1998Exp
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- December 5, 2010
- Messages
- 1,340
- Reaction score
- 206
- City, State
- Seattle WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 98 Limited V8 AWD
Direction lights stopped working. Traced the problem to a pin in the MFS (multi-function switch) connector that pulled itself out. When I disengaged the connector, a couple more pins pulled out too. The reason? Over time the heat dissipated in the not-so-tight contacts damaged the little plastic retainers in the connector shell, the retainers broke, and there was nothing to hold these contacts anymore. I managed to push those pins back, but this, obviously, is not a good long-term solution. So can anyone find the part number for this connector, as a pigtail? This is the gray one identified as C217 in the manual.
And yes, I know that it would be a good idea to convert to LEDs to reduce the current consumption and the heat dissipated in that connector. The flasher will have to be replaced with an LED-compatible one.
Incidentally, when troubleshooting the problem, I discovered that my 1998 EVTM has the pin numbers in the flasher diagram completely wrong.
They should be as follows:
Number Wire Color Function
1 LB Turn
2 O/Y Ignition
3 R/W Bat
4 W/R Hazard
5 BK Gnd
As if that wasn't enough, the picture of the flasher connector shows the pin numbers wrong. Looking into the flasher, with the engagement tab at the top, the arrangement should be:
TAB
1
5 4 3
2
The flasher itself (at least the OEM one) also has the pin numbers stamped on the base
And yes, I know that it would be a good idea to convert to LEDs to reduce the current consumption and the heat dissipated in that connector. The flasher will have to be replaced with an LED-compatible one.
Incidentally, when troubleshooting the problem, I discovered that my 1998 EVTM has the pin numbers in the flasher diagram completely wrong.
They should be as follows:
Number Wire Color Function
1 LB Turn
2 O/Y Ignition
3 R/W Bat
4 W/R Hazard
5 BK Gnd
As if that wasn't enough, the picture of the flasher connector shows the pin numbers wrong. Looking into the flasher, with the engagement tab at the top, the arrangement should be:
TAB
1
5 4 3
2
The flasher itself (at least the OEM one) also has the pin numbers stamped on the base