I've got a weird ask

Jae 'Bird

Jae 'Bird

4th Gear Poster
Joined
Dec 11, 2023
Messages
330
Age
20
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Vehicle Details
1990 Ford Thunderbird Base with PEP 151A, 3.8L NA V-6
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This is going to sound weird but it will help me immensely. Could someone here with an early model t-bird with the factory turn signal switch,
- start the car
- turn on the headlights
- turn on the high beams
- activate the turn signal, either one is fine

The reason is when I do the same with the new turn signal switch I put in, the wipers and wiper fluid activate and I'm wondering if that happens on the factory switch to know if mine is good or if there's technically something wrong with it. This has been part of my saga to fix my turn signals which didn't work and now they kind of magically work again (when I put the second switch in it initially didn't work but now it does)
Thanks for the help
 
I mean fair, but I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a quirk of all of the factory switches because hey these things sometimes happen
 
Ok, can we back up? And sorry if you already posted this elsewhere: what all have you done in terms of wiring, specifically checking the wiring?

I think it's pretty unlikely that such a crossover (between light and wipers) is internal to the switch. I think it's more likely for the wires to wear and intermittently contact somewhere along the path. There could also be, or have been, a rodent problem.
 
I have not done any major wire checking other than the wires that come off the harness and down into the dash and they all look good, also with where I am at rodents are extremely unlikely (we don't have any rats in the whole province and mice are very few and far between in the summer)
but I will ask a better question because I'm certain its still my switch that's bad, if I don't have auto headlights can I use a turn signal switch thats for a car with auto headlights or are they incompatible? I'm headed to the bone yard to check out a merc that might have the switch but I don't know its its auto lights or not.
 
I'm bumping this and also asking, do you guys think there is any risk in trying the switch that was in an auto headlamp car? mine is not auto headlamps but the one I got at the junkyard is for an auto headlamp car so before I try I wanna see if there is a risk of damaging something by trying it
 
Jae 'Bird said:
I'm bumping this and also asking, do you guys think there is any risk in trying the switch that was in an auto headlamp car? mine is not auto headlamps but the one I got at the junkyard is for an auto headlamp car so before I try I wanna see if there is a risk of damaging something by trying it
Click to expand...

They’re going to be the same switch, auto headlamps are independently operated from it
 
So I tried the auto headlamp switch and the signal worked! for about 10 cycles and then it never worked again, and its not because its for auto headlamps, the only difference is I need to put my high beams on to activate the normal headlights, a quirk I would be willing to live with if MY TURN SIGNALS ACTUALLY WORKED.
I am at a loss for where to go next, I checked the grounds and they are fine, the wires are fine, according to you guys if the blinker module was bad the hazards wouldn't work but they have always worked fine, and since the signals worked for a moment it kind of has to be the switch still but this is the fourth switch that the car has had and it refuses to work right, I for sure plan to try to reassemble my original switch over the winter after cleaning all the little parts and in the spring see if that fixes it but I have little hope honestly even if I do it right. Do you guys have any other ideas for what it could be?
Thanks for listening to my rant, I'm feeling a little bit like pushing this car into the shredder cause I never even got to drive it this summer but I guess that's how things go sometimes
 
You have a multimeter, right?

You have to examine the entire path. It's power > flasher > connector under steering column > multifunction switch > connector under steering column > firewall connector > turn signal > ground.

It may pass the primary junction block (twice?). Could someone amend my path above as needed?

You really have to examine the whole wiring. If you've not tried another flasher, I would try that first, even if it works for hazards, just to rule it out.

If the problem is the exact same for left and right, it's likely before the multifunction switch.
 
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A switch from a junkyard is no guarantee that it is working properly. Over time dirt and grime builds up inside the switch and causes weird issues like you are having. At this point, I would take apart your original switch, clean everything inside, coat everything in dielectric grease, and put it back together and swap it back in the car, and I bet it will work fine.
 
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