Blinker issues

ACKO15 · Post by **ACKO15** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 4:09 pm

Hi folks,

On a regular drive in town today, I used my turn signals as any driver should, without issue. Until I had to turn right, at which point my turn indicator went into hyper hummingbird mode, blinking about 2-3 times the normal frequency.

It's functioning as an indicator, and blinks correctly with the 4-way flashers on, but as a single right turn signal, it's driving me crazy. No issues with the left side.

Has anybody ever had such an issue in their L300? If so, is it possible to swap the (presumably faulty) relay with one from any parts store? And where would this be located?

Thanks in advance,

AC

north54 · Post by **north54** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 5:21 pm

I had the same issue years ago, turned out to be a waterlogged burned out bulb on a front turn signal, yes water can get into the blinkers housing! It caused a blinker to flash like crazy. Are you sure all your bulbs are working front and back?

ACKO15 · Post by **ACKO15** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 5:52 pm

They're all working, but you may be absolutely right. I was in a pretty deep section of water yesterday, and today as well. I'll look into this in the morning. Thanks for the insight!

north54 · Post by **north54** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 6:33 pm

BTW the relay is behind the brake fluid reservoir quite far back. Probably a dash remove if you wanted to tinker with it. Maybe not? I was in there today water sealing the wiper linkage and can see how the relay can get faulty. Water can seep in through the hole in the body where the linkage mounts to the wiper arm.

Another reason why I have wet floors every winter.

ACKO15 · Post by **ACKO15** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:17 am

I had to go away to work for the month, so I won't be able to look until late November. The bulbs all work fine and the frequency is correct with the 4 ways on, so I'm pretty sure it is indeed the relay gone faulty. However, it is a functioning signal light, and if it needs to wait until the new year, I'm not going to worry about it. I hear a the relay ticking sound behind the dash on the passenger side. Is it behind the reservoir or more so in the center or left side?

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:42 am

1990 and later Japanese market Delicas have the flasher relay on the passenger side, just above the glove box. Pre-1990 and export models have the flasher relay on the drivers side (in various places depending on trim level).

Mitsubishi are crazy.

ACKO15 · Post by **ACKO15** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 8:25 am

Awesome. Thanks so much Growler. I'll see what I can come up with when I get home. Mine is a 1991, fortunately.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 12:45 pm

Yeah, just remove the glove box, turn on the hazard indicators, and follow the sound.

It's not a generic flasher unit though, it's some kind of weird custom Mitsubishi thing. No idea why it's so complicated, it works like every other flasher.

That said, I suspect your flasher is fine. I can't think of a fault in the flasher unit that would cause just one side to flash quickly- the flasher unit doesn't know which side it's driving, it just sees a circuit and pulses the power- the indicator switch then directs the power to left or right (or both, if you use the hazard switch).

If the resistance of the circuit is higher than it expects, it flashes quickly to let you know that something's wrong- usually a burnt out bulb, but there can be other causes of a high resistance- the indicator switch contacts can go bad, as North54 says corrosion in the bulb holders or plugs or earth connections could be causing it too.

I would pull all the right side lamps and clean all the contacts and plugs and bulb holders. Also check the indicator switch and the harness plug beside the steering column. Check the earth connections in the rear pillars, and the ones in the front (I can't recall where they are, just follow the black wire).