So this is a two part problem. It might or might not be related.

the other day, my backup camera (which is activated via the port for the reverse lights in the drivers side rear taillight) started acting up. It would turn on the backup camera and act like I was in reverse, even though I was going forward or in park. Did it repeatedly, as if I was secretly switching into reverse. I did not check to see if the taillights were turning on though (haven't had an opportunity to do that just yet).

I disconnected it because it was annoying.

And then today, while driving I got the dreaded quick flash whenever I would turn on the left turn indicator. I checked the bulbs, and they were fine. In fact, I had replaced all of the bulbs recently, and cleaned the rear sockets and the front lenses were new too.

However...this is where it gets weird.

If I was at an intersection and I was stopped, with the indicator on turning left, the usual click of the indicator/relay, was really weird sounding. It would speed up when I was stopped, and almost make a weird double click sound. And when I would accelerate into traffic, the clicking sound would slow down (in fact, it would slow down to a rate slower than typical).

When I checked the bulb on the rear light assembly, I pushed in on the plug thinking that maybe there was some corrosion I didn't see. It temporarily seemed to fix it, but after the car sat for a bit (probably 45 minutes) it started up again. Not only did the light flicker quick like there was an issue with a bulb, but it also made a weird sound (I liken it to sounding like it was arching).

And it also seemed to have a pattern in 4 time. As in instead of being "click-clock click-clock click-clock click-clock" with no real variation, it was going "click-clock click-clock click-clock clickAclock" and start the pattern over. Also, the arching sound comes back.

It's ONLY when I turn on the left indicator. I wanted to test to see if maybe it was the flasher itself that was bad (since I believe the relay for the turn indicators are in the flasher switch??) and the noise wasn't there when I turn on the flasher.

Anyone have any experience with this? Hoping it's a simple and stupid fix (it seems to always be).

Thanks in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nCzUaQk2cPI (this link should work. This is the sound. the first part is the left indicator and then the right, and at the tail end is back to the left indicator).

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1985 245. 246K Gone...but not forgotten. Sold in 2013, found 2018! Still running on the road. Of course. 1993 Volvo 850 soon to be gone