1998 4runner right turn signal problems

My sister has a 1998 4runner. When the headlights are on and the right turn signal is on, the turn signal flashes rapidly along with the reverse position indicator on instrument panel when the brakes are applied. Outside the car, the right taillight flashes along with the brake light, when turn signal is turned on. When the headlights are off, everything is fine. The ABS light is also on. The car was rear ended on the right rear and quarter panel, destroying the taillight lense. I replaced the taillight assembly, and everything worked fine. That was 1 month ago. Wiring to the taillight seems fine. Any suggestions?

 

Pics of sister?

 

Jk trailer hitch short?

 

My abs light has been on for 15 years.

 

Hahaha. You're a funny fkr. She's beautiful! No shorts in trailer lights.

 

I know the multifunction signal stalk on mine went bad and I would get a super fast flashing of the turn signal. I just bought a new turn signal stalk from an online Toyota dealer (Amazon's were defective counterfeits) and it went away. I never actually got out and observed what it really looked like.

 

Check your grounds, if it's been in an accident check the wiring carefully in that area, I've seen dual filament bulbs damaged, one filament breaks loose on one end and it touches the other, causes all kinds of goofy things to happen

 

A lot of the time, the problem with the "Stalk" is that the contacts develop a coating of corrosion, and/or contact residue, that blocks, or partly blocks, current through them. Makes the turn signals not work, or not work correctly. The rapid flashing is an indication of one circuit, like the right turn signal, just for example, having a bad bulb. I think, if it's a design feature Toyota engineered in, they had a good idea. If it's just a serendipity, well, Toyota folks got lucky
Make sure, if you want to try and repair it yourself, pull the stalk assembly out of the column, take a small dental pick, and break any corrosion build up off the contacts, then take a very fine grit sandpaper, or ruby cloth, something like that, and polish all the contacts. They're all out in the open, easy to get to, easy to work on. You don't even need to unplug the assembly from the whole system.

Another problem the stalk can develop is that the thin metal bars the contacts are on bend over time, until they no longer make correctly. This is an easy repair. Just watch as you move the stalk, like say to the left turn direction. You can easily see when a pair of contacts that SHOULD make, don't. Just bend the thin metal bar slightly, until the contacts make correctly.

Does this help at all? I just thought you might save a few bucks buying a whole new stalk assembly, when you can just pull the one you have, clean it up, bend a few thin metal bars, and put it back in, good as new.

Good luck,
Pat☺