turn signal woes

[mikkelstuff]

The left rear turn signal quit working in my 2002 Ranger XLT. I checked and the bulb was definitely bad. So installed a new bulb.

The new bulb worked for a short time and then quit working. I then replaced the new bulb with a second from the package. Again all worked for a short time and then quit working.

Today I removed the bulb socket, made sure the bulb was in place and checked with an external 12V power source. The bulb worked so I assume the socket and bulb are ok.

Then I inserted paper clip ends into the wiring harness connector hoping I might find a flashing 12V signal with the turn signal switch powered and on but got no reading. This could be an iffy connection with paper clips however.

So where else to check? A fuse? Can the turn signal switch suddenly go bad once a bulb burned out? Any other options?

 

[djfllmn]

Does the front signal work

 

[mikkelstuff]

Yes, front turn signal bulb works correctly.

 

[Rick W]

Check for a bad ground. You can splice into the ground that goes to the light bulb, and just crimp an eye connector on the other end, and run a sheet metal screw into the sheet metal underneath the lens cover.

You can switch to an LED bulb, which takes far less electricity than an old-fashioned incandescent bulb. So if you’re getting a weak signal, that may buy you an awful lot of time. You’d probably have to change both the left in the right if you want the lenses to look the same.

Also, there’s a connector somewhere behind the license plate, and I believe there’s another connector over by the gas cap. You could pull those. and clean them up and try that.

 

[pjtoledo]

does it work with hazard/4 way flasher?
does the dash light blink? it should because the indicators are tied to the front turn signals.

it goes thru the multi-function switch.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I had a rear turn signal/brake bulb go out when I was driving the truck home from the guy I bought it from, so I took all the bulbs out and slathered some dielectric grease on the bulb connections. 3 months later and 50° colder, and no issues.

 

[mikkelstuff]

The dash turn signal indicator does flash. This left rear bulb does not flash with the hazard flasher either.

 

[2011Supercab]

Does the left rear brake light work?

 

[pjtoledo]

I have diagrams for a 2000, don't know if 2002 is exactly the same.
the multifunction switch has separate outputs for the front and rear blinkers. (l & r too )
then one common output for the rear blinker/brake/hazard, left. ( another for right )

check the trailer socket, it gets the same blinker/brake/hazard signal. it separates at the central junction box goes thru fuse 3.

for a 2000.

 

[pjtoledo]

hit Rockauto, same switch for 2000 and 2002.
check output of multifunction switch pin 9. that's the blink/stop/hazard output to the rear left. it also feeds the trailer circuit.

 

[Rick W]

If it’s anything like my 87, that multifunction switch actually comes out pretty easily.

1. Remove the steering column cover (two screws from the bottom, Phillips.)
2. Remove a torx screw on the top and a Torx screw on the bottom, the heads are facing the door. The points are facing the passenger door, so you unscrew them from the left side
3. Take the two connectors off the multifunction switch.
4. There are four small Phillips or Torx screws, and that multifunction switch will pull apart.
5. If you wiggle the turn signal stick, you can see where the contacts are on both halves. I’ve had to clean them up with a little wire brush a couple times. You can pretty much see it if you have a hotspot and a poor contact.

It goes back in the office order. Be careful when you put it back together, that everything is lined up before you put the four little screws back in.

Hope it helps