Really fast flashing left turn signal

[09EliseMW]

This is the second day having the car and this happens...

I turn on the car to get some food with a friend. I turn on my headlights and proceed with my drive. I go to use the left turn signal and it's flashing extremely fast. I thought that a light had burnt out causing the turn signal to blink faster. I check all the lights and everything is working. I tried the right turn signal and that's working fine. I turned off my headlights and left turn signal was working as it should. Normal speed. I turn on the headlights again and I does it again! At this point was getting irritated and really hungry so I continued driving. Well About 2 min into the ride the left turn signal worked fine. And it stayed working fine the rest of the drive. I thought, cool it fixed itself. I was wrong. I came back to my car after dinner and it did it again. Turned the car on the headlights on and tried left turn signL. Blinked fast. Too fast. Right turn signal worked good. Turned off the headlights and it was back to normal. Headlights on. Blinks fast. I started driving home. 2 min in, it was back to normal.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is it common? Any threat of something in my car burning up(fuses?)? I'm about a 2 hour drive from the nearest lotus dealership. Would not like to make that drive if this is an easy fix. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Eric

[...m...]

...it sounds like one of the bulbs has an intermittently bad contact - possibly a loose connection, possibly corrosion...

[shay2nak]

if you have the LED rear lights, then it's the relay. Happened to me 2 times. Now make it 3, I just replaced the passenger side rear taillight and it started flashing fast. Forget it, I'm not taking it in any more. I'll just wait till the drivers side goes bad and I'll have 2 fast flashers.

[09EliseMW]

Which relay was it? This car is extremely new to me. Still learning everything.

[TheViper]

Eric,
The headlights are inducing a voltage drop. Have it fixed under the warranty.
Michael

[09EliseMW]

Originally Posted by TheViper

Eric,
The headlights are inducing a voltage drop. Have it fixed under the warranty.
Michael

I would like to get it fixed under warranty. But like I said earlier. It's a 2 hour drive to the dealer. Would much rather get it fixed at my house if it's a simple fix. I work on electronics on helicopters so fixing this shouldn't be hard. Just need to know where to start.

[TheViper]

I would probably start by testing the resistance of the rear LED's that work, and then compare it against the side that does not operate correctly. Also make sure all the side repeaters are functioning.
Michael

Originally Posted by 09EliseMW

I would like to get it fixed under warranty. But like I said earlier. It's a 2 hour drive to the dealer. Would much rather get it fixed at my house if it's a simple fix. I work on electronics on helicopters so fixing this shouldn't be hard. Just need to know where to start.

[09EliseMW]

All the lights work. I didn't see anything burnt out. That relay that theviper was talking about sound like it could be the problem.

[TheViper]

The relay is ruled out because the flashers work OK on one side and it uses the same relay. Look for a high resistance between the turn signal switch and any light on that defective side.
Michael

Originally Posted by 09EliseMW

All the lights work. I didn't see anything burnt out. That relay that theviper was talking about sound like it could be the problem.

[charliex]

i have the same problem, supposedly they change out the whole led unit on the bad side.

i'd call a few dealers, its a common enough problem for them to verify whats changed.

[MulhollandMotors]

It could be the tail light, but more commonly the turn signal module goes bad. It is a black box attached to the tail light inside the boot. Try swapping them left to right. If the right side starts flashing fast and the left returns to normal you found your problem. Should be covered under warranty no problem.

[09EliseMW]

This isn't something that could possibly harm anything is it? Maybe burn up or do something crazy? I'll take it to criswell when I get my first service done. See what they say about the tail light going bad being a common thing.

[TheViper]

No, it will do no damage, unless there is a short somewhere, but that seems unlikely, and anyway that is what fuses are for.
Michael

Originally Posted by 09EliseMW

This isn't something that could possibly harm anything is it? Maybe burn up or do something crazy? I'll take it to criswell when I get my first service done. See what they say about the tail light going bad being a common thing.

[09EliseMW]

thats good to know. thanks. ill just wait till i go to va this week and take it to criswell...

funny thing is. i drove the car tonight and it didnt do it once. maybe it was just a hickup for that brief amount of time. ill see what happens the rest of the week.

[TheViper]

Good luck Eric, let me know if I can be of any further help.
Michael

Originally Posted by 09EliseMW

thats good to know. thanks. ill just wait till i go to va this week and take it to criswell...

funny thing is. i drove the car tonight and it didnt do it once. maybe it was just a hickup for that brief amount of time. ill see what happens the rest of the week.

[09EliseMW]

so i went to the dealership today for my first service. and had them look at the left turn signal. the tech said that i had A led light out(i checked them all before i went in, they all worked). they changed the whole light assembly and also the control module. or something. i cant remember what he said. but it fixed it. and im glad. no more really fast flashing turn signal. it started to get really annoying sitting at a light with the left blinker on. covered under warranty. wouldnt expect it not to be though. thanks everyone for your inputs.