Turn Signal Problems. Need Some Help! - Ford Forums

Z06electron · 08-27-2007, 19:28

I have a friend with a 99 Explorer and he just bought it from his uncle. The turn signals just recently went out after he drove it home. First his right side went out, then it started making a high pitch whining sound in the column, now it no longer makes that sound and his left side is now out. Originally I thought flashers, but when the hazards worked thought they might be ok. Then I read that ford used seperate flashers so they still could be out. Then I read that the turn signal switch can also become unplugged or go out.

What can we test to narrow down the problem? What is the likely problem? Thanks for the help.

KU40 · 08-27-2007, 20:21

This may sound crazy, but did he tilt the wheel farther than his uncle? One time my brother drove my explorer and the right turn signal mysteriously went out while he was driving (long road trip and it happened right when we switched drivers). I thought it was weird and later found out it was because he tilted the wheel differently than I, and it must have pinched a wire in the column. When I tilted it back to where I like it, the turn signal started working again.

so the idea here is that maybe he pinched a wire and his may have shorted out (lucky mine didn't). May have blown a relay or something with the short circuit.

Z06electron · 08-27-2007, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by KU40

This may sound crazy, but did he tilt the wheel farther than his uncle? One time my brother drove my explorer and the right turn signal mysteriously went out while he was driving (long road trip and it happened right when we switched drivers). I thought it was weird and later found out it was because he tilted the wheel differently than I, and it must have pinched a wire in the column. When I tilted it back to where I like it, the turn signal started working again.

so the idea here is that maybe he pinched a wire and his may have shorted out (lucky mine didn't). May have blown a relay or something with the short circuit.

we just had the wheel tilted all the way up working under the dash. The problem started before with the right side, but the left didn't go out until after we were working on it. Should we take it apart and check wires to the switch?

KU40 · 08-28-2007, 05:02

Seems to be the place to start, especially since you had noise coming from the wheel.

Z06electron · 08-28-2007, 09:09

thanks for the help, I'll check it.

bobmob · 09-03-2007, 10:23

My brother-in-law's 2001 has had this problem for several months and I finally took a look at it this weekend. His left blinker and tail light didn't work and when he tilted the steering colum down the right blinker and tail light didn't work. I removed the plastic from the colum where the blinker lever and shift lever(bottom then top). I found broken wires at the connector that connects to the multifunction switch(blinker). This was caused by poor installation by Ford. There is not enough slack in the wires and the will break over time if you use the tilt function regularly. One wire broke with enough left to splice it. The other broke at the connector and when it tried to remove the connector from the multifuncrion switch the whole connector fell apart and all the wires came out. What a disaster. We are going to try to get Ford to repair it because it is clearly caused by poor design or assembly but if they won't we will probably hace to replace the wiring harness. I will guarantee that there are many 2001 Sport Trac's with this same problem.

Anyone know where I can download a wiring diagram for this?

LondonGeezer · 09-03-2007, 15:04

That is a very weird problem.. breakage in the wiring possibly?

I can't find a diagram.. tried googling it lol :p