Indicators, hazards, and brake lights haunted

[rubywoofs]

My turn indicators recently stopped working. After reading several threads here, I checked to see if my hazards would still work. They seemed to start then fade, almost like they were running out of juice, then they completely stopped. I found that the fuses were blown, and I replaced them both. Still nothing, so I replaced the flasher. Still nothing, and I found the fuses blown again. Then, I found that if my hazards are pulled "on" (they don't activate) and I push the brake pedal, my front indicators come on steady (brake lights do to, as they should). Release the brake, they go out. Press the brakes and push the hazard button back in, they go out. The non-functioning indicators and hazards is a new problem. I don't know if I had the weird brakes w/ hazard equals front indicators on problem before, since I'd never used the hazards while braking.

So, any suggestions of what to look at? I'm not knowledgeable enough to run down a short on my own. Anything else from those symptoms?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Ruby

 

[Viperwolf1]

Make a better ground for the front turn lights. Fuse blowing problem is likely a bad turn signal switch.

 

[scallanmp]

Recently I installed a Painless fuse panel under the hood and moved the power for the radio from the original Bronco circuit to the Painless circuit. It was a great move, however, my blinkers stopped working and I had blown a fuse. This was a bit strange since the radio and blinkers are on the same original Bronco circuit and having reduced the load on that circuit I didn't know why I was now having problems. I did some tracing and experimenting and found that my old brake emergency dash light assembly was placed behind the Bronco dash by the previous owner and left bare. When I was moving the power wires for the radio over to the new circuit I had moved enough stuff around to cause the brake emergency light assembly to ground against the dashboard. After checking the original Bronco wiring diagram I verified that the brake emergency light and blinkers are on the same circuit. I placed electrical tape around the inner contact that would normally touch the bulb AND around the outer case so that it would no longer ground out. I turned on the ignition and behold my blinkers and emergency flashers started working again. This only took me 2 frustrating hours to solve. It is amazing all the crap that was stuck on the original circuit from the factory.

I used the following diagram to help trace this down:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/890070/original/wiring7374apwrdstb.jpg

This site has a bunch of other Bronco wiring diagrams and specs as well. Once I found this diagram it made troubleshooting a breeze.

 

[rubywoofs]

I have now replaced the turn signal switch in the column - actually a little proud of myself for that. Replaced the previously blown fuses, and I'm up and running. Tested out the left blinkers, hazards, then right blinkers. By the time I got to the right blinkers, the fuse had blown again. Retested hazards, and that fuse went too. I replaced the under dash flasher last go round.

I hate to think that it's paid mechanic time, but that's where I might be. Any last suggestions? I am not good enough with wiring and diagrams to trace out all the lines.

Thanks again for any help.

Ruby

 

[Viperwolf1]

I have now replaced the turn signal switch in the column - actually a little proud of myself for that. Replaced the previously blown fuses, and I'm up and running. Tested out the left blinkers, hazards, then right blinkers. By the time I got to the right blinkers, the fuse had blown again. Retested hazards, and that fuse went too. I replaced the under dash flasher last go round.

I hate to think that it's paid mechanic time, but that's where I might be. Any last suggestions? I am not good enough with wiring and diagrams to trace out all the lines.

Thanks again for any help.

Ruby

You have a short to ground on one of the 4 turn signal circuit branches. Probably on the right side if that is when the fuse blows. You need to isolate which branch it is before you can find the problem. I suggest using an ohmmeter to compare resistance to ground on those wires at the turn signal connector. Good bulbs will have a couple ohms of resistance but a short to ground will have less (that's why it blows the fuse).

 

[rubywoofs]

Awesome Viperwolf. Thanks.

I don't have the meters or that knowhow, but decided to take a visual look at the wiring I could see running to the indicators, beginning on the right side as suggested. I found that my battery retention strap is broken and the battery had hopped onto the wires to the front right indicator. Remedied that (the wires are creased, but the insulation still looks ok), and secured the wires out of the way with a loose zip tie until I get the retention strap resolved. New fuses in - I seem to be up and running.

The flashers of all description seem to lack regularity, flashing at somewhat odd intervals and mostly on with a faster flash rate than you'd expect. I'll tackle that problem some other day - maybe yet another new flasher under the dash.

By the way, I noticed this morning that there are two flasher modules under the dash. Do the hazards and turn signals each have their own?

Thanks again,

Ruby

 

[Viperwolf1]

Yes, there is a turn flasher and a hazard flasher. The turn flasher is the one in the light blue connector.

 

[Brent13]

Rubywoofs, I feel your pain! Just went thru the same crap with my 74. I threw money at it, installed a Painless harness, and new turn signal switch, all electrical components now work as they should. Hope you are not to this point yet, but I must say it is the greatest mod to date that I have done.

Good luck