I have a 2006 HHR; recently, on two occasions about a month apart, the left turn signal flashes about twice as fast as normal. On both occasions, the flash speed returned to normal after less than 20 miles of driving. When this happens, the right turn signal flash speed is always normal, as is the 4-way flasher. From past experience, a faster than normal flash usually indicated the turn signal capacitor was going bad. I know a bad bulb will generate a faster than normal flash rate, but a bad bulb does not self-repair.

I do believe the 4-way flasher would have its own capacitor, but I can't believe there would be two separate capacitors for the turn signals. I'm not even certain the HHR uses capacitors to generate the turn signal flashes.

If anyone has experienced the same issue and has diagnosed the cause, or has any suggestions what might be the cause, please let me know.

Thanks

 

The HHR does not have an old style plug in flasher. The flash is controlled by the BCM.
You may have a bulb that is not making good contact in the socket. Thus the reason your problem happens then seems to fix itself.

I recently had the same thing happening on my old truck. It would flash quickly every now and then. When it did it again, I got out and saw the rear bulb was not flashing but the front was. Pulled the bulb, wasn't blown, but the contacts looked corroded. Put in a new bulb with a dab of dielectric grease and everything is fine now.

 

I'll troubleshoot the bulbs later today. With all the potholes in my area of Northern VA, I've probably jarred the bulb to where it does not make good, continuous contact, or has weakened the filament.

 

Yes, double check those signal bulbs, and check the sockets for any corrosion, and the bulbs for a loose filament, and check the grounds up front inside the wheel well inner fender and in the cubby hole in the back inside the plastic cover.

 

Check bulb connections as when the fast turn signal happened to me, it was a bulb that burned out. The front ones were a PITA to change, but the rears were much easier.

 

Actually the filament in a bulb, can separate, and under the right circumstances, vibrate back in place, though it will only be temporary.

 

Yep ^^ I've had that happen several times, and it's a bugger to figure out because when you check them they always seem to work at that moment.
It's probably the rear as they are used more than the front (brake lights). just open that panel in the rear and the bulb can be removed easily by twisting the socket by hand. The fronts are a pain....