LED's and old flasher modules

[Curious Hound]

Learned something interesting today. I have a set if LED tail/turn light assemblies that I plan on using on the new bed I'm making for the truck. So I mounted them temporarily so I can use the truck during bad weather over the next few days. Testing, I found, as expected, that the old style flasher relays didn't like the LED's. They don't pull enough current to heat the bimetallic element in the flasher module.

So I went to the parts store and bought an LED friendly flasher module. This has 3 terminals. The original style only has two. So I needed to provide a ground for the modern electronic flasher circuit to work. My solution is to use a regular 5 terminal relay socket to hold the flasher. I removed the extra wires from the socket. On the 2 wires for 12v and to go to the lights, I crimped on male spade connectors so they could plug into the original flasher socket. Thinking ahead, I did the same for the hazard flasher. Then I tied the ground wires together and connected them to a nearby ground. Tuck everything up out if the way and it tested fine.

This project probably only applies to older trucks. But I'm not sure what years.

Old flasher modules

New electronic flasher for LED'S

New flasher plugged into relay socket.

The 2 new sockets with connectors, ready to be plugged in.

This shows the relay socket wires plugged into the original flasher socket.

 

[SenorNoob]

Elegant setup. I like it.

 

[sgtsandman]

He's a "spark chaser". I would expect nothing less.

 

[holyford86]

They make direct replacement flashers that just have the ground poking out the top, no building required.

 

[Curious Hound]

They make direct replacement flashers that just have the ground poking out the top, no building required.

Thanks. I'll look into that. I was just going by what was in the hooks at the store.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

They make direct replacement flashers that just have the ground poking out the top, no building required.

Beat me to it. I have several laying around my shop haha

 

[vigness]

Okay, so a slightly off topic question.

I have an '03, and I'll be damned if I can find the flasher!!! I can hear it up around the steering column, but I don't see anything. Or at least not what I'm expecting to see. I'd like to switch to LED's as well, but I have to change that damn flasher first.

Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cbxer55]

On my, cough cough, Lightning, I couldn't get to the stock flasher. It's in a horrible place. Need to practically disassemble the dash to get your fingers on it. I used four load equalizers, one on each corner, to get the proper flash ratio. I have leds on all four corners, so they weren't blinking at all when first installed. Now they do. You can see that little gold item on the lower right corner.

 

[Snoranger]

On my modified F150, I couldn't get to the stock flasher. It's in a horrible place. Need to practically disassemble the dash to get your fingers on it. I used four load equalizers, one on each corner, to get the proper flash ratio. I have leds on all four corners, so they weren't blinking at all when first installed. Now they do. You can see that little gold item on the lower right corner. View attachment 71105

FIFY

 

[RonD]

Okay, so a slightly off topic question.

I have an '03, and I'll be damned if I can find the flasher!!! I can hear it up around the steering column, but I don't see anything. Or at least not what I'm expecting to see. I'd like to switch to LED's as well, but I have to change that damn flasher first.

Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Its under the dash just to the left of steering column, its all by itself and usually clipped to the metal panel running left to right under steering column

Not a Ranger but gives you an idea of where it is: https://www.testingautos.com/reviews/photos/ford-ranger-turn-signal-relay.jpg

And usually Blue as well, lol
You can usually slide it to unclip it and there is enough wire on connector so it can be dropped down where you can see it and change it

 

[holyford86]

Thanks. I'll look into that. I was just going by what was in the hooks at the store.

they aren't super common, but they have been easy to get whenever I've needed one