the switch element in the flasher. It is hard to invision how this would not also be true with the hazards, though.
dude, you are Mr. Electric.....i will fly you out to CT if you will fix my s*** electrical problems....
Are you sure you have only one flasher?
And there is nothing else coming on when you use the signals?
Are they flashing faster regardless of anything else being on.
Did you actually see all the 4 lights flashing when the Haz is pulled?
The reason for asking,
is because what you are discribing is opposite of how these things are supposed to work.
A trun signal flasher will flash faster with a bigger load and slower with a smaller load. ( like mentioned by Pin-head)
With trun signals , the load is smaller (2bulbs 1 indicator)
with Haz the load is bigger (4 bulbs and 2 indicators)
Just to make sure you are not misreading the problem, take 2 bulbs (from either rear or front) out and try the Haz. Will it flash or light but not flash?
Try the signals too like that , what happens?
Doing this might help to understand what is going on with your lights..
Unless you have a seperate flasher for the signal lights,
a burnt bulb or a bad flasher doesn't explain your problem.
And there is nothing else coming on when you use the signals?
Are they flashing faster regardless of anything else being on.
Did you actually see all the 4 lights flashing when the Haz is pulled?
The reason for asking,
is because what you are discribing is opposite of how these things are supposed to work.
A trun signal flasher will flash faster with a bigger load and slower with a smaller load. ( like mentioned by Pin-head)
With trun signals , the load is smaller (2bulbs 1 indicator)
with Haz the load is bigger (4 bulbs and 2 indicators)
Just to make sure you are not misreading the problem, take 2 bulbs (from either rear or front) out and try the Haz. Will it flash or light but not flash?
Try the signals too like that , what happens?
Doing this might help to understand what is going on with your lights..
Unless you have a seperate flasher for the signal lights,
a burnt bulb or a bad flasher doesn't explain your problem.
dude, you are Mr. Electric.....i will fly you out to CT if you will fix my s*** electrical problems....
Actually, I will be in Boston Wednesday and Thursday, but I don't have any free time to make it to CT.
- Thread starter
- #14
Well, I've finally figured it out (Really it was you guys and your help). The PO had installed an aftermarket turn signal on the cruiser, the heavy duty type used on semi trucks. There was two seperate flasher units, one for hazards that worked, and one for the signals that didn't. $3.20 later and everything works as it should. Thanks for all the help.
Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd resurrect this one as a perfect description.
78 hj45
Standard lights
No upgrades
Started intermittent issues with flashers.
Tried bulbs, tried grounds. No luck
Realised that when the intermittent fail occurred it simply stopped blinking and a little tap to the flasher relay would make it work. Eventually got worse so that you had to constant tap the relay to make it work.
Ordered new relay from Toyota who say the old metal box type has been superceded with new modern plastic type.
Fitted it and works OK except for exactly as the opening poster describes....
All lights ok
Hazards ok
All flashers work but Flash very fast.
Any suggestions?
Still most likely an earth? Though why if hazard OK?
Thanks as always
78 hj45
Standard lights
No upgrades
Started intermittent issues with flashers.
Tried bulbs, tried grounds. No luck
Realised that when the intermittent fail occurred it simply stopped blinking and a little tap to the flasher relay would make it work. Eventually got worse so that you had to constant tap the relay to make it work.
Ordered new relay from Toyota who say the old metal box type has been superceded with new modern plastic type.
Fitted it and works OK except for exactly as the opening poster describes....
All lights ok
Hazards ok
All flashers work but Flash very fast.
Any suggestions?
Still most likely an earth? Though why if hazard OK?
Thanks as always
Good idea, just searching Google now.... New flasher unit is 81980-12H04
Seems to say 12v same as truck, also seems to be no other option available these days
Not sure if the following aids problem shooting or adds to it....
Have a set of front combined led lights/flasher units... Fitted them just now to see if any change, nope steady hazard, quick flashers, all work Inc lights.
Refit originals, alternating leaving grounds disconnected.... Still no change! All work regardless, hazard steady, flashers quick
Have a set of front combined led lights/flasher units... Fitted them just now to see if any change, nope steady hazard, quick flashers, all work Inc lights.
Refit originals, alternating leaving grounds disconnected.... Still no change! All work regardless, hazard steady, flashers quick
Tried and tested every earth I can find.
Still no joy!
Any suggestions?
Could it be a tatty wire as they really are in a bad state (will be a new harness when I do a full resto later this year), if yes then where is most likely?
If hazard works OK, then I'd guess downstream of the flasher relay but I'm just wild guessing here
Still no joy!
Any suggestions?
Could it be a tatty wire as they really are in a bad state (will be a new harness when I do a full resto later this year), if yes then where is most likely?
If hazard works OK, then I'd guess downstream of the flasher relay but I'm just wild guessing here
It depends on what type the new flasher is. If it is an old school, bimetallic switch type, then how fast it flashes depends on how fast the bimetal heats up. More current = more heat = faster, so the bulbs may be higher watt rating than the flasher needs. Bad grounds would give slower flashing.
If it is a modern electronic flasher, then the rate it flashes is fixed and does not change with current. Just get used to it.
If it is a modern electronic flasher, then the rate it flashes is fixed and does not change with current. Just get used to it.