I think you’re on to something
Fast blinker caused by low sun
I've been able to determine that for my car, I get the fast blinks when the sun level is very low and behind me.
I've been able to confirm on various days that this is the case. It happens very consistently for me that it's not a coincidence.
On my drive to work, I have no issues with the blinker for most of the drive since the sun is either to my left or infront of me. But there is one section of my drive where the sun is behind me. As soon as I get the sun behind me, I get the fast blinker. As soon as I turn and have the sun to my side again, it goes away.
On another occasion, I've been driving with the low sun behind me on a highway. If I turn on my turn signal, I get the fast blinking. If I duck under an overpass, the blinker returns to normal briefly while I'm in the shadow, then goes back to fast blinking once I'm out of it.
I've also found that on some days where the road is a bit wet, it's very reflective and bright on a sunny day and I've had that trigger the issue as well.
I'm not here to discredit that it's the cold weather that causes this issue, but cold weather doesn't seem to be a factor for my car. I live in Canada so we've already had multiple -5C days already and I've had no issue in the mornings when I first drive off since I'm still in shade where I live. Also never had an issue driving at night in -5C. I think what some people might be experiencing is the same issue that I'm having. It's just that in the winter, the sun is lower, so maybe it's being falsely attributed to the cold weather. It's more apparent to me in the winter because of this. In the summer I got it maybe twice but could never figure it out at the time.
Really easy to test this to see if you have the same issue. Just point your rear at the sun on a clear sunny day when it's maybe 1 hour before sunset or after sunrise. Hope this helps some people.
=================================
Edit:
Going to summarize the thread in this post.
So far we've had CamryGang, Chris1, Xperivent, SoldMyFiatForThis, slowv6, Lemming, rpeterson53, TRU-BOOST and Ritter chime in and confirm they've had the hyperflash issue with low level sunlight blasting the tail lights. I'm sure there's many more who may have experienced this.
Here are some videos documenting the issue:
A solution is to tint the indicators to block the sunlight from interfering with the signals. Not sure of the legality of this where you live, but it's better than no signal. Actually, there was a guy who got pulled over for not signaling when he had the hyperflash issue. Of course when he went to show the officer, it started working again... bad luck. See Fast blinker caused by low sun
The consensus on why this issue occurs is because LEDs can also work like solar cells. If you hit an LED with enough solar energy, it will produce a voltage against the applied voltage by the turn signal, reducing the applied voltage below the energy band gap required to light up the LED. See Fast blinker caused by low sun
Cold weather seems to make the issue worse. I've experienced an issue at -20C at night where headlights from cars will trigger the hyperflash. See Fast blinker caused by low sun
Please chime in if you've experienced this and if you can, document the issue on video.
March 7 2023: @slowv6 shared a Canadian service bulletin SB.07.10.2022 which describes one of the symptoms we've been seeing. The bulletin was released July 29 2022. A production change as of VIN N9704029 introduced new rear combination lamps. Seems like we can assume that any BRZ or GR86 made before July 10 2022 will have the issue with hyperflash. The remedy is to have the tail lights replaced.
For reference, the last 4 digits of my vin is 2363, so I should fall under warranty.
March 20 2023: I was able to use the service bulletin to get my taillights replaced, and can confirm the new revised taillights have resolved the hyperflash issue. I was lucky enough to have the right conditions when I visited the dealer so I was able to show the issue in person. Also grabbed another video. When talking with the service rep, I brought up the service bulletin. They were not aware of the bulletin, but were able to find it in their system. Since my car was built before the VIN stated in the bulletin, they were able to get Subaru of Canada to get replacement taillights and I didn't have to pay for anything related to that. Also spoke with the Transport Canada agent who was following up on the complaint I opened a month back. They've got my old taillights in their possession and are working with Subaru to see if a recall will be issued.
I've been able to confirm on various days that this is the case. It happens very consistently for me that it's not a coincidence.
On my drive to work, I have no issues with the blinker for most of the drive since the sun is either to my left or infront of me. But there is one section of my drive where the sun is behind me. As soon as I get the sun behind me, I get the fast blinker. As soon as I turn and have the sun to my side again, it goes away.
On another occasion, I've been driving with the low sun behind me on a highway. If I turn on my turn signal, I get the fast blinking. If I duck under an overpass, the blinker returns to normal briefly while I'm in the shadow, then goes back to fast blinking once I'm out of it.
I've also found that on some days where the road is a bit wet, it's very reflective and bright on a sunny day and I've had that trigger the issue as well.
I'm not here to discredit that it's the cold weather that causes this issue, but cold weather doesn't seem to be a factor for my car. I live in Canada so we've already had multiple -5C days already and I've had no issue in the mornings when I first drive off since I'm still in shade where I live. Also never had an issue driving at night in -5C. I think what some people might be experiencing is the same issue that I'm having. It's just that in the winter, the sun is lower, so maybe it's being falsely attributed to the cold weather. It's more apparent to me in the winter because of this. In the summer I got it maybe twice but could never figure it out at the time.
Really easy to test this to see if you have the same issue. Just point your rear at the sun on a clear sunny day when it's maybe 1 hour before sunset or after sunrise. Hope this helps some people.
=================================
Edit:
Going to summarize the thread in this post.
So far we've had CamryGang, Chris1, Xperivent, SoldMyFiatForThis, slowv6, Lemming, rpeterson53, TRU-BOOST and Ritter chime in and confirm they've had the hyperflash issue with low level sunlight blasting the tail lights. I'm sure there's many more who may have experienced this.
Here are some videos documenting the issue:
A solution is to tint the indicators to block the sunlight from interfering with the signals. Not sure of the legality of this where you live, but it's better than no signal. Actually, there was a guy who got pulled over for not signaling when he had the hyperflash issue. Of course when he went to show the officer, it started working again... bad luck. See Fast blinker caused by low sun
The consensus on why this issue occurs is because LEDs can also work like solar cells. If you hit an LED with enough solar energy, it will produce a voltage against the applied voltage by the turn signal, reducing the applied voltage below the energy band gap required to light up the LED. See Fast blinker caused by low sun
Cold weather seems to make the issue worse. I've experienced an issue at -20C at night where headlights from cars will trigger the hyperflash. See Fast blinker caused by low sun
Please chime in if you've experienced this and if you can, document the issue on video.
March 7 2023: @slowv6 shared a Canadian service bulletin SB.07.10.2022 which describes one of the symptoms we've been seeing. The bulletin was released July 29 2022. A production change as of VIN N9704029 introduced new rear combination lamps. Seems like we can assume that any BRZ or GR86 made before July 10 2022 will have the issue with hyperflash. The remedy is to have the tail lights replaced.
For reference, the last 4 digits of my vin is 2363, so I should fall under warranty.
March 20 2023: I was able to use the service bulletin to get my taillights replaced, and can confirm the new revised taillights have resolved the hyperflash issue. I was lucky enough to have the right conditions when I visited the dealer so I was able to show the issue in person. Also grabbed another video. When talking with the service rep, I brought up the service bulletin. They were not aware of the bulletin, but were able to find it in their system. Since my car was built before the VIN stated in the bulletin, they were able to get Subaru of Canada to get replacement taillights and I didn't have to pay for anything related to that. Also spoke with the Transport Canada agent who was following up on the complaint I opened a month back. They've got my old taillights in their possession and are working with Subaru to see if a recall will be issued.
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Interesting. Do you have cross traffic and back up collision on your car?
The sensors for blind spot detection are in the rear. I wonder if intense light right in the sensor "blinds" it. Rather than beep to make you think there is a car there it might just do a fast blink to let you know the system is blind and you are on your own. 🤷🏻♂️
When I get the fast blink I’ve never noticed the side blind spot light being on…The sensors for blind spot detection are in the rear. I wonder if intense light right in the sensor "blinds" it. Rather than beep to make you think there is a car there it might just do a fast blink to let you know the system is blind and you are on your own. 🤷🏻♂️
Interesting. I'll try to pay attention to where the sun is next time it happens to me.
This is very interesting to hear. I thought it was just my car being weird at random times while driving when the blinker would go very fast. I figured with the dash being all electric that I simply had an electrical gremlin.
From a wiring and logic perspective I don't seen how this correlation could exist. Typically, fast blinkers happen when the voltage of the turn signal is lower than expected.
Unless there's crosstalk between the wiring from the blind spot monitors and the wiring for the rear turn signals, this is probably just a coincidence, especially considering there are other factors in play, like time of day, time car is sitting, etc.
What might be good is to monitor the voltage via the gauge cluster and see if there's a coorelation.
Unless there's crosstalk between the wiring from the blind spot monitors and the wiring for the rear turn signals, this is probably just a coincidence, especially considering there are other factors in play, like time of day, time car is sitting, etc.
What might be good is to monitor the voltage via the gauge cluster and see if there's a coorelation.
I still only hear of this phenomenon on here. Never experienced it.
Tbh I usually only see it when turning on my blinker and there’s someone in the blind spot. Thought it was warming so you didn’t merge
I have base manual. No blind spot monitoring.
Darn. I guess that would have been too easy.I have base manual. No blind spot monitoring.
Is this a joke. 1 post, hasn't even replied once since posting 🤣
Who knows. I just rack my 86 up to being a glorious sh** box when it does something completely random.
When you turn your car rear towards the sun. Your trunk n back half of the car gets warmer. But the front would remain cold. The interior doesnt get as warm due to smaller green house n the angle of the back window vs winshield. (Battery is in the front , directly under the hood) I think this is still related to cold temp and low voltage.
I have been saying this since I got my car but many people just excused it as co incident. Its not. It happens a lot more when my car being cold or even freezing over night. The hyper flash fix itself after I put on harzrd or try to use the blinker for few more times.
Some claimed the dealer knows how to fix it. My issue is by the time I get to my dealer , the problem would have fixed itself.
I have been saying this since I got my car but many people just excused it as co incident. Its not. It happens a lot more when my car being cold or even freezing over night. The hyper flash fix itself after I put on harzrd or try to use the blinker for few more times.
Some claimed the dealer knows how to fix it. My issue is by the time I get to my dealer , the problem would have fixed itself.
The sensors for blind spot detection are completely behind the rear bumper cover, because they’re radar sensors and radar doesn’t need to see anything.The sensors for blind spot detection are in the rear. I wonder if intense light right in the sensor "blinds" it. Rather than beep to make you think there is a car there it might just do a fast blink to let you know the system is blind and you are on your own. 🤷🏻♂️
Or sure, be sensible about it. To which all I can say is does the original problem make any sense? I'm sure once we figure it out, it will. Until then, it is an intriguing mystery. All theories entertained.The sensors for blind spot detection are completely behind the rear bumper cover, because they’re radar sensors and radar doesn’t need to see anything.
BRZ Sport Tech/Limited, manual. Just had it happen to me again this morning on the way to work. Low sun behind me on that one stretch of road. Otherwise no issue on any other part of the drive.
No blind spot warnings or anything. Guess I'll have to wait for a really cold day to confirm everything. I forgot to mention this in the original post, but I've experienced this at 12-15C as well.
Also don't know how the sun could be causing the issue, but it happens so consistently and predictably now for me that it's no coincidence.
No blind spot warnings or anything. Guess I'll have to wait for a really cold day to confirm everything. I forgot to mention this in the original post, but I've experienced this at 12-15C as well.
Also don't know how the sun could be causing the issue, but it happens so consistently and predictably now for me that it's no coincidence.
Blinker log:
51 degrees
Cloudy
Normal blinker operation
51 degrees
Cloudy
Normal blinker operation
The OP didn't mention trying to replace the lights. This thread is over. 😂
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