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Phantom Clicking
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68318		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Eatkinson [ Thu Aug 07, 2025 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Phantom Clicking
On the '63 Dart, I'm hearing phantom, slower-than-normal turn-signal blinker "ticking" going on when the signals are not engaged. No dash indicator lights are illuminating, and the signals work as they should when engaged, but the slow ticking returns once they're disengaged.

Turning the ignition key to the "On" or "Accessory" position will not cause this slow ticking to commence: it only seems to happen when the engine is running. Today, I heard the blinker sound when I turned the ignition OFF, more than once.

Any idea what might be going on?
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
Unplug turn signal flasher to verify if that is the noise?
Author:  Eatkinson [ Sat Aug 09, 2025 1:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
It's definitely the flasher. Thermal type FL #552. Perhaps it's malfunctioning, maybe time to replace it? I wonder if others have had success with the electronic flasher, type EFL 552?
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Sat Aug 09, 2025 3:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
When it is doing the slow clicking, do any of the outside lights blink?
Does the "clicking occur whith the ign switch in the off position? There should be no power to the flasher, when ign switch is off.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Sat Aug 09, 2025 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
The upgrade flasher you want is this one (2-prong like original; connect its ground wire conveniently). This will operate the brighter bulbs at the correct flash rate, and it has much lower internal resistance than the original type, for brighter turn signals.

But if your turn signal flasher is somehow activating, that's not coming from the flasher itself; something's got to be activating it — a fault in the wiring, though I can't imagine what it would be.
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
If it is the flasser "clicking" with the key off, it could be a short in the steering columm, or the dir swith connector at the base of the columm. If I remember correctly, the horn wire is hot at all times. That could feed to the flasher, but I need to look at the wiring diagram to be sure.
Author:  Eatkinson [ Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
Quote:
When it is doing the slow clicking, do any of the outside lights blink?
Does the "clicking occur whith the ign switch in the off position? There should be no power to the flasher, when ign switch is off.
No outside lights blink. What I meant, when I commented I heard the blink when I turned the ignition OFF, is that as I turned the ignition switch off, I heard that slow "blink" sound momentarily, not when the ignition switch was actually fully OFF. Just as I turned it off.
Author:  Eatkinson [ Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
Quote:
If it is the flasser "clicking" with the key off, it could be a short in the steering columm, or the dir swith connector at the base of the columm. If I remember correctly, the horn wire is hot at all times. That could feed to the flasher, but I need to look at the wiring diagram to be sure.
Sorry, clarified I didn't mean it was clicking with the ignition switch OFF, just as I turned it off.

UPDATE: got a new EFL552 flasher and tried that. It also slow ticked when the ignition was in the ON position as well (without the turn signal switch engaged). Pretty weird. Had another older thermal type 552, tried that, it's not 'ticking', I guess when in doubt, keep trying different blinker modules :?
Author:  Eatkinson [ Thu Oct 09, 2025 11:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
The old thermal flasher module didn't last long, now it's doing some weird clicking sound, no outside lights or dash lights activate, just the sound that started this morning, wasn't doing it last weekend when I went for a drive and the flasher was operating as per normal. Seriously bizarre, going to get one of Dan's recommended flashers and see how that goes. I have no idea how old this thermal flasher was or why I had it knocking about in the glovebox.

At this point, I'd typically think something else is wrong other than the flasher modules. Phantom clicking from both the old one and a new replacement, now this thermal module which worked suddenly doesn't. What else is there to check? Where might suspect wiring or contact be occurring?
Author:  mcnoople [ Fri Oct 10, 2025 5:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Phantom Clicking
Hook an amp-meter up between the flasher and wiring to the flasher. See is any current is flowing when the lights are in not actively in a "turn" position.

My memory (which can be wrong) is that the flasher is before the turn signal switch and pulses power to the switch which distributes it to each side as selected.

If you have a small short to ground between the flasher and the switch it will cause the flasher to click as if it was engaged. If it is a small enough load it will click slowly. Also I don't believe that the indicator would light up with this issue.

The amp-meter will tell you if there is power flowing through the flasher if you hook it up correctly. ANY current flow with the switch in the neutral position is bad, the meter will just tell you how bad.

Sources of unwanted power flow to ground can be wet terminals, bare/pinched wires, some corrosions can cause it.



I once saw a 2013ish minivan burn a dash harness due to small short to ground. Somebody had installed a GPS tracker to its DLC connector and wrapped its wiring around the steering shaft under the dash. That shaft (that does turn) rubbed through the insulation of the wire and blew the fuse. Some idiot replaced the blown 10amp fuse with a 30amp fuse, 30 amps flowing through wires designed/sized for 10 amps or less of current flow will melt.
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