Blinker works then stops and solid light

[resq302]

The other day while driving my wifes 2005 Exlporer Limited, I noticed that the blinkers would work and then seem to stop as the light on the dash (both directions) would blink and then go solid as if a light was out. I then cancelled the turn signal and turned it back on. It again blinked a couple times, then had the arrow go solid. I know with older cars such as my antiques, they had a flasher switch. Does the newer cars still have this or is it all built into the turn signal switch inside the steering column? If so where is the flasher switch located and can it be easily replaced? The weird thing is that it does not do it all the time. It happened a lot on Sat and then was fine since then. Can anyone give me some insight on this? I have some factory service manuals for this vehicle available to me but have to get them from my friend.

Thanks for everyones help with this as I want to have my wife be safe in her car with our child.

Brian

 

[mikeinri]

Does it behave any differently with the hazard lights?

I don't have my Explorer with me, nor the owners manual, but most vehicles have a flasher switch, usually located in the fuse panel under the dash. Since that would be the easiest fix, I would start there.

One other potential culprit is the multifunction switch mechanism in the steering column. My RV (Ford) and my wife's car (Pontiac) had an issue where the grease in the switch became contaminated (dirty) enough to conduct electricity, causing intermittent shorts and very peculiar behavior of the turn signals and hazards. Sometimes they would work normally, sometimes not at all, sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow (stayed on solid).

If the flasher doesn't work, try this. Just remove the switch and clean it up with a Q-tip, paper towel, etc. You want to remove all the dirty grease (you can reapply clean dielectric grease if you wish, I don't see any really good reason to do so personally).

This is a a cheap and fairly quick fix.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[resq302]

Do you have to remove the air bag in order to access the directional switch?

 

[mikeinri]

Not sure, I haven't had to do this (yet) on my Explorer.

Haynes manual should help, or do a search here for multifunctional switch and see if anyone's written a how-to.

Have you tried the flasher switch?

Mike

 

[exp46]

Hopefully this should work...

Keep in mind mine is an 02 EB, although I was having all kinds of trouble along these lines. (City-Enough Said), but it was only 1 RR, bulb that eventually blew, rather loudly, OEM & everything, perhaps a quick swap of the bulbs could even be the most simple fix as they do everything under the sun when it's a 1 bulb for everything on that side if the vehicle and it's on it's way out.

For 10$ & 10 min. it may be worth it.

Best of luck

 

[MrAce87]

would like to know how to fix it. i been searching for an answer for a while now

 

[resq302]

culprit turned out to be the multifunction switch was all gummed up with grease and must have gotten dirt or something that broke the contact. A little quick drying electrical contact cleaner spray, it was working again.

ON A SIDE NOTE!!!!!! If you deenergize the ABS system like the factory service manual tells you to do, BE VERY CAREFUL not to touch the steering wheel or bump it in any way, shape, or form!!!!!!! If you do, it will throw the advance trac system out of whack and you will need to bring it to a dealer to have the entire system recalibrated. Don't ask me how I know! No where in the factory service manual was there a warning about this.

 

[BigRondo]

would like to know how to fix it. i been searching for an answer for a while now

resq302 changed the multifunction switch. Here is the link: How To: Replace Multifunction Switch in 3rd Gen Ex

culprit turned out to be the multifunction switch was all gummed up with grease and must have gotten dirt or something that broke the contact. A little quick drying electrical contact cleaner spray, it was working again.


ON A SIDE NOTE!!!!!! If you deenergize the ABS system like the factory service manual tells you to do, BE VERY CAREFUL not to touch the steering wheel or bump it in any way, shape, or form!!!!!!! If you do, it will throw the advance trac system out of whack and you will need to bring it to a dealer to have the entire system recalibrated. Don't ask me how I know! No where in the factory service manual was there a warning about this.

Thanks for the update and the info on the advance trac.