Turn signal (buzz/vibration)
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Turn signal (buzz/vibration)
When I activate my left turn signal, I hear a "Buzzing" type sound occasionally. The sound seems to be coming from the steering column, although its hard to tell. Any ideas?
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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The noise is coming from the solid state flasher, caused by poor contact in the multifunction switch( ts/wiper/hazard/high beam). The switch is $68 at ford dealers. It takes about 20 minutes to replace. I changed mine this summer. Supposedly the new switch has been redesigned to stop this defect.
Roy
Roy
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Lethbridge,Alberta,Canada
Or it could be coming from the flasher which is also located on the steering colum. If you look under your dash, it's a little yellow square thing with a yellow plug. There will be 4 wires coming out of the plug. Oh yeah, what year is your Explorer?
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by Glemch
When I activate my left turn signal, I hear a "Buzzing" type sound occasionally. The sound seems to be coming from the steering column, although its hard to tell. Any ideas?
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
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you ever figure this out? my explorer does the same thing. now it does it every time i put on the left turn signal and the lights do not work at all. the right turn works fine with no buzzing. any ideas? i'll check the multifunction switch. where is it located?
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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The multi function switch is the turn signal lever. The only way to test it is to replace it.
Scucci
Scucci
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,263
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From: BC Canada
I dissassembled mine on 97 Exp, cleaned all contacts, lubricated and reinstalled, has worked faithfully for past 4 yrs.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
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ok, it works like a charm now. here's what i did after reading a few other posts:
disconnected negative battery cable.
removed the tilt lever.
removed the 3 philips head screws holding the column covers on.
silde off upper and lower column covers.
removed 2 torx heads holding switch on.
unplugged both plugs.
blew dust out of contacts with compressed air.
sprayed plugs and switch with $7 contact cleaner from radio shack.
put on a bit of dielectric grease.
put it all back together.
20 minute job.
if that hadn't worked, i would have bought a new switch, but i was able to save myself the 65 bucks. a penny saved is a penny earned.....
disconnected negative battery cable.
removed the tilt lever.
removed the 3 philips head screws holding the column covers on.
silde off upper and lower column covers.
removed 2 torx heads holding switch on.
unplugged both plugs.
blew dust out of contacts with compressed air.
sprayed plugs and switch with $7 contact cleaner from radio shack.
put on a bit of dielectric grease.
put it all back together.
20 minute job.
if that hadn't worked, i would have bought a new switch, but i was able to save myself the 65 bucks. a penny saved is a penny earned.....
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2007
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Our 96 did the same thing and it was the entire switch unit that was bad. When we pulled it apart it looks like it was arcing and melted a few things in there. Like scucci says you need to replace. You could pull the unit apart and take a try at fixing it but your rig will be down for maintenance for a while. No turn signals, no wipers, no hi/low beams - it's an all in one switch.
New User
Joined: May 2007
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Originally Posted by mason
Ohters have successful tried spraying contact cleaner into the switch through the hazards button on top. Repeatedly push the button while spraying the cleaner. Might want to try this before disassembling.
Mason
Mason
Please
What is contact cleaner and where do I get some?
Labmom
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,263
Likes: 92
From: BC Canada
Dont waste you time with the spray, either re/re or take it apart and do it right, clean and adjust all contacts. Once it was out it took 20 min to fix, you will have to take it out to replace anyway, and you might learn something.
Last edited by aquanaut20; May 10, 2007 at 06:54 PM.
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