Turn signal blinks fast

1999 T&C Limited. Left turn signal working properly. Right blinks fast,
and the light appear dim. That would usually indicate that there is at
least one bad bulb. However, the two front lights and one rear all are
work properly. I notices the front right side maker was not working,
although the left did not blink with the left turn signal. I don't know
if the side markers are part of the turn signal circuit. When I
attempted to replace the right side marker, I found the socket was quite
burnt. Just as a test, I removed the good bulb from the left side
marker. It did not work in the right socket. Also, the lack of a bulb
in the left did not affect the turn signal speed.

Other than replacing the socket in the right side marker, can anyone
give me a clue as to why the right is still flashing fast?

Tom

 

The side markers are a separate circuit and therefore won't (shouldn't)
affect blink speed. Some car makers have wired the marker lamps in
series with the signal lamps causing them to flash opposite of the
signal lamps (signal-marker: On-Off, Off-On). The signal lamps are a
much higher wattage which is why they aren't illuminated by the marker
lamp current (a low-tech trick that works quite well).

Back to the real problem. Check the lamps to see if they match. My guess
is the right side has different model lamps (different wattage) than the
left. If the total current drawn by the two sides is different, they
will flash at different speeds. Check your owners manual to find out
which lamps it should have.

If both sides have the correct lamps, visually check to see if the right
side is dimmer than the left. That would indicate to me a bad ground.
Look for wires that are connected to the frame to see if any of them are
loose, rusty, or corroded. I don't have a manual for a 99 T&C so I have
no idea where to look.

HTH

 

I had similar issue on 95 caravan SE (in addition all rear tail/turn lamps
would go out when brake lights came on, but ONLY when head-lamps were on).
Turned out to be bad ground line somewhere along the harness in the body
panels. I took the easy way and made a new ground connection at the socket
connector and that cleared the problem. Worked fine for several years till I
traded the van in.