Hyper Flash (Fast Blinkers) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

craftysince86 · #1 12-12-2013, 08:56 PM

i am having hyper flash, my blinkers flash faster than normal and it is driving me crazy. i almost replaced every bulb in the car to make sure they were full functional in case of any minor breaks in the filament.

all lights work, running, brake, blinkers, etc.

i was told that there might be a possible bad ground. when i looking the trunk the drivers side tail light has a ground right under the housing on the inside of the trunk but there isn't one on the drivers side. is there supposed to be the same ground on both sides?

and also i noticed there was a ground strap that is broken on the passenger side from the hook to air vent cowl that is broken. does anyone know what this ground is for? i re-attached by hand and it did not fix the flashing, but i do intend to fix that ground just not sure what it's purpose is as this is the first time i have seen a ground off the hood

thanks!

w123love · #2 12-12-2013, 08:58 PM

Did you at one point attempt to use a replacement LED bulb?

Marrs · #3 12-12-2013, 10:35 PM

Since you replaced bulbs try cleaning the bases for each and making sure they are tightened up, also use bulb grease on the bases to help ensure contact. You can/should also clean all the grounds you can find. The one on the hood is a new one on me. BTW, please go into the User CP and update your car model or list it in your signature, it makes it much easier when we can individually know if you have the same car or one we are more familiar with than others.

craftysince86 · #4 12-12-2013, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123love

Did you at one point attempt to use a replacement LED bulb?

Never

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrs

Since you replaced bulbs try cleaning the bases for each and making sure they are tightened up, also use bulb grease on the bases to help ensure contact. You can/should also clean all the grounds you can find. The one on the hood is a new one on me. BTW, please go into the User CP and update your car model or list it in your signature, it makes it much easier when we can individually know if you have the same car or one we are more familiar with than others.

Edited my sig, sorry I didn't know that was common practice on this forum

There were a few lights that were out when I first got the car, a reverse light, a brake light, and a side marker. They sold in sets of two so when I swapped one and it didn't slow the flash I just swapped both side with new bulbs to see if that would fix it, but nothing.

I will try cleaning contact points and searching for grounds and securing those

So I take it the hood one is not oem?

Tomguy · #5 12-13-2013, 09:06 AM

I had this happen when I had a loose wire on the "Fog lamp" amber lens up front. It caused the circuit to complete differently, and although all bulbs lit, it did cause fast flash. Took me a while to figure out. Make sure all the wires up there are tight and secured. The loose wire, IIRC, was actually the ground on the headlamp harness on mine.

craftysince86 · #6 12-13-2013, 12:22 PM

I did pop off the covers up front to inspect the bulbs, i took a quick glance at the wiring and it seemed OK but i may have to take another looking at it

vandor · #7 12-13-2013, 09:16 PM

Hm, I posted this yesterday, but now I do not see my post...
Mine does that too. I was thinking of adapting an electronic flasher. I am sure there is not a plug-in variety, so I'd have to adapt one.

Idle · #8 12-14-2013, 11:53 AM

If you have a grounding strap that broke then you need to replace it and not just reconnect it. These can build up resistance internally and while they may look good and even test good they will not carry the load necessary for a proper function.

Grounding straps are cheap and should be replaced ever 30 years or so.

The cause of your hyper blinking is a bad ground. If all the lights are working then you have one that is making ground but not a good ground. The only solution I have found is to remove each bulb and clean the sockets out and to clean the body of the bulbs. If it has reached the point where one socket is bad then the others are not far behind.

And don't forget the brown ground wires. They should be removed and the contacts cleaned where they bolt into the body of the car since resistance can also build up there.

ScooterABC · #9 12-15-2013, 12:09 PM

Hyper blinking turn signals to me suggest improper load on the circuit, burnt bulbs, etc. Or on cars that have the pull out hazard switch with the red center it suggests that the hazard switch and relay are wonky. Example 1971 W114 will have this kind of hazard switch/relay and it can cause the flashers and hazards to blink very slow to very fast, or s slow that they don't blink at all. Solution to this is to replace the hazard switch. On the later cars that have the push button rectangular hazard switch I don't think that they turn signals run through it but I'm not sure.

Idle · #10 12-17-2013, 11:54 AM

One other, but very long shot solution, is that you are using the wrong type of bulb. Years ago Mercedes owners were cautioned to use only the German made bulbs as other bulbs would not function correctly with the Mercedes electrical system.

Bulbs have come a long way since then and I have not had this problem for a long time, but I did run into it about 30 years ago. Replacing all the bulbs with ones from the dealer solved the problem, and the only bad part about it was needing to drive to the dealership since their prices were no higher than Pep Boys on light bulbs.

If nothing else works it is worth a shot.

craftysince86 · #11 12-19-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScooterABC

Hyper blinking turn signals to me suggest improper load on the circuit, burnt bulbs, etc. Or on cars that have the pull out hazard switch with the red center it suggests that the hazard switch and relay are wonky. Example 1971 W114 will have this kind of hazard switch/relay and it can cause the flashers and hazards to blink very slow to very fast, or s slow that they don't blink at all. Solution to this is to replace the hazard switch. On the later cars that have the push button rectangular hazard switch I don't think that they turn signals run through it but I'm not sure.

i though the hazards and turn signals each have their own relay?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle

One other, but very long shot solution, is that you are using the wrong type of bulb. Years ago Mercedes owners were cautioned to use only the German made bulbs as other bulbs would not function correctly with the Mercedes electrical system.

Bulbs have come a long way since then and I have not had this problem for a long time, but I did run into it about 30 years ago. Replacing all the bulbs with ones from the dealer solved the problem, and the only bad part about it was needing to drive to the dealership since their prices were no higher than Pep Boys on light bulbs.

If nothing else works it is worth a shot.

someone else was telling me about the type of bulb. i did try taking out one of the bulbs to see what would happen, and when i pulled one of the turn signals the car signals even faster. so i assuming the bulbs are ok

would any of the other lights cause hyper flash? like the side courtesy lights or any other running lights? all my lights do function i just want to see if i can eliminate having to search/clean grounds from ALL my lights versus just the turn signal grounds

ScooterABC · #12 12-19-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craftysince86

i though the hazards and turn signals each have their own relay?

You have a 1972 W108 - I don't know if it is a separate blinker relay. On a 1971 W114 the hazard switch (a knob, not a rectangular button) includes the relay for both the flasher and the hazards. Do you have a knob that you pull or a button that you push?

craftysince86 · #13 12-19-2013, 05:48 PM

i have a knob that pulls out just above the steering column

ScooterABC · #14 12-19-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craftysince86

i have a knob that pulls out just above the steering column

I'm 95% that the problem with your fast blinkers is the relay that is part of that switch. Do not buy a used one or try to fix yours. It won't turn out well. Plus access is a pain. Buy a new one from our friends at pelicanparts.com. You re-use your old knob.

Tomguy · #15 12-19-2013, 07:10 PM

It could be the knob, but rather than throwing away the money, check grounds first. The grounds for the front turn signals run through the headlights and these tend to corrode with age, it seems the wiring is not heavy duty enough for 40+ years of service!