Can 1/2 of flasher go bad?
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From: Catoosa, OK
Can 1/2 of flasher go bad?
Got a problem with my blinkers...the left blinker is flashing "fast" like it does with a bad bulb and it also stops working completly at times. I have checked/changed the bulbs. The right blinker works correctly. The yellow flasher is under the sterring wheel - I thought may be a bad connection, so I banged the flasher, moved the wires, took it out of connector.
I am thinking that it may be a bad flaher on 1/2 of side?
I am thinking that it may be a bad flaher on 1/2 of side?
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From: Virginia
The flasher is common to both sides. The turnsignal switch moves it from one side to the other. If you are sure all the lights are working correctly and at the same brightness, then your turnsignal switch may have a problem.
As an extra test, see what happens when you move the turnsignal switch with the headlights on, and then the brake pedal pushed. If it acts any different during these two tests, then you probably have a bad ground at one of the bulbs.
As an extra test, see what happens when you move the turnsignal switch with the headlights on, and then the brake pedal pushed. If it acts any different during these two tests, then you probably have a bad ground at one of the bulbs.
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From: Catoosa, OK
ok...I think I figured out that I have a problem in my steering column. If the wheel is tilted all the way up, then the left blinker will flash (real fast) on the instrument panel and outside - the right blinker is at correct speed. If I drop my tilt wheel, the the left blinker quits working completly (right one still works) - raise the wheel back up and the left one starts again (real fast). Sounds like a short in the column? What color wires do I look for?
Also related - I think. The display on my stereo is fading away - it works good (sometimes) if I bang on the steering wheel. I do not have steering wheel controls for the radio, so I am not sure how this bumping the wheel helps - While I have the bottom of the column off, is there a specific color wire that I should look for to contol the radio display?
Truck is a 98 ex-cab Ranger Automatic 4x4 offroad package 4.0
Also related - I think. The display on my stereo is fading away - it works good (sometimes) if I bang on the steering wheel. I do not have steering wheel controls for the radio, so I am not sure how this bumping the wheel helps - While I have the bottom of the column off, is there a specific color wire that I should look for to contol the radio display?
Truck is a 98 ex-cab Ranger Automatic 4x4 offroad package 4.0
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From: Virginia
This is a common problem with some vehicles. See if you can find a large plug up in the column. Usually what happens is when you tilt the column, it puts a strain on the wires, and the plug becomes partially unplugged. If this turns out to be the problem, some people take wire ties and wrap them around the plugs to hold them together. Also check to make sure the contacts inside the plug are not coming out.
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A fast flashing bulb usually means a weak filament or too much draw on the circuit.
That's why when one hooks up a trailer to a vehicle that DOESN'T have a Heavy Duty flasher the lights will flash fast.
Usually Ford trucks have 2 flashers
One for hazard lights and one for TS lights
Make sure you are checking out or replacing the correct one.
That's why when one hooks up a trailer to a vehicle that DOESN'T have a Heavy Duty flasher the lights will flash fast.
Usually Ford trucks have 2 flashers
One for hazard lights and one for TS lights
Make sure you are checking out or replacing the correct one.
MSEE
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by okiejb
Thanks for the info. I will take the column apart his evening to investigate.....still can't understand the stereo situation.
When the radio display flickers, does the sound from the radio flicker as well? If so, I'd take the radio out and look at the harness. But if the sound is fine and the display is flickering, the problem is internal to the radio. This is a pretty common problem on some older stock Ford radios. Off the top of my head I don't recall it going as far as 98 but I'm sure it's possible.
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From: Catoosa, OK
Franklin2....ok, I found the plug on the column. When I was tilting my steering wheel, the wires were so tight that they were pulling out of the plug. I tugged some slack in the wires, squeezed the connectors tight and now the left and right blinker work.
BUT, the left blinker is still going really fast. As stated earlier, I have tightened all of the connectors on the column, I have pulled all of the bulbs and they all look good and work. I have inspected the flasher. Do you guys still think this is a ground somewhere?
What bout this - Mil1ion suggested about a trailer...this truck has a tow package with factory hitch. Should I be looking to see if something screwy is going on with the wires going into the trailer plug?
BUT, the left blinker is still going really fast. As stated earlier, I have tightened all of the connectors on the column, I have pulled all of the bulbs and they all look good and work. I have inspected the flasher. Do you guys still think this is a ground somewhere?
What bout this - Mil1ion suggested about a trailer...this truck has a tow package with factory hitch. Should I be looking to see if something screwy is going on with the wires going into the trailer plug?
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From: Virginia
Turn the left signal on, and then turn the headlights on. Then turn the headlights off and hit the brake pedal. If it's a bad ground, one of these circuits will affect the turn circuit, and it may even stop blinking.
Other than that I have no idea unless somewhere along the way someone has put the wrong part no bulb in the left side.
The trailer circuit shouldn't affect the signals unless a trailer is actually hooked up to it.
Other than that I have no idea unless somewhere along the way someone has put the wrong part no bulb in the left side.
The trailer circuit shouldn't affect the signals unless a trailer is actually hooked up to it.
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From: Catoosa, OK
Ok, I tried the headlight and brake and no change. I did notice today that my emergency flashers go at the correct speed.
I am going to pick up some new bulbs this evening and change out the front and back to see if that fixes the problem.
Thanks again for your help in diagnosis.
I am going to pick up some new bulbs this evening and change out the front and back to see if that fixes the problem.
Thanks again for your help in diagnosis.
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From: Catoosa, OK
Back to the stereo
When the radio display flickers, does the sound from the radio flicker as well? If so, I'd take the radio out and look at the harness. But if the sound is fine and the display is flickering, the problem is internal to the radio. This is a pretty common problem on some older stock Ford radios. Off the top of my head I don't recall it going as far as 98 but I'm sure it's possible.[/QUOTE]
It is pretty bad when I highjack my own post..............Ok, I think we have the blinker/flasher situation figured out.
As for the stereo - FMC400, thanks for the info. While I had the column off, I banged and beat on the steering wheel and still could not get the radio display to come back on. To your previous post question, no, the radio sound does not cut out/flicker when I was banging on the s-wheel. The display has now quit working completly and no amount of banging on dash or s-wheel will make it come back on.
It is pretty bad when I highjack my own post..............Ok, I think we have the blinker/flasher situation figured out.
As for the stereo - FMC400, thanks for the info. While I had the column off, I banged and beat on the steering wheel and still could not get the radio display to come back on. To your previous post question, no, the radio sound does not cut out/flicker when I was banging on the s-wheel. The display has now quit working completly and no amount of banging on dash or s-wheel will make it come back on.
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From: Virginia
..............Ok, I think we have the blinker/flasher situation figured out.
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From: Catoosa, OK
sorry bout that...the blinker problem was a wire problem. The green wire going to the clear bulb was almost cut into. When I would take the lens off to check the bulbs, I would pull lens out far enough for the wire to straighten and allow the bulb to work. When I put the lens back into socket, it would scrunch the wire and make it quit working.
I took all of the protective cover off of the wires and tracked it all the way down to both bulbs - thats when I found the problem.
Thanks again to you guys for your help.
I took all of the protective cover off of the wires and tracked it all the way down to both bulbs - thats when I found the problem.
Thanks again to you guys for your help.
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