Signal Flasher! BAH!

[caine0]

Okay so I just finished putting in my new ignition switch, because I thought that my signal lights weren't working because of it (I was wrong). The turning signals worked fine, then stopped working for a few days, then started working again, and now have stopped working completely. Does that sound like a bad flasher?

I've tried searching for the signal flasher, and for the life of me cannot find it. I've looked under the drivers dash, behind the radio, and under/behind the glove compartment. Does the signal flasher look the same as the hazard flasher in the fuse box, or different? What would be the easiest way to find the signal flasher? Like is there some wire I can start at and just follow it to the signal flasher? Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

It's in the fuse panel. I believe the same unit controls both functions.

 

[caine0]

Nope. I know it's not the same, it even says so in my haynes manual. Plus, my hazards are working right now, but my signal lights are not. Thanks anyway though.

 

[bullitstang1313]

One of them is in the fuse block and the other one is usually behind the fuse block under the dash. Sometimes it is located near the radio or even under the glove box. It has been mounted in various locations throughout the years.

 

[caine0]

One of them is in the fuse block and the other one is usually behind the fuse block under the dash. Sometimes it is located near the radio or even under the glove box. It has been mounted in various locations throughout the years.

I've looked under the drivers dash, behind the radio, and under/behind the glove compartment, as I said in my first post. I just cant seem to find it. So first of all I want to know whether or not it looks like the flasher for the hazards which is in the fuse box. Second of all I want to know if there is a wire I can trace to it's location so that I can actually find it?

 

[bullitstang1313]

Yes, they should look almost exactly the same. Was your emergency flasher mounted in the front of the fuse block or in the back of the fuse block? I'm sure there is a wire in the fuse block that you could trace to it, but it will be wrapped in the dash harness so that probably isn't a feasible option.

 

[LX302]

On my '87 it is up under the dash.
Get your head in the passenger side foot well, look up near the center console by the radio. It should be mounted to one of the metal frames, and it should be a light blue plastic cylinder.
Remove and install a new one.
The one in the fuse box is the hazard flasher.

 

[Andres2882]

If you iron out your turn signal flasher, let me know how. I had EXACTLY the same problem 4 years ago and have been riding turn signal free since then

 

[HISSIN50]

If it worked intermittantly before, I woud goose the wiring as you look (key on, TS on) and see if it comes back to life. Then follow the relay's clicking till you find it.

Good luck.

 

[Slow LX]

Try this, my 88 has this problem currently, try using the rear defroster and the fan for the heater. Do these work even when the blinker does not? These are on the same power circuit from the ignition switch as the signals. I noticed with my 88 if I turn or jiggle the keys a little bit while in the ignition (on position) the signal will come to life.

 

[HISSIN50]

Where is SGarlic? WHen he did his heater core, a wire came loose from the flasher IIRC. That was his issue. One can search his posts for more info (he recently posted that it was fixed on a thread he started, IIRC).

Good luck.

 

[jeffbigwood27]

I had the same problem with the flasher and i found mine behind the fuse panel and swaped it out and everything worked fine.

 

[Andres2882]

/bump

 

[jrichker]

Welcome the the Great Mustang Easter Egg Hunt...Find the flasher and you qualify to take home the golden egg :

 

[Andres2882]

Anyone know what it looks like for sure? I took my car to a mechanic and he couldnt figure it out either

 

[caine0]

I'M GOING INSANE TRYING TO FIND THIS STUPID THING!!!!!

I think i've narrowed it down though. I think it's definetely under the drivers dash. I tried for an hour trying to spot it behind the radio and behind the glove compartment with no luck. So now my question is:

Where EXACTLY have you guys found the flasher under the DRIVERS SIDE DASH. Please be as specific as you can be. I've taken all the plastic covers off the drivers dash in search of it and still can't find it.

 

[BlackFox5.0]

Right under the Steering column. As someone mentioned before it's mounted on a rail just under the wheel. Thats where it was on my '87.

I did work on a '93 and i saw it behind the glove box. Did you drop the glovebox, or did oyu just look from underneath? It was over torwards the left of the box if oyur sitting in the passenger seat, not behind it.

If you open the glove box, and push in the sides inside, it will fall straight down. Anything oyu have in it will also go all over the floor.

 

[sgarlic]

Here's what you do to find it. Take off the covers on the steering wheel (with the 3 long screws.)

Remove the 2 screws holding the turn signal knob, and drop it down. On one of the wiring harnesses, will be a light blue wire. Follow that wire, and it leads directly in to the turn signal relay. You may have to slice open a wiring bundle or two, but you can always re-wrap them with electrical tape. If you're really gutsy, just pull really hard on the light blue wire, and see what wiring harnesses on the underside of the dash it moves. That should help you locate it a little better. I believe on the 90 models it's usually on the passenger side behind the glove box though (when I say behind, I mean remove the glovebox, and look way upward.)

If you haven't already, remove the drivers seat, and lay upside down looking upward with a worklight up there. Sometimes they are VERY high up there. Mine was up so high it was almost at the same level as the instrument cluster was. I pulled really hard on it finally and broke it loose, pulling it down to the same level as the kick panel was.

Also, check behind the hazard switch to make sure the purple/orange wires are there.. they run from the signal flasher in to that as well. I'm guessing it's either the relay itself or a wire has come loose.

I went through months of absolute hell on earth trying to figure my turn signals out, and I ended up having my dad look at the wiring diagram to help me locate the problem. I suggest if you haven't already, have somebody look up in there as well and see if they can find the relay. It's light blue if it's the stock one.

 

[caine0]

Okay. Thanks for the help sgarlic and BlackFox5.0. I need to clarify a few things with you guys though.

Am I looking for a "flasher" or for a "relay", or are they the same thing? I looked up under the glove compartment again just to double check. Right above the tiny compartment light I found a little light blue box with an electrical plug with 3 wires going into it. Anybody know what it is?

 

[sgarlic]

Well, the turn signal relay has a little L shaped connector going to it. There's one light blue wire, and 2 purple/orange wires going in to it.

You're looking for the turn signal relay, which is actually a flasher. It's a little round thing about an inch around and an inch tall with 2 or 3 prongs on it. The little blue box I believe is an airbag related thing. Can't remember offhand whether 90's had airbags or not, though.