Flasher headache

So the '73 Country Sedan has had rather slow turn signal flashes since I've owned it. The hazards flash at an acceptable speed,but being a '73,they freeze when you apply the brake (not worried about that,but AFAIK,there's only one flasher).
Usually,when we observe a rapid flashing turn signal,we assume there's a bulb out on that side.
The first thing I did with mine was to replace the flasher with a heavy duty one rated for 3 bulbs. That made no difference in the slow flash situation. Of course,the '73 has one 1157 in front and two in the rear,each side. Then I rigged up a dummy pair of 1157s on a trailer 4-wire (Yes,this car has the wiring & plug but no hitch,go figure). Then the turn signals flashed very rapidly indeed! The opposite of what I expected. Right now,I'm leaving it in "too fast" mode,partly because twice,idiots have tried to pass the big car on the right while I was making a right turn with "slow flash". Well, here in MA,they do that anyway,but...

 

Since the brake lamps and turn signals go through the same filaments, you need to check that the filaments in one of those six bulbs is not touching the other filament. When the 4-ways are on, stepping on the brake does stop the flashing, and that's normal. But when the turn signals are going on one side or the other, stepping on the brake pedal is NOT supposed to stop the flashing at all. Check all the bulbs, check the grounds at all four corners. It basically sounds like you have a grounding or a short beween two circuits, which leads to ground.

 

The more bulbs you put on a bi-metallic thermal directional flasher the faster it blinks, that's why you attach trailer wiring and they go nuts. That fast blinking deal if a bulb is bad is a new car thing. If it blinks fast on older cars it's a short to ground or a bad bulb as Silvertwinkiehobo said.
In all the older cars I've had if a bulb goes bad the directional won't work or will flash very slowly because of less resistance through the flasher.

 

The turn signals do not freeze w/brake pedal depressed,if that's what you meant. And the 4-ways flash at normal speed,but the turn signals are Sl-o-o-o-w. Would a short somewhere cause slow or fast flashing? I would think no flash or blown fuse. The trailer wiring checks OK. I will inspect the bulbs for a filament problem.

 

As BlueVista said, a short would be slow. So you may not have filaments touching, but definitely check all your bulbs. And remember, the normal turn signals and the 4-way flashers are on different relays sometimes, doing a swap will tell you if the relay is worn out by the turn signals working normally.

 

The 2 circuits have 2 different flashers. If one is faster or slower, try replacing the flasher for that circuit.

Super slow flashing or one side not flashing on older cars is almost always a bad bulb or bad ground.

 

I forgot what they are called but there are heavy duty flashers that do a better job than the stock ones. As written, bad bulbs or bad connections are usually the problem. Loose bulbs and corrosion can be the problem.
Just remember flashing in public can cause headaches.

 

Right Front Socket/Bulb Corroded. To R&R socket,access is behind the battery and the Voltage Regulator. Ugh. I changed all the 2-filament bulbs on the rear, haven't seen a huge improvement. Yet another problem with this car that I've never had with the eleven other Ford wagons I've had!

 

OK,both front sockets are corroded--water seems to get inside the lenses. I changed the bulbs after scraping off some of the corrosion--amber tint required. So all bulbs are new,albeit Chinese/Thai. The 4-ways operate off the turn signal flasher;there is no other flasher on this car. Turn signals may be a teeny bit faster, but not fast. 4-ways are faster,just as they were before. Soon I'll have to splice in new front sockets.

 

Unplug your flasher and check 4-ways There is two flashers one is usually hidden. With your turn signal flasher removed turn 4-ways on and listen to locate it.

 

Yup. Usually, they'd be on the fuse panel, one one each side.'79-and-up full size cars/wagons and F-series trucks have the Turn signal flasher on the front of the fuse block, and the 4-way flasher on the harness side of the fuse block, opposite of the T/S flasher.

 

As for the front turn lenses, either find a pair of replacements that don't leak, seal these you have or drill drain holes in the bottom rear of the lens reflectors.

 

Well,ok,but...my test was to turn on 4-ways and put my fingers on the flasher,which did vibrate. I can look some more,but I do think there is only one on this car.
I think the front lenses are an example of hastily-conceived first-year design put into production. There were two different lenses,the one for the pricier cars extended into the grille. Mine are the cheap version,and yes,there is no drainage and no rubber gasket around the edges.

 

One way is to remove that flasher and see if turn signals still work then you'll know if there is two.

 

Well,sure,but,standing on my head to look at the fuse box,I can see that there are spaces for two flashers. The space on the upper left is operational for T/S and 4-ways,but the space on the lower right is labeled "T/S" and has no contacts in it. So,it was maybe getting ready for 1974. There are a few systems and changes that are for "'73 only" on this car. Anyway,I still have to clean the corrosion from the front amber light sockets. It seems to me that a poor connection could result from that,but if they have a good ground,no problem once they're cleaned.