Parking Lights vs Turn Signal

[Bobs184000]

Hello, I’m hoping someone can offer a little bit of help here.

 

On the driver side front, Orange parking light works and stays on when the headlight switch is on, but will not blink with the left turn signal activated.

 

On the gauges, the light blinks super fast as if it’s out. If it’s the same bulb, it’s strange to me that the light can be on but not blink.

 

Same with using the key fob, the left front orange light will not blink, but will then will be on when opening the doors.

 

Thanks for any advice!

Edited June 24, 2018 by Bobs184000

[obob]

deleted due to better info below

Edited June 24, 2018 by obob

[Bobs184000]

Thanks. My guess is the bulb as well, just odd how it can stay on but not blink.

 

The tell tale is the fast clicking. On every car I’ve ever owned, that means it’s time to replace the bulb.

[plus 3 golfer]

Two bulbs not one. :)  You should be able to see both bulbs when on through the front of the lens.  Can you see both in park?  How both in turn?  One is a larger round bulb nearer to the outside and one is a smaller bulb to the inside. See attachment.  But it appears that the BCM activates both bulbs in the park position (my observations) and blinks both bulbs in the turn position (my observation). It's likely that the BCM can be programmed as to how the BCM handles the two bulbs (perhaps independently or together).  The BCM also fast blinks if in turn position and a bulb is out.

 

Edited June 24, 2018 by Plus 3 Golfer

[Bobs184000]

Thanks for the info! Yes, I can see the two bulbs orange bulbs per side.

 

The passenger side orange bulbs will both blink when the right turn is activated.

 

The driver side orange bulbs are on when I turn on parking lights, and stay on but do not blink when the left turn is activated.

 

All that happens is the left mirror light and left turn light on the trunk blink really fast, as well as the left turn indicator on the dashboard.

 

Weird! No other issues.

[plus 3 golfer]

Time for FORScan.   Perhaps a DTC will show up in ET mode.  Give ET a try.  

Edited June 24, 2018 by Plus 3 Golfer

[notquitesane]

There is one bulb for the turn signal / parking light.  It's an optical illusion that makes it seem like there are two bulbs.  The second bulb is a reflection of the real one on the shiny lens of the turn signal housing.

 

The bulb for the front turn signal light is a 3157A bulb.  This has two filaments in it, one for dim mode, one for bright mode.  One filament has burned while the other has not.  This is why the bulb lights up with the headlights but doesn't light get brighter for the turn signal.  Replace the 3157A bulb!

 

The other small bulb circled in the diagram is for the triangle shaped sidemarker.  It only comes on with the headlights.

 

A quick edit, it could be a 3457A bulb, same shape, just rated at a slightly higher wattage and brighter.  I can't tell because the bulb specification sheet in my car's manual is horribly wrong.

Edited June 25, 2018 by notquitesane

[Bobs184000]

Thanks for the info!

[Bobs184000]

New bulb put in today and all is well again!