A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Just the other day my left turn signal started blinking at a fast pace. No change on the right one. I checked all the lights and they worked OK (a lot of times, the blinker runs quicker when a bulb goes out). I called my dealership and they said that this problem has been recently noted on the Elises and Exiges. They said the cause is due to changing out the rear stop/signal lamps to LEDs. No change was made on the wiring harness and this has caused an electrical problem that shows up as a fast blinker. They said they have wiring harnesses in stock and would make the change-out next time I stop by. Just an FYI to everybody.
A:
was the engine running when you noticed this? when my engine is running they are even, when I just have the key in one side always blinks faster than the other. I just tested and confirmed this.
A:
What an odd coincidence.
My left signal started blinking at 2x rate just this past Monday. (instead of tick-tock tick-tock it is now Ticka!-Ticka!-Ticka!)However, I DID trace it to a bulb being burnt out. My left front bulb is toast. I still haven't replaced it. So, it may be that when you did your walk around you missed one of the burned out bulbs?
A:
My 06 has been blinking fast left+right since I drove it out of the dealers lot. The test drive vehicle had been blinking fast too. I'll see what the dealer says tomorrow when I bring it in for the 1000 mile service.
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Usually they blink fast when a bulb is out somewhere. Something about less draw on the flasher, but I'm no Electrical Engineer.
A:
Your eyes are blinking faster 'cause you're driving so damn fast...
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they will blink fast if the bulb is out OR if you have been driving spiritedly with something in your trunk (boot) that happens to move around and knock the harness out.
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Engine running or not, it does it.
Originally Posted by ZJChaser
was the engine running when you noticed this? when my engine is running they are even, when I just have the key in one side always blinks faster than the other. I just tested and confirmed this.
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As far as I can tell, no bulbs are out. all seems equal on the left and right sides.
A:
Originally Posted by slaughtr
they will blink fast if the bulb is out OR if you have been driving spiritedly with something in your trunk (boot) that happens to move around and knock the harness out.
+1.
Did you check the lights at night? Try turning on your headlights and seeing if the left side taillight is out (or left front parking light).
A:
Originally Posted by Bane
+1.
Did you check the lights at night? Try turning on your headlights and seeing if the left side taillight is out (or left front parking light).
Dangit! Everything works. It must be that wiring. Guess I'll have to wiat until I get back to Ferarri of Denver to get it fixed.
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i have had that happen with relay problems in other cars
A:
Originally Posted by kwicker
Usually they blink fast when a bulb is out somewhere. Something about less draw on the flasher, but I'm no Electrical Engineer.
"Normal" flasher units use a bi-metallic strip of metal. As current passes through it, it heats up. Being bi-metallic, one side of the strip expands more than the other, causing it to bend. The bending opens the electrical contact, and the current stops flowing (and the light goes out). As it cools, it straightens out, and makes contact again. The process is repeated many times. When one light goes out, the current draw changes, and the flasher unit flashes faster. Believe it or not, they were actually designed this way to provide feedback when a bulb was burned out. That was also the source of the "Clicking" noise when the turn signals are flashing.
Modern electronic flashers don't necessarily exhibit this trait.
A:
My Exige did this the day I picked it up from the dealer. I lived with it until the 1st service and my dealer (Sports and Specialits Cars in Hopwell, NJ) replaced one of the rear tail lights. The drivers side was flashing fast but no bulbs were blown...it was a faulty LED.