Where to start with troubleshooting turn signals

[Jesus_man]

I need to double check, but I believe the bulbs are good, but only half the blinkers work on my rig at opposite corners.

You have to hold the switch in one direction and it works intermittently (on the dash and outside) and the other direction seems to flash every time and auto-cancel correctly, but just one bulb.

I have my fuel tank out now, so if there is a wiring issue, then now is the time to address that.

I was just going to start by replacing the switch, but wow! $80 for a manual trans version. Rockauto has one for $50 for a bronco.

One issue is, I don't have any idea what the steering column is from. There is a shifter collar on it, but I don't know if that is for a manual or auto. It *could* be stock??



The bolt hole was filled with a bolt and another on the opposite side. The other side bolt is sheared off, and in an attemp to extract it, I broke my one left-handed extractor... But it appears I need to access the switch by removing the steering wheel?

Thanks for any help and direction!

[Viperwolf1]

That's not a stock column. You need to remove the wheel to get to the switch. It may have a part number that gives you a good clue about its origin.

[Jesus_man]

ok. Guess I'll see if I can find a steering wheel puller on loan. With any luck, whatever I have might be cheaper!!

Thanks!

[Kinder]

Looks like it’s a tilt column? Is the key on the column as well? If not it’s likely a 78-79 F or E series column if it still has a rag joint. Get a pic of the wiring connection.

[Jesus_man]

I do not believe it to be a tilt column, or at least that function doesn't work...

There is no key hole on the column, so perhaps you are correct. I used to have a rag joint, but that is something I replaced with a normal u-joint.

I hope to get in there today and I'll post pics along the way.

[Jesus_man]

I muscled the steering wheel off (not too hard this time) and could not find any numbers to help me, but I did find out that it is indeed a tilt steering wheel and with the shifting collar, must be from an Auto. Searching google images, it appears that I do have the 78-79 F and E series column. Agree?









How do I go about verifying it's function? I'd MUCH rather buy the repair kit if I can!

[mickphatmac]

The turn signal handle moves up and down for Lt and Rt turn signals correct?

If you Pull it towards you...Does the wheel tilt?

[Jesus_man]

I have tried that in the past with no luck. I appear to be missing some parts as the assembly is a bit too loose to transfer any movement to the arm with the teeth on it. But since I know now what needs to happen, I can probably adjust it with a screwdriver.

As to the signal, it appears that someone has put the repair kit on it in the past as there are two wires that appear to have been soldered and the covered in liquid elec. tape. Bu pushing on these wires, I could get my dash blinkers to work intermittently, but after messing with these wires for a while, I can no longer seem to get them to work at all. I tried jumping wires to bypass the bad spot and I must not be doing it right, or just need more hands to hold wires in place.

The part number I need appears be to D8TZ-13341-A, which Rock Auto has for $69. A repair kit is $10.

[Kinder]

I used a repair kit in the past from the local parts store and it was junk, so the replacement piece will likely be the way to go. The tilt actually engages by pushing the turn signal lever away from the wheel.

[71 Broncman]

I used a repair kit in the past from the local parts store and it was junk, so the replacement piece will likely be the way to go. The tilt actually engages by pushing the turn signal lever away from the wheel.

/\ This.
I fought one of the parts store repair cams once. Ended up yanking it back out and replacing it with a whole new unit. If I have to do it again I will get the whole new unit next time too.
Mark.

[BOBS 2 68S]

May-be replace the hole column and then you know what you are working on.

[Jesus_man]

I suppose that if I want to drive this thing in the street a ticket for not having working signals will exceed the $82 for the part that could get it fixed. The rest is likely just wiring and bulbs if an issue persists.

[Jesus_man]

I called Shee Mar, a Longmont co. and spoke with a guy there who got me going in the right direction. He says I need the SM61F for the 78-79 truck. The 50 series has a different mounting pattern, so I couldn't get by cheaper. Anyway he also said rockauto was the best price, to which I confirmed (brand says OE pro).

It's on it's way and I hope to get some garage time after Christmas!

[RJLougee]

JD, it is indeed a tilt column from a 78/9 F150, so that would be the correct replacement part. The bolt you took out of one side and the thing you broke on the other side are the things that allow it to pivot, you push the signal switch away from you to make it tilt.

The correct pivots look like a threaded, screw in plug, similar to what guys put in the back of 351W heads to block the air ports on a smogged engine (but smaller). That crack in the bottom might be an issue as well, can't really tell from the pic.
HTH, Joe

[Jesus_man]

All good news! Thanks Joe! I'll have non-colorblind help after Christmas, so that'll be the time to tackle that!

[Jesus_man]

With the help of my son, we converted colors to numbers and I labeled all the new wires accordingly. Plugged it in and...nothing. Urgh! So I call Shee-Mar and the guy there said to check the flasher. I unplugged it and plugged it back in and I hear ticking...hmm. Victory! I wonder if this wasn't my issue all along??? O-well got a new turn signal switch out of it and after troubleshooting one front light connection, they are all working! Now I am not so obviously illegal.

[Jesus_man]

So I lost my blinkers again. None of them work. E-flashers work with both my old and new flasher. The signals worked intermittently, and it seemed I could move the flasher and they would work again for that trip out. Recently that stopped working. I unplugged the connector from the e-flasher switch and made sure it was making a good connection there.

What part should I throw at it now? Could it be the switch mounted behind the e-flasher knob? Strange that they will all work, but not independently.

[Viperwolf1]

Clean the rust from the fuse box clips.

[Moab Mike]

Clean the rust from the fuse box clips.

Ditto! And invest in a cheap 12 V power tester or a multimeter.

[Jesus_man]

Clean the rust from the fuse box clips.

Yeah, they are pretty bad!! I traced one wire that direction, but I couldn't see where it went.

I have both a test light and a Fluke. I'll see if they are all functioning properly.

Thanks!

[Viperwolf1]

Voltmeter may say it's good but it really won't draw enough current to see the problem there. Don't trust it.

[Jesus_man]

So you are certainly onto something here. Found the turn signal fuse. Pulled it out and it was not only broken, but blown. Into town to get another 14A fuse. Replace it in the parking lot and nothing changes. But a small little round wire brush and clean out the contacts better and viola! It works! Awesome! But on the drive home, the new fuse blows! So I have a short somewhere. Guess I need to get better at tracing wires, but it may be a project that waits until my garage cools to below 85* in the fall!

[Kinder]

Pull the fuse box out and look at the connections on the backside, likely corrosion there as well.

[Jesus_man]

Where are they typically mounted? Mine has been hanging down from under the dash since I bought it. I'll look, but nothing caught my eye the first time.

[Kinder]

The early years, maybe until ‘68 they were on the firewall, later years they were in the glovebox. I say check the back side because we had a similar problem with TFB’s fuse box, corroded on the fuse side clips and the wire connections on the back.

[Jesus_man]

LOL - well I don't run a glove box, so that must be why it just hangs!

[Jesus_man]

Here's a picture of the back side. It doesn't look great, but does not appear to be shorting out on anything. Perhaps arcing?

What are my options to fix this? The one with the yellow collar is the turn signal circuit.

[Rox Crusher]

Left arm out window ?

[Jesus_man]

Left arm out window ?

BTDT! Hoping I remembered my signalling correctly!