98 Accord: Turn Signals Flaky

I've got a 1998 Accord LX. Great car. Nearly 6 years old, but it
almost feels brand new.

On cold winter mornings, the turn signals can act flaky. Sometimes,
after flicking the lever, the turn signal will flash (and click) at
double the normal speed for 5 seconds or so. Sometimes, it won't flash
or light up at all for several seconds. Sometimes it will do several
double-speed flashes, then get stuck and stop flashing altogether for
a while, then flash normally, etc.

After signaling a few turns, and after the car warms up, the turn
signals begin to operate normally. In warmer weather, they have always
worked fine. Last winter, this problem happened a little bit now and
then, but this winter, it's more common and more severe.

Is there a relay or a flasher module that could be replaced to fix
this? Any ballpark guesses on cost?

Or is this some problem with the electrical connection to the bulbs?

 

Mine did the same thing last year (winter). I had replaced the flasher and
it made no difference. This year it hasn't acted up. And it's way colder.

 

Flashing at faster than normal speed is normally a sign that a bulb has
gone bad. The intermittent nature for you could mean you have a bulb which
is making bad contact or there is a problem with wiring or ground. Has the
car ever been in an accident?

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

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Lagged,

If moisture gets in the socket, then freezes, it will pry the bulb away
from it's proper connection. Some models of Honda are bad for leaking
water around the taillights. Maybe you could do a Google search on this
topic and see if yours is one of them.

I'd seal up the leak, and then put silicone grease into the bulb sockets
to keep any future condensation from corroding everything.

'Curly'

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Thank you all for your suggestions - if we get a break in the weather,
I'll check out the signal bulb connections and look for leaks.