'08 Sport Trac Driver Side Rear Turn Signal/Brake Light issue...

[sgoss66]

Hi all --

I am having an issue with my 2008 Sport Trac's driver's-side rear turn signal/brake light. On the inside, when I use the left turn signal, it flashes rapidly, and says "check LR turn signal." The front signal will flash, but the rear signal does not. When I apply the brakes, the left rear brake light does not come on (the passenger rear side does). When I turn on the hazard lights, all lights flash except the left rear, which does not light up at all. I changed the bulb, and this did not fix the issue.

Can someone tell me what the issue might be?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[jackrussell]

LR turn signal

It sure sounds like a bad bulb. Double check your owners manual to be sure the new one is correct.
Otherwise it may be the bulb socket or ground.

 

[sgoss66]

OK I will doublecheck, jackrussell. I agree with you -- it seemed like a NO BRAINER that it was the bulb, and when I changed it and it still didn't work, I was pretty surprised...

FWIW -- I just double-checked...both Rock Auto and Autozone say the bulb should be the 4157LL -- which is what I used...

I'll have a look at the wiring going to the bulb socket tonight, and see if I can see anything obvious...

Steve

 

[UKPONY]

Get a multimeter on the light socket & see if there's power coming through. If there is then maybe the new bulb is bad. If not keep working backwards until you find power on that circuit.

 

[sgoss66]

UKPONY -- will do -- I'll check the socket...it did cross my mind that it was possible that the NEW bulb was bad...

Steve

 

[Trac Marks]

+1 on volt meter at the socket. Also: Check your towing harness, two of them if equipped.

Flat 4: Ground is the obvious one, left stop/TURN is in the middle of the remaining 3
Round 7 pin: Left Turn is at 3:00 position

Check the wiring harness that feeds these plugs. A wire that is damaged or broken could be the culprit.

 

[sgoss66]

Trac Marks -- haven't checked it out any further yet, waiting for a day off from work. Interesting that you say to also check the wiring harness/plug for the trailer...wouldn't have thought of that -- wouldn't have expected that to possibly be the issue.

THANKS.

Steve

 

[sgoss66]

OK, folks...the good news is -- problem solved.

Thanks for all your help. The bad news is, I'm quite embarrassed to admit what the issue was...

...after swapping bulbs, checking grounds, visibly inspecting the wiring run from rear to front -- including the trailer hitch wiring, removing the steering column shrouds and checking all the connectors and wiring inside the column, checking fuses, etc...

...it turned out that I replaced the WRONG BULB. The top bulb is the turn signal bulb, and I replaced the bottom one, by accident -- thus, why the problem persisted after I "changed the bulb."

I'm ashamed...

Nothing to see here, move along...

Steve

 

[UKPONY]

Lol. You won't be the first or last do have a "Doh" moment.

Look on the bright side you know your hitch wiring is in good shape .

 

[sgoss66]

UKPONY -- thanks...and good point on the hitch wiring...