Turn signal / Emergency Flasher starts slow and speeds up.
On our beloved Hefalump (circa 2000 Asian Toyota SUV Sport Rider 5), when the vehicle is cold (has been sitting for 3 hours), when activated, the flashers (or turn signals) turn on and take a minute or more to turn off, half a minute to turn on again and progressively less time with each cycle. After 5 to 10 minutes of use they flash at a normal rate. Having the flasher start slowly is very strange. It would appear that the current is low making the metallic strip heat up slowly. But if this were the case, I would expect the IC to make the flasher to flash quickly. It looks like the rate at which the strip heats up increases with increasing time/use. It cools down enough to bend back but not to the temperature it was before. So, it takes less time to come up to bending temperature again. But, it cools down and releases quicker the second and subsequent times. I can't explain this. Once the vehicle has been out a while and the T/Ss used enough, the flasher does not slow down for the whole trip.
My battery is at about 12.5 volts (read at the cables, not the battery posts).
All 4 turn-signal bulbs (incandescent) light brightly (I changed one or two bulbs in the last year or two).
The under-dash fuses and under-hood fuses all check voltage/resistance OK.
I took apart the flasher and cleaned the contacts.
I bench-tested the flasher. 11.5 voltage source, 2-bulb load - it flashes rapidly. It appears that the load (resistance) isn't great enough for the bulbs to flash at a normal rate. The IC (integrated-circuit chip) sees the test circuit as having an open circuit bulb. I guess if I added in about 6 more meters of wire it might bring the resistance up to make the flasher test out at a normal rate.
I found this post and it spoke to me. I changed out the 10 Amp T/S fuse under the dash and the T/S flashed regularly - for awhile. Now it does sometimes and sometimes it still starts slow.
Taking a bulb out makes t/s flash rapidly. That circuit is working. The slow start happens with both T/Ss and the emergency flasher. That indicates that it is not a bulb problem nor wiring at a particular bulb. I want to check the ground wire on the fuse panel, the T/S fuse contacts, and the flasher.
