I recently bought a 2003 Expedition XLT. When I bought it the turn signals worked intermittently--sometimes they would flash two to four times then stop, sometimes they worked correctly for a day or two, and sometimes they just don't work. When I asked a mechanic at a garage he said it was a flasher relay switch. So I pulled out the owners manual and found the relay switch in the fuse box. Went to the parts store to get a flasher, but it didn't fit in the fuse box. So the parts counter guy at the Ford store said the "flasher" and a "flasher relay" are two different things. But, to even confuse things more, the service manager at the Ford store said it was probably the "multi-function switch". The multi-function switch also controls the wipers/washers for both front and rear, the headlight dimmer, and the hazard lights--everything works but the turn signals.
I don't have a problem replacing the multi-function switch, but I'd prefer to be sure that that is the problem before I spent $130 on a non-returnable part.
Any ideas??

 

Does it matter whether you have the left or the right signal on?

When the signal(s) fail, do the 4-way flashers still work correctly?

Do the stop lamps (all of them) work correctly>

Have you tried putting the steering column all the way up and see if that makes any difference?


It might be the flasher relay, the multiswitch or its connector, or the column wiring harness. Need more data to see if it can be pinned down.

 

Yes if the emergency flashers work but the turn signals don't it's the multfunction switch on the steering column. They share the same flashing relay, located at the driver's left knee bolster area, just under the headlight switch. If neither work I'd say it's the flasher relay or fuse.
They just wear out, or can be damaged if someone hangs on it. Or, like my dad, grabs it as he's falling out of the truck and takes it with him.... You can order one from Rock Auto for under $100 .



-Mike



Look up under the dash left side for this.... it's easy to see but normally has a plastic cover over it. I removed the cover when I put the LED flasher in it's place.

 

Thanks for responding. Everything works, except the turn signals. Everything works, with the column up or down, except the turn signals. Both the right and left turn signals act the same, and everything else still works when the signal lever is in any of the three positions.

 

i had this with my last truck, it was the trailer plug; the terminals had corroded badly and voltage was jumping terminals, making my turn signals do crazy things. i'd pull that apart, it's easy enough to do, and if it does need replaced i paid less than $10 for mine (this is after spending $60 on a multifunction switch that didn't fix my problem).

 

Easy enough to check. Just pull fuses F36 & F42 from the CJB

 

Assuming that the hazards do indeed work correctly without any fault ---

I'd suggest first pulling the shrouds off the steering column and performing a very careful examination of the wiring pins as the enter the back of the plastic connector shells that connect to the MFS. You might have a "pushed pin" that's causing an intermittent connection. Look for a light blue wire.

After that, I'd try a new flasher followed by the MFS.

 

I ordered and replaced the multi-function switch, with a NIB FoMoCo part. This did not solve the problem. Everything functions exactly as before. At least I shouldn't have to worry about it wearing out anytime soon.

I checked the trailer electrical connections. There doesn't seem to be any corrosion. I also removed the relevant fuses for the trailer connections. but this made no changes in the way that the turn signals functioned, even after the new MFS was installed.

I have located the flasher relay, located at the driver's left knee bolster area, just under the headlight switch. I cannot figure out how to remove it, to replace it. It is tucked in so tightly that I can barely touch it with two fingers. There is no way I can come close to getting a strong enough hold of it to remove it. And I can't even seem to figure out what amount of dismantling of the dash structure would have to be done to gain the necessary access.

I guess I am off to the mechanic, soon. I don't have any turn signals at all, they quit working completely shortly after my first post. And I hate being "that guy" that we all yell at for not signaling.

 

Did you check fuses #2 and #18?

 

I would have checked the stuff in the order I recommended, not bass ackwards....

 

Well I did, check the fuses first. And I checked the trailer connections. And, as I said I can't get to the flasher, up under the dash, but as you suggested, the hazard lights work correctly, and since they use the same flasher, I am assuming that it is good. It's not easy to remove the steering column shrouds, but I did. And you have to remove it in order to change out the MFS anyway. So, as for inspecting the wiring going into the plugs and all of the other wiring under the shrouds. I did. Nothing appeared to be out of order, damaged, loose, broken or unplugged. It is not likely that there are damaged pins inside of a plugged in connection, that likely has never been disconnected since it was installed in June of 2003. And the last thing I did was install a new MFS, before I put everything back together. Sorry I didn't have the last post chronologically ordered correctly.

I read and heeded the advise of everyone who responded, and the service manager at a Ford dealership, and the mechanic who has been servicing mine and my families vehicles for the last 9 years. Everything and almost everyone pointed to the MFS.

I am afraid I am going to have to let someone else fix it from here...
Next project is the temp control and airflow actuators for the rear climate control...but I think Hamfisted Mike has that covered in a previous post.

 

Did you get this problem fixed? if you did, what was the fix? I have the same problem. In my case, the flasher relay was good, a new MFS was installed, and there appears to be no visible wiring damage.

 

No. Still not fixed. Need a day to drop it off at the mechanic's shop.