Still trying to figure out my turn signals

[BrantDale]

I am wondering if someone might be able to help me with my turn signals on my 68 F100 Ranger?

None of my turn signals work, the emergency flashers work fine. I have checked for voltage at the fuse panel and it and the fuse seems to be fine. I checked the turn signal switch and it also seems to be fine. When I turn the turn signals on the voltmeter, on the gauges, jumps towards the "c" until I turn the switch off.

A big part of my problem is that I dont really even know how to trouble shoot the electrical stuff. Maybe I could get advice on how to approach an electrical issue. I have been pulling my hair out with this one and basically my truck has been sitting for the last six months because I dont have turn signals.

Thanks for the help!

[fordman]

if it is blinking power going out of the column. then you have to trace the wire to find out where the singal stops. do the brake lights work?

[BrantDale]

Yes, the brake lights work, but when you turn the signal on then that side brake light doesnt work.

[fordman]

there are two flashers on the truck. do you hear the flasher when you tunr the signal on? the turn siganl flasher is behind the drivers side of the instrument cluster. the emergency flasher is on the passenger side of the instrument cluster. up on the dash support bracket. but usually is found just hanging down on that side.

[Thunderfoot]

If you have voltage on the Blue wire going into the steering column then your problem is likely the Turn Signal Switch itself from your description... You will need to take the steering wheel off and look at the switch for problems/replace.

Sounds like there is a short in the TSS when you turn it on and the amp gauge is moving like that.

[BrantDale]

When you replace the TSS do you just cut the wires in the column then splice them into the new switch? I did look at the switch and I couldnt see anything obvious but I have another switch that I could try.

Thanks again for the help.

[BrantDale]

I dont hear anything from the flasher. I do when the emergency flashers are on.

[fordman]

replace the flasher. if you have power coming out of the column for the blinkers.

dont cut the wires if you pull the switch. tie a string onto the wires and pull the string through the column and retie the string to the new wires and pull the string back through the column.

[Thunderfoot]

Do try a new flasher first.

You don't cut the wires you remove them from the connector, using a tool you can get at the parts store, or some have used a small pick, you release the tab on the pin in the connector and pull the wire and pin out of the connector. Make sure you make yourself a good diagram of what wires is where to put it back together and use a string as fordman said when you pull the old wires up the column, so you can easily pull the new wires back down the column.

Photo of tools used for removing wire pins from connectors.

[BrantDale]

I am still trying to figure this one out. I replaced the switch and still the same problem. I have power at the blue wire on the tss but it is constant, should it be coming in pulses? from the flasher? When I turn the emergency flasher on now, I have power at the rear left and the front right. I checked the wires at the connection coming from the tss and with the emergency flashers on I get pulsing power at three of the wires, but nothing with the turn signal switch. At the flasher I have constant power on both wires.

Thanks for any input. This is really getting frustrating.

Oh and my horn doesnt work but when checking the wires and connection it would honk when touching one of the wires and also on the steering column at the little brass connection (if that was touched while grounded it would honk).

Still trying to understand this electrical stuff.

[fordman]

these trucks have two flashers. one is for blinkers and the other is for turn signals. the one for the turn signals is behind th edrivers side of the instrument cluster. the two wires that go to it are the blue wire. #44. and wire #8 witch comes from power at the wiper switch. so wire 44 should pulse power i would think. since it is the wire going out of the flahser. i would try eitehr swapping the flashers and see if the blinkers work or the hazards work. if the blinkers work. but the hazard doesnt. then the orignal turn signal flasher can is bad. http://www.fordification.com/tech/wiring/68-23.jpg

[BrantDale]

Ok, I have worked a bit more on these turn signals. Here is where I am at:

The flashers are good

The blue wire (#44) coming from the flasher on the back of instrument panel does not connect to the connector, it is just sitting there. So, I jumped a wire from the blue wire into the connector (there is a red wire, connected to the ammeter, in the spot that connects to the blue wire on the other side of the connector) and the turn signals work but incorrectly. When turned to the left both of the back lights flash and to the right both front lights flash.

So, I am assuming that the TSS is good but wiring is crossed somewhere. The PO has cut into a lot of the under dash wires and there is electrical tape connections all over.

When I turn on the emergency flashers, all but the rear right lights work. My back up lights comes on only on the right and on the upper bulb not the lower one where it should. The headlights and rear lights seem to work when the lights are on.

So, any thoughts or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Just hoping to figure out why the blue wire on the back of the instrument panel is like this:

[BrantDale]

Another update (I have my computer out here while I'm working). I checked the TSS and it does appear to be working correctly, except when I turn the headlights on, then there is steady power on the red w/blk stripe on the TSS when I turn it either direction. I am really confused.

[fordman]

unplug that wired you rigged up. look at the base of the tape on the cab side of the harnes for the other blue wire and the white connector.

[BrantDale]

Fordman, I can not find another blue wire with a connector. The only other blue wire on the cab side goes to the cigar lighter.

There is a blue wire going into the cab side of the connector but that attaches to the red wire. Is there a chance that this is not the original instrument panel? I compared it to another I have and it looks the same.

Thanks for you help.