The right blinker will blink, but the parking light does not work. they both work off the same bulb. i tried another bulb but it stays the same. now the connection has three wires that goes into a stock looking metal connector. The left blinker connector look to be an after market plastic one. i wonder what should i do to fix it. try re-wiring the old one, or get a new connector.

1987 F150 2wd
4.9L, 4 spd manual
31X10.5X15 BF's ATs
3" suspension lift
163,000 and counting

 

get a replacement socket assembly , these are prone to go bad on our trucks, join the club,

 

The marker and signal do go to the same bulb, but the bulb has two filamants. So consider it two bulbs for troubleshooting purposes. One wire is ground, the other two wires go to each filament. All the later model trucks I've seen have plastic sockets.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 19-Jun-01 AT 01:59 PM (EST)[/font][p]Hold on a dang minute! Don't replace ANYTHING until you follow that wire and find out if it is ok. If you replace the assembly, and then it still doesn't work, that's what you'll be doing anyway!
I had the same thing happening on my '82 F-150. The problem there turned out to be the wiring at the side marker. It was simply a matter of replacing 2 inches of wire. The series was broken there and the park light wouldn't work, but the blinker would. I know that you have the newer design which doesn't have that setup, but it'd still be wiser to follow that wire and make sure it's ok before replacing a possibly good part.
As you said, it's a three wire system, one wire (usually black) is the ground, another wire (usually brown) is the park light wire and the final wire is the one that will be different on both sides (i.e. green on one side, white on the other.) You need to follow the brown wire (or if yours is different color, follow the wire colors that the two sides have in common.) Make sure there are no breaks, frays, or any other problems that could make it ground out or not make contact. Also, make sure it is solidly connected at the socket.
If the wiring seems to check out, you can test the socket without taking it off by making a bridge wire. Carefully take a pocket knife and cut a tiny piece of the parking light wire insulation out an inch or two from the socket on both sides of the truck. Cut just enough to touch a wire to and make sure you DO NOT cut the wire. Next take a piece of 14-16 gage wire and run it so that it makes contact between the two places you just cut at. Make sure it makes good contact and then get in the truck and kick on the park lights. If the socket is good, it'll come on. If not, then it'll stay off like usual. If the socket does turn out to be good, you can always make a permanent bridge wire by a similar method or just replace the wiring leading up to the socket. If the socket doesn't work, then it is time to replace it. Make sure that after you are done, you put some electrical tape around the places where you cut for the bridge wire. Good luck with your electrical system.

 

I agree with Crazey Goodolboy. Check out the wiring going to the socket assembly. I have seen the wire connections go bad or break internally from weathering or rough driving. The other post's are also correct in it possibly being the socket assembly but I would check the wiring first. The sockets are prone to crapping out and needing replacement after time. If one side was already replaced, then I would suspect that the other side may be in need of replacment also. I would still check the wiring first though. Just some thoughts. Jake.

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

It was the socket. I fiddled around with it eventually got it to work. Its all rusted and corroded. I am going to get a new one tomorrow. For such a stupid little problem, it sure was a pain. Thanks

1987 F150 2wd
4.9L, 4 spd manual
31X10.5X15 BF's ATs
3" suspension lift
163,000 and counting