Like title says, my left turn signal blinks extremely slow, i swear sometimes it doesnt blink at all it takes so long. The right side works fine though so it probably not the flasher right? I noticed my left turn signal light on the dash is out though, would that affect the flash possibly? All the external lights were good when i checked.

 

The dash indicator itself being out will not cause the signal to blink slow, provided everything else is functioning normally, so my guess is that you do have something else other than just the indicator being out at fault. A point to remember here is that the flasher unit is current draw sensitive, drawing too little (a burnt out bulb or wiring malfunction) will cause slow blinking, drawing too much and it will blink too fast (short circuit or too many bulbs/wrong bulbs on the line). Even though they appeared to light up, I'd still be physically removing and checking the bulbs on the left side, since all was OK on the right.

 

I'd be particularly looking at them being in their socket right. The bulbs have 2 filaments: one that draws relatively little current and is dim (parking/tail), the other much brighter and draws considerably more current (blinkers/brakes). The bulb has 2 little **** on it that are at different heights off of the base, and the socket has 2 similarly oriented slots for them to turn in; if the bulb is jammed in there wrong such that the 2 contacts are exchanged, it will "appear" to "work" (glow) but won't be "right".

Pull ALL the bulbs, EVERY ONE, right and left, front and rear; make sure they're in there RIGHT, maybe clean them and the sockets all up real good with solvent if necessary and put some new bulb grease down in there if needed, maybe even replace the sockets if they're farkled, as they often are.

 

I've never had to do any wiring on my car and therefore know next to nothing about it. I don't know what electrical devices impact other devices.

But I've experienced this too.

When I first got my GTA, both signals blinked really slow. Although the left more than the right, but neither was close to normal. At that time, my radio reception was terrible. I took the radio out in anticipation of possibly getting a new one (never did) and while it was out of the car, both turn signals blinked normally and way faster than they had been. But the old radio back in, signals slow again. I took the radio out again and sent it to M&R Electronics for repair - not because of the slow signals, but to fix the reception. They sent the radio back, reception is good, and both signals were blinking normally.

I don't know how there could be a relation, but it was consistent. M&R re-soldered connections and I think replaced some capacitors in the radio. I don't know if that could possibly have made the difference. Maybe loose connections in the radio were somehow impacting impedance?

 

Hard to say; as an electronic engineer by trade (but not by education), I highly doubt it, not that I would want to call you a liar or anything remotely like that; but simply unplugging it would rule out any such possibility.

 

Ok ill go through all the bulbs and clean em and see if there is anything funny going on, i didn't know they used the double filament thing, but my truck does aswell so i guess it makes sense. Ill get back to you guys soon as im done checkin everything out.

 

OK cleaned up everything except the tail lights, there was not much corrosion in there but i still gave em a little love. Still nothing on the left signal, but i did notice it only does it when i have my driving lights on. I didnt take the tail lights out because those wing nuts really seem like they are going to break so its a little sketchy, i may have no other choice though sadly i guess. Im going to order some extras before i try it though.

 

Decided to take off the tail lights anyway, only shattered one wing nut so eeh not bad i guess. All the filaments were fine, but one bulb the glass and metal base separated so i guess testing is on hold for now, im probably just going to order new bulbs all the way around and hope that does it.

 

Did you replace the flasher?..

 

Have not touched the flasher yet nah.

 

Well as inexpensive as they are, I would...

 

If having the parking lights on affects the turn signals, then you have at least one bulb where either the bulb is in the socket 90° turned from where it belongs, and both bulb contacts are touching both socket contacts; or; one or more not grounded properly.

 

This is one of the reasons that the 1157 Light Bulbs were phased-out for a the "Wedge" style Push-In 3057/ 3157 Bulbs.

We had to re-engineer Light-Bulbs (of all things)...
Since the majority of our "Youth" are never taught how to replace an Automotive Light Bulb.

Ask most people today which way a "Bayonet" style 1157 Bulb gets installed...
and they will not know; nor know how to trouble-shoot, if the Bulb is 180-Out.

I mean no offense to anyone that reads this:

I never thought as myself as an overly intelligent individual.
I originally just though everyone at my High-School was just lazy.
In college, I figured that my School just accepted people of sub-par intelligence.

When I entered the "real world", I realized that most People were idiots!
And I was angry about it...
I could not grasp how so many people could be so lacking in intellect.

Anyway, as the years went on, I calmed down about this and mostly accepted it.

LOL! SoFakingDom has been pointing out idiocracy everywhere...
and re-lit that Fire in me.
Aye yai yai!

 

And, as a math & physics major, I realized that most of the people who went into business majors were ... ummmm,, .... ,, yeah.

And GUESS WHAT? those people have been MY BOSS for the last 50-some-odd years.

Vortec, I'm honored to be recognized as one who recognizes idiocracy when he sees it. Which is most of the time. Seems as though your career trajectory and mine have been all too similar.

Ever read the book "The Curse of the High IQ"? Should be required high school reading, right after "The Peter Principle".

 

Well new bulbs seems to have made it better, it still seems slower than the right turn signal for whatever reason but atleast it is doing something now. Guess ill toss a new flasher in there aswell just to see what that does. Found out my fan is also not working so my engine almost overheated when i was letting it idle, fun times. The person before me really messed up the wiring and electronics it seems like.

 

Very true!


Actually I have not read that book...
But I am going to look into it.