The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay One signal flashes faster than other

My left signal light flashes slower and dimmer than my right signal light. What might be the cause of this? Ground? Truck is a 51 3100.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Chris

Could it be one of your bulbs is burned out?

Sounds like you have a corroded connection which is increasing the resistance and consequently lowering the voltage. Check the contacts on the bulb and any wiring terminal or connection.

I agree with Joe W. check those grounds. I spent a lot of time chasing electrical problems that were bad connections. I have even put grounding straps from all fenders to body.

Are you talking about the rear lights? If you are running dual element bulbs, try switching the leads on the dimmer bulb. One element will be a different resistance for a brighter light (turn,brake). This could be the difference in your flash rate also. Good luck.
Jeff

Thanks for the help. Actually the left rear light is fine. It has the same brightness as the right rear. It is the left front that is much dimmer than the right front, and both lights on the left side flash at a slower rate than the right side. Should I reverse the leads on the left front light?

Chris

I don't think so. That bulb should have only one filement. I believe Joe W is on to the problem although the voltage thing is a little vague. The 'blink' rate or speed is determinded by the amount of current passing through the 'blinker' control and light circuits. The current in turn is controlled by the total resistance of the circuit. The voltage drop across the circuit remains the same. I thinks what might want to be said is...the right front blinker circuit has a higher resistance total than the left circuit due to bad contacts, corrosion, bad ground, etc. BTW, did you check to make sure both bulbs are the same type? If no numbers can be found, switch the bulbs. If the problem follows the bulb, you have it solved.

Sorry guys, reverse the sides on my above post. The left side has a higher resistance than the right.

Thanks for all the info. A previous owner had converted the park lights for dual filament bulbs. The wires for the left socket had been hooked up in reverse. I reversed the wires and now the front left is equal in brightness and speed to the right front.

Thanks for the help! I'm sure I'll have many more questions as I go along.

Chris

Been there done that. I was going to agree with Jeff. The wires may have been going to the wrong filament in the bulb.

When I do this - I have to turn on the lights or blinker and touch wires at the fixture. Or I get one side brighter in running lights and one side brighter in blinker mode.

Glad to see I am not alone.

The same thing happened to me once, but I had forced the bulb into the socket backwards.