Oh Boy, Intermitent Electrical Problem

Took the Maverick out this morning and the turn signals didn't work.

When I got home, tried them again and still nothing. Tried the 4-ways and they worked fine. Tried the turn signals again and now they work.

Flasher going bad? Turn signal switch going bad? Bad connection somewhere?

 

Could be bad flasher, bad ground, bad connection to TS switch. Switches don't go bad often on both sides, usually just on one side, or at least that's been my experience with them.

I'd check grounds first, then replace flasher if needed. IIRC, 4 ways have their own flasher.

 

Probably not going to be too helpful, but if you have problems in the charging system it will take out the blinkers. I have an intermittent issue with my charging system, when it gets hot outside I start overcharging (driving me up the wall) and lose my blinkers. So just another thing to check.

 

Thanks for suggestions.

Hadn't thought about ground. Guess I'd better print the wiring diagram and start checking everything. Maybe its a bad contact in either a common power feed or common ground for TS and 4-ways and the 4-ways put enough load to overcome a bad connection somewhere.

If it happens again I'll put the flashers on and see if it heals it again ... temporarily.

 

im having the exact same problem, so let me know what you find

 

OK,but you were supposed to say you HAD the same problem and you found the problem.

Think I'll try a new flasher and see if there's a common power source or ground for flashers and turn signals.

 

ya i couldn't find it its like a ghost in the wiring harness, one minute it works great then the next it doesn't work at all, then only one will work......im putting off fixing it., but the flashers a good place to start.

 

I hate... Electrical Problems...

 

this won't help but i had the same problem with my truck. the wife or daughter would drive it and come back and say the turn signals don't work i get in and nothing wrong. 3 months of this finally sat and thought about it the only differance was they tilt the wheel down and i have it all the way up. found when you tilt down it pulled a wire out of the switch connection because someone broke the latches in the plug

 

Contatcts in the turn signal switch are getting worn out...Time for a new T/S flasherassy for your column...Been there done that with my blue one...Still waiting for the other shoe to drop with the sprint...

 

Well, that not what I wanted to hear but thanks. I'll look for one. Probably easier to change that than to find a bad connection somewhere in the wiring.

 

ya i wish that was my problem, but mines in the wiring somewhere

 

I had a very similar problem with my turn signals. i cleaned the ground wires at the bottom of the radiator support where the wires come through. 1 on each side. no problems since, about 8 months.

 

Ordered a new turn signal switch and flasher today. Should be here Wednesday. Will also clean the grounds for the front and rear lights even though the parking and tail lights don't appear to have a ground problem.

Thanks for the suggestions.:Handshake