Speedy turn signals.... cold?
10-21-2008, 08:33 PM
#1
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Speedy turn signals.... cold? This is by no means any sort of problem, just a simply inquiry.
First off, both turn signals work perfectly fine. I just noticed something now that it's starting to get cold in VA. When it's cold out, the turn signals blink noticeably faster than during times that it is warm. Is this an alternator thing?
First off, both turn signals work perfectly fine. I just noticed something now that it's starting to get cold in VA. When it's cold out, the turn signals blink noticeably faster than during times that it is warm. Is this an alternator thing?
10-21-2008, 11:54 PM
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Ok, you all are definitely mistaken me... Everything works fine... VERFIED. I just noticed that when the ambient temperature is cold, the turn signals flash at a more rapid pace. Just like when the car is COLD, the signals work faster. I thought it had something to do with the alt. being cold or something. It was just a random inquiry, but NO bulbs are burnt or anything. It's not a tremendous difference (ie. indicated by a bulb burnt out), it's just a tad quicker.
I was just wondering if there was an earthly explanation... no biggie
I was just wondering if there was an earthly explanation... no biggie
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10-22-2008, 10:09 AM
#8
Faster blinking is caused by a higher current draw on these cars. That can be caused by a higher voltage. When the car is cold the motor is idling faster, plus the battery doesn't take a charge as easily at cold temperatures. Between these two the voltage from the alternator can increase a bit, just enough to speed up the blinkers.
10-22-2008, 11:13 AM
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Faster blinking is caused by a higher current draw on these cars. That can be caused by a higher voltage. When the car is cold the motor is idling faster, plus the battery doesn't take a charge as easily at cold temperatures. Between these two the voltage from the alternator can increase a bit, just enough to speed up the blinkers.
10-22-2008, 08:35 PM
#11
ok noobs.
step 1. read post
step 2. think
step 3. post appropriate response
i thought the real reason is resistance. heat creates some amount of electrical resistance in the circuit which slows the flasher. now im no electrical master but this has always been my assumption. high idle shouldnt create higher voltage. the pcm decreases the duty cycle at higher rpms to maintain the same voltage.
step 1. read post
step 2. think
step 3. post appropriate response
Faster blinking is caused by a higher current draw on these cars. That can be caused by a higher voltage. When the car is cold the motor is idling faster, plus the battery doesn't take a charge as easily at cold temperatures. Between these two the voltage from the alternator can increase a bit, just enough to speed up the blinkers.
10-23-2008, 12:26 AM
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Actually the blinker fluid joke is funny for every other car out there. We actually have blinker fluid, its called rain water that why I have holes drilled in my signals
10-23-2008, 12:50 AM
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NORICEINSIDE- I have those same cups
10-23-2008, 09:41 AM
#16
i thought the real reason is resistance. heat creates some amount of electrical resistance in the circuit which slows the flasher. now im no electrical master but this has always been my assumption. high idle shouldnt create higher voltage. the pcm decreases the duty cycle at higher rpms to maintain the same voltage.
When the car is cold, the idle is higher, which there is a very slight difference there. When the car is warmed up and idling lower the alternator is at its low point, and while you're right there is regulation, at the very bottom end of the alternator RPM it can drop slightly. That means a tad less voltage when idling at a stoplight, nothing major, but a bit less than the rest of the RPM range. Also, when the battery is cold, it doesn't take a charge as well, so it needs a bit higher voltage to get the charge going. PCM calls for a bit higher voltage to help out.
The voltage in a car is not very tightly regulated, it has a range of variation. That variation is enough to affect our blinkers. Our blinkers stay solid on when a bulb is burned out because there isn't as much current, and that lack of current makes the flasher not heat up enough to switch.
Other cars have electronic flashers that aren't affected by the slight variation in voltage, and respond to the lower current draw by flashing more rapidly to let you know you have a blown bulb.
