Direction signal gremlins
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Logistics Pro
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
Direction signal gremlins
I have a 97 E series with a box body and seperate turn signals from the running lights. With and without running lights, both signals work fine. When I turn on the headlights the right side stops blinking. It is still lit, just does not blink front or rear. If I turn off the headlights they work fine. Could this be the turn signal switch, or ???? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
If the fixture has a bad ground the current through the headlight/parking light circuit is finding it's way through the signal light. This limits the current flow through the flasher so it stops working. The signal on the left, if this were the case, should work normally.
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Logistics Pro
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
You are right, the left works fine. Does the power for the headlights go through the turn signal (multifunction) switch? The truck body in the back is aluminum. Would there be a seperate ground to the steel frame or can the lights (4) be grounded to the aluminum? I could go ahead and run a new ground to all of them to be sure.
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From: Virginia
Does the power for the headlights go through the turn signal (multifunction) switch?
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Logistics Pro
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Thanks again for the replies. I switched the bulbs. The sockets looked pretty clean, but I cleaned them anyway. I cannot see where the grounds go, so I just ran a wire to all the lights and then to the frame. Nothing changed. There is no seperate ground wire for the housing itself. Would it help to run one? I did notice something else. The signal lights work fine with the key in the on position, if the truck is running or not. They work fine with parking lights on, if the truck is running or not. The signals work fine with the headlights on, if the truck is not running. But they will not work with the headlights on if the truck is running. They also work when the 4 way flashers are on. They are part of the flashing system. And they work with or without the headlights and with or without the truck running. I doubt if it makes any difference, but the truck is a diesel. And the bulbs are single filiment since they only work as a turn signal. Is there anything else I should look at? Maybe just replace the front light altogether?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Maybe we are looking at the wrong end of the truck if all is clean on the RF. Try taking the RR apart an examining it in the same way.
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From: Virginia
And the bulbs are single filiment since they only work as a turn signal.
Check the rear. The only place where the signals can mess with each other is a dual filament bulb. If it were the rear, I would have thought you would have had some wierd problems when you hit the brakes(brake light not working with the headlights on, etc.) But check them anyway.
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Logistics Pro
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
I did the rear. Cleaned everything, changed the bulb. When I tried it, it worked for about 4 or 5 blinks and then stopped blinking and went solid amber. I re-did everything and it didn't help. Each light only has a black ground wire and a green power wire. Usually when I first try the right signal, it blinks once then stops. I also checked the other lights (brakes etc.), and everything else seems to work right. Are there relays for the signals since they are seperate lights? Also I noticed when I pull a trailer that the 4 way flashers don't blink with the trailer. The truck blinks and then the trailer. With my other trucks and my Expedition, they all blink together.
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From: Virginia
stopped blinking and went solid amber
When I tried it, it worked for about 4 or 5 blinks and then stopped blinking and went solid amber.
If you are going to get a meter and do some testing, see if you can get to the wires to read them and still leave the bulb in place in the socket. If you have a bad ground I expect to see a somewhat low voltage across the amber light with the headlights off, and an even lower voltage with the headlights on.
I have in the back of my mind it could be a weak flasher too, but I am going to rule that out for now since it works ok with the headlights off.
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Logistics Pro
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
Franklin, I can get to the wires with the bulb still in. I'll try that tomorrow.
As it turns out it is a problem when the truck is running. They work with the headlights on if the truck is not running. When the truck is running, they work with the running lights but not the headlights. What happens different when the truck is running that is not happening with the key in the on position?
Thanks again for the help.
As it turns out it is a problem when the truck is running. They work with the headlights on if the truck is not running. When the truck is running, they work with the running lights but not the headlights. What happens different when the truck is running that is not happening with the key in the on position?
Thanks again for the help.
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From: Virginia
What happens different when the truck is running that is not happening with the key in the on position?
The voltage is a little bit higher-that could only make it work better, not worse
There are things that have voltage on them going to the engine. This could point to a bad ground up front. You may want to check and make sure you have a ground strap from the engine block to the firewall