You typically can’t see your turn signal lights when you’re inside your car. However, most vehicles have a subtle way of letting you know when one of your blinkers burns out: the indicator in your dashboard will blink faster than normal.
Picture: Wikimedia Commons
As automotive site 2CarPros explains, the indicator inside your car is designed to operate under a specific electrical resistance. When the bulb burns out, the resistance changes, which causes the turn indicator in your dashboard to blink faster. This is a quick way to know whether your light needs to be changed without getting out of your car.
Turn Signals Blink Rapidly [2CarPros via Reddit]
Comments
6 responses to “When Your Turn Signal Indicator Blinks Rapidly, Change Your Bulb”
People seriously don’t know this? This can also happen if you install LED globes which have a much lower resistance.
It is surprising that some people even barely realise they have indicators on their car.
Also, what is with the amount of drivers start merging lanes and THEN indicate halfway through?
Yeah my first reaction to the headline is “no shit”. But I see so many fast flashing indicators that clearly a lot of people don’t know this.
A fast indicator can also be a sign of a burnt out fuse. Check those too
Do people actually not check their lights every so often?
Actually, ignore that, judging by the number of cars I see around with some/all lights not functioning I already know the answer.
I was under the impression nobody used their indicator these days? What is it good for anyway?
Bollocks, my blinker is malfunctioning now and it’s not the bulb (or globe). Swatmajor1 offers good advice. But in addition, by using a nail file to clean the contacts the problem can also be solved. So theres at least 3 things to check, bulb, fuse and contact between the connector and the bulb.