blinker making noise
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: spokane, wa
blinker making noise
I have a 98 Ranger XLT, and for the past year or so the blinker will make an electrical type noise sometimes when signaling left only. It doesn't happen everytime I signal, and sometimes it will do it when the blinker lever is pushed all the way down. The sound is similar to the sound you get if you put your tongue on the roof of your mouth with saliva and pass air through it. Sorry to be so disgusting in my description, but that's exactly what it sounds like. Also, when the noise is occuring the blinker will not work. I'm figuring I'll have to replace whatever needs replaced in there, but I don't have a clue what that is. I'm hoping someone here has experienced this before and can shed some light on the problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1
From: Perry,Ga.
The smart stick is going bad{turne singal \wipers off/on swich} you can try to clean it or get a new one BIG$$$$.The one on my 96X did the same thing.I cleaned it worked good for 3 months now.Oh yea something for everybody DONT HANG ANYTHING OFF YOUR TURN-SINGAL STICK.it will caust the above problem to happen sooner!It goes bad fast enough as it is.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 16
From: Connecticut
Most Ford multifunction switches are similar, and they all suffer from the same maladies. Cruise any Ranger, Taurus, T-Bird, etc. forum and you will see the same thing.
This is a nice writeup on how to clean the Ford "stalk", taken from the SHOTimes website:
"...Pop off short end cap from wiper stalk. It is only the tip of the part you rotate for wipers. I pried from the dash side in case I marred it. A screw is now visible. Take it out and (with a rag to in place to catch pieces) remove the ****.
The detent mechanism is simply a spring across and through the stalk with end caps. The intermittant wiper variable resitor type contact pad is in the base end of the stalk. A piece under the **** has contacts that hit different point of the contact pad as you rotate the ****. Washer contacts are in the end of the ****.
Clean out the existing grease. Mine was rather thick which I think was the problem. The rec.autos guy thought it was dirty contacts. I cleaned all with solvent. With the contacts propped up with a Q-tip I also cleaned them with a pencil eraser. The Q-tip was also used to slightly bend the contacts to increase contact force. Before assy I put a light coating of dielectric grease on parts.
The wiper stalk (multi-function switch in Ford parlance) is expensive. The faults are irritating. The cure is simple and free. Enjoy."
Cheap fix, if indeed a dirty stalk is your problem. Worth giving it a shot, IMO.
This is a nice writeup on how to clean the Ford "stalk", taken from the SHOTimes website:
"...Pop off short end cap from wiper stalk. It is only the tip of the part you rotate for wipers. I pried from the dash side in case I marred it. A screw is now visible. Take it out and (with a rag to in place to catch pieces) remove the ****.
The detent mechanism is simply a spring across and through the stalk with end caps. The intermittant wiper variable resitor type contact pad is in the base end of the stalk. A piece under the **** has contacts that hit different point of the contact pad as you rotate the ****. Washer contacts are in the end of the ****.
Clean out the existing grease. Mine was rather thick which I think was the problem. The rec.autos guy thought it was dirty contacts. I cleaned all with solvent. With the contacts propped up with a Q-tip I also cleaned them with a pencil eraser. The Q-tip was also used to slightly bend the contacts to increase contact force. Before assy I put a light coating of dielectric grease on parts.
The wiper stalk (multi-function switch in Ford parlance) is expensive. The faults are irritating. The cure is simple and free. Enjoy."
Cheap fix, if indeed a dirty stalk is your problem. Worth giving it a shot, IMO.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: spokane, wa
Thanks Rockledge! I'll give it a try probably next weekend. This afternoon is off limits as we are having my kids and grandkids over for barbque. Tomorrow is my birthday so we're having the get together today. 50, in case you wondered.
Hey, nice Springer. We have a black and white one. I'll let you know how this works out.
I have to say, the fix for my plenum box heater control works great and it didn't cost me a cent!! $700 plus at the shop!!That's how I found this forum. I'll use it again no doubt. Maybe I'll be the one that knows something one of these days.
Hey, nice Springer. We have a black and white one. I'll let you know how this works out.
I have to say, the fix for my plenum box heater control works great and it didn't cost me a cent!! $700 plus at the shop!!That's how I found this forum. I'll use it again no doubt. Maybe I'll be the one that knows something one of these days.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 16
From: Connecticut
Hey there, Happy BD!
The name of my Springer (and best bud) is Alex. Great dog. Slowing down a little bit now at age 12, but he still has plenty of spunk left.
As for you one day "knowing something" and helping out a fellow Ford Trucker here at FTE, we are counting on it.
The name of my Springer (and best bud) is Alex. Great dog. Slowing down a little bit now at age 12, but he still has plenty of spunk left.
As for you one day "knowing something" and helping out a fellow Ford Trucker here at FTE, we are counting on it.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1
From: Perry,Ga.
Rockledge
Thanks for the info on cleaning that will help me to do a bettre job oon mine the next time also you might went to make that a sticky .
Thanks for the info on cleaning that will help me to do a bettre job oon mine the next time also you might went to make that a sticky .
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: spokane, wa
Thanks guys. We had great little get together last night with my three kids, and two of the four grandkids, plus a couple I haven't seen for a few years that happened to be close and stopped by.
Almost coincidentally, our springers name is Lexi. She's about 7 or 8. I can't remember what year we actually got her. They are the best dogs, except for the Wiemerwiener (sp) our neighbors had when I was a kid. Talk about a great kids dog!! Her name was Sherry and she stuck to us like glue. That was the only animal my Grandmother ever knowingly let sleep in the house, and it wasn't even our dog!! Man, what great memories.
Almost coincidentally, our springers name is Lexi. She's about 7 or 8. I can't remember what year we actually got her. They are the best dogs, except for the Wiemerwiener (sp) our neighbors had when I was a kid. Talk about a great kids dog!! Her name was Sherry and she stuck to us like glue. That was the only animal my Grandmother ever knowingly let sleep in the house, and it wasn't even our dog!! Man, what great memories.
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