Brake and Turn Signal

[PoorStudent]

Let me start by saying I am not a car expert at all so if the answers to my questions are simple be nice lol

My 2001 Ford Explorer Sport has two problems that I believe to be unrelated but who knows.

1. My left turn signals work properly during the day but when I turn on my head lights for night time driving the left turn signal turns on and stays on and wont flash (it also doesnt click or flash on the dashboard). Any ideas?

2. When I go to brake it slips like I am braking on ice. It doesnt happen every time in fact it is probably less than half the time. Someone told me that after it rains moisture would cause this symptom so I kept it away from moisture for a couple days and the problem is still there. any ideas?

Also are either of these things easy to do myself?

 

[Joe Dirt]

I'm not sure on the turn signal- but one of mine was doing that and I had a bad bulb. Might try that or a new fuse/relay...

The other issue sounds like a failing Antilock brake sensor on one of your wheels. When mine was going bad, as I would come up to a stop, it would activate the ABS and do what yours is. But, it could be the ABS module itself too, hard to tell without diagnostics...

The hub and sensor are easy to change if that is what it is, but you'd need some tools to do it, what do you have to work with?

 

[PoorStudent]

I'm not sure on the turn signal- but one of mine was doing that and I had a bad bulb. Might try that or a new fuse/relay...

The other issue sounds like a failing Antilock brake sensor on one of your wheels. When mine was going bad, as I would come up to a stop, it would activate the ABS and do what yours is. But, it could be the ABS module itself too, hard to tell without diagnostics...

The hub and sensor are easy to change if that is what it is, but you'd need some tools to do it, what do you have to work with?

I know it is not the bulb itself I just had it replaced and I took off the right signal and switched the bulbs and the same thing happened.

I have all the standard tools my father enjoys fixing up old tractors so I have quite a few tools at our disposal. So how much is this going to cost me if I get it done professionally and if I do it myself?

 

[Joe Dirt]

If you buy a new hub with ABS sensor- that will be about $150-ish. You can get cheap ones on eBay for like $80, but they're junk. Most people that have them end up replacing them after about 3 months. Some last, most don't.

I did it on my front axle- replaced both just cuz. You'll need to pull the wheel, the axle nut, the brakes, and the hub will unbolt from there. It's not a hard job, probably an hour for a newbie to Explorers, but not to tools.

For a shop, plan on like $500

HERE is a how-to on what you'll need to do.

Did you check the relay for your blinker? I know when the old ones used to fail, they would just turn on and not blink. If it is dying, the voltage gap from parking light off to blinker on vs. parking light on to blinker on may be enough to prevent it from triggering. It should be in your fuse panel, usually a silver one.