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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

One blinker not working

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Old Jan 3, 2018 | 10:05 PM
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One blinker not working

Hey I am new to this site but have read many of the forums and it has helped me solve many problems with my project truck. Currently I have a 1982 f150 with the 300 inline 6. My problem is that the driver blinker will not work. I originally thought it was a bad bulb so I changed that along with the socket. Then I tried replacing the fuse and it still wouldn't work. To make the situation even more weird the passenger side works but when I turn the day lights on the driver side works but the passenger side doesn't come on. I was hoping y'all can share some insight and different things to try to get them back working properly. Any suggestions are welcomed and thank y'all!
 
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Old Jan 3, 2018 | 11:15 PM
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Here's a short thread with some troubleshooting suggestions from several members, self included:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-problems.html

No resolution was ever posted, though. If the tips above do help, be sure to update this current thread with the fix. If none of the above tips help, let us know that, too. Hopefully we could figure out something.

Edit: One more possibility not referenced above - Look for any trailer plug wiring. Blame it on a previous owner, but often such wiring mods are poorly done and can cause problems.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2018 | 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by jtkirbyyyyy
My problem is that the driver blinker will not work.

Any suggestions are welcomed and thank y'all!
I went through this recently myself with my new-to-me 1984 F150. In my case, the driver's side signal only worked maybe one in five tries, and when it did it blinked slow. The right hand side worked, but it seemed a bit slow as well. I replaced the flasher relay with a new electronic one ($10 bucks or so, from Carquest), and the signals worked like brand new, both sides, flashing the factory correct speed.

If you haven't tried it yet, replace the relay. It's cheap, and easy to access.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2018 | 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by kr98664
One more possibility not referenced above - Look for any trailer plug wiring. Blame it on a previous owner, but often such wiring mods are poorly done and can cause problems.

x2


I had the same problem with my 86 f250. The jabroni I bought the truck from had installed a trailer plug by splicing the wires into the harness with wire nuts!


Actually, I just fixed this problem again this morning because one of my bulbs was bad. I had to salvage a bulb from my Olds so I could drive to work.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2018 | 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Rembrant
I went through this recently myself with my new-to-me 1984 F150. In my case, the driver's side signal only worked maybe one in five tries, and when it did it blinked slow. The right hand side worked, but it seemed a bit slow as well. I replaced the flasher relay with a new electronic one ($10 bucks or so, from Carquest), and the signals worked like brand new, both sides, flashing the factory correct speed.

If you haven't tried it yet, replace the relay. It's cheap, and easy to access.
That is an easy fix and would give that a try first.
Just know there are 2 flashers. 1 on the front side of the fuse box and the other on the back side.
You ask why 2? 1 for signals and the other for 4 ways.
Dave ----
 
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Old Jan 4, 2018 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
That is an easy fix and would give that a try first.
Just know there are 2 flashers. 1 on the front side of the fuse box and the other on the back side.
You ask why 2? 1 for signals and the other for 4 ways.Dave ----

And the front one [most easily reached] is for the turn signals.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2018 | 06:17 PM
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Thank all for the input I've definitely got some new directions to try and fix this problem. I'm gonna replace the relay since it's nearly 30 years old and could probably use it and I checked the fuse in the front but I didn't know there is one in the back so I'll definitely pull the fuse box off the firewall and check it tomorrow. I'll also take a look at the trailer wiring since I have the bed off the back currently and it will be easy to access. Thank y'all for yalls help and I'll be sure to keep y'all updated on how it all goes tomorrow!
 
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Old Jan 4, 2018 | 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by jtkirbyyyyy
I didn't know there is one in the back so I'll definitely pull the fuse box off the firewall and check it tomorrow.
No need to unbolt the fusebox. It sits on protruding legs, leaving enough room to snake the flasher in and out against the firewall.

With the two flashers, watch out for confusing terms like front and back. I guess it all depends on your perspective. For the flasher facing the driver, you could say it's on the front of the fusebox, even though you could also say it's on the back (or aft side) relative to the whole vehicle.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 06:33 AM
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Originally Posted by kr98664
No need to unbolt the fusebox. It sits on protruding legs, leaving enough room to snake the flasher in and out against the firewall.

With the two flashers, watch out for confusing terms like front and back. I guess it all depends on your perspective. For the flasher facing the driver, you could say it's on the front of the fusebox, even though you could also say it's on the back (or aft side) relative to the whole vehicle.
Now you are getting into the driver passenger thing.
Two different things depending on where you live, here or down under


I would say front would be the side to the fire wall, back would be to the driver.
Just like you were sitting in the truck like for left & right.
Dave ----
 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
I would say front would be the side to the fire wall, back would be to the driver.
Just like you were sitting in the truck like for left & right.
You say ‘tomato’. I say ‘round red vegetable no kid will ever eat’.

I fully agree all orientation should be based on the view from the driver’s seat, facing forward. Doesn’t always happen that way, though. It’s easy to imagine somebody saying, ”The such and such is right there on the front of the fusebox.” Is that the firewall side? Or is the front (of the assembly) facing the driver?

You also run into problems with left/right descriptions under the hood. Is that your left while facing aft? It should be when facing forward, but this one happens a LOT because you’re typically facing aft when working on the engine. That’s why I like to specify driver or passenger side, instead of left or right. Seems foolproof, right? Should be, except when dealing online with English cars. On my Jag, my US driver’s side is the opposite of the UK version...
 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 07:12 AM
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Originally Posted by jtkirbyyyyy
Thank all for the input I've definitely got some new directions to try and fix this problem. I'm gonna replace the relay since it's nearly 30 years old and could probably use it and I checked the fuse in the front but I didn't know there is one in the back so I'll definitely pull the fuse box off the firewall and check it tomorrow. I'll also take a look at the trailer wiring since I have the bed off the back currently and it will be easy to access. Thank y'all for yalls help and I'll be sure to keep y'all updated on how it all goes tomorrow!
Flashers and fuses are common to both left and right sides. So if one side works, then it's not going to be the flasher or a fuse.

Signals that foul up when the headlights are turned on is a sign of a bad ground in that side's socket or wiring. If you have the bed off and have been doing work back there, it could well be a missing ground in the harness back there.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 07:17 AM
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Ok so I just looked at it and it looks like there is a starter relay on the side towards the firewall and one on the side facing the bed. Are those the same relay or is one specifically for one side and vice versa or can I just pick up two of the same relays at the parts store and plug and go with no specific orientation. And I agree with y'all it can get confusing when you're looking at it one way but it's really the other way! Thank y'all again for yalls help!
 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 07:20 AM
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And that's where it gets kind of weird cuz it doesn't change with the headlights on or off it's just in that orientation at any time but I'm gonna go over the wire harness in the back and make sure there's nothing that seems out of the ordinary that can cause a disturbance in the circuit.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by jtkirbyyyyy
Ok so I just looked at it and it looks like there is a starter relay on the side towards the firewall and one on the side facing the bed. Are those the same relay or is one specifically for one side and vice versa or can I just pick up two of the same relays at the parts store and plug and go with no specific orientation. And I agree with y'all it can get confusing when you're looking at it one way but it's really the other way! Thank y'all again for yalls help!
If you are trying to replace the flashers, they are round plastic or metal and look like this.

 
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Old Jan 5, 2018 | 07:33 AM
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Yes sir that's them! So they would be the same for both sides correct?
 
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