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Blinker/Flasher problems have now turned into big issues! Need some help.?

T

Thresher

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Oct 12, 2006
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Lihue, Hi
Aloha Contour.org enthusiasts. I found this baord last month and have been having a good time with it all. I should have posted before my first problem arose but I was having trouble reading that verification image on sign up.

I was looking for some quality advice. My 99 Contour SE 4 cyl Manual w/AC (147k miles) began having intermittent problems with it's turn signals. Sometimes they would work and other times they would not. It didn't seem to matter which side I would turn on. The hazards would suffer the same fate as the blinkers. Sometimes they would be working and other times they would go out.

I looked through the stock manual and found the relay on the steering column. I went into my local napa and the guy gave me a relay that looked similar but nowhere near exact. He said it was for sure the right part. I put it in and I got nothing. No flashers, blinkers or hazards.

I went back in and he gave me a different relay. He called it an electronic relay. I plugged it in, heard one click of it, then nothing worked.

Now through all of this, when I was testing I would simply take the relay I thought was bad and plug it in, things would work but would still display the same intermittent operation.

Since having tried the electronic relay, the original relay no longer works at all.

So my questions are...

...did I possibly do damage to the car by plugging in an electronic relay?

...can I somehow test relays for operability, I have a multimeter...

...my air conditioning and fans no longer come on, is this in any way related, it seemed to occur at the same time...

...can you offer me up some advice to trouble shoot these problems?

Thanks for reading that long post, I appreciate all feedback. Thank you!

:confused:
 
Aloha! :)

Check if they have this Flasher. "Tridon Stant EP34 Flasher $10". AdvanceAutoParts or Autozone sells them. In addition, you may want to check with your local Ford dealer.

As for the A/c issue, check Fuse, blower switch and blower motor. Read this thread.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/s...er=1165312&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

From Ray,

a list of fuses for the entire car:


"FUSE LIST" (just said these so it comes up in searches)
FUSE DIAGRAM



FUSES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX
Fuse # - Amp - Color - Circuit
1 - 80 - Black - Main power
2 - 60 - Yellow - Engine cooling fan
3 - 60 - Yellow - ABS braking system, Heater blower motor
4 - 20 - Yellow - Daytime running lights
5 - 15 - Light Blue - Fog lamp
6 - Not used
7 - 20 - Yellow - ABS system
8 - Not used
9 - 20 - Light Blue - ECU
10 - 20 - Light Blue - Ignition switch
11 - 3 - Violet - ECU memory
12 - 15 - Light Blue - Horn, Hazard flasher warning system
13 - 20 - Yellow - Oxygen sensor
14 - 15 - Light Blue - Fuel pump
15 - 10 - Red - Low beam, passenger side
16 - 10 - Red - Low beam, driver's side
17 - 10 - Red - High beam, passenger side
18 - 10 - Red - High beam, driver's side
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX
Fuse # - Amp - Color - Circuit
19 - Not used
20 - 10 - Black - Wiper motors (circuit breaker)
21 - 40 - Orange - Power windows
22 - 7.5 - Brown - ABS module
23 - 15 - Light Blue - Backup lights
24 - 15 - Light Blue - Brake lights
25 - 20 - Yellow - Door locks
26 - 7.5 - Brown - Main light
27 - 15 - Light Blue - Cigarette lighter
28 - 30 - Light Green - Electric seats
29 - 30 - Light Green - Rear window defroster
30 - 7.5 - Brown - Engine management system
31 - 7.5 - Brown - Instrument panel illumination
32 - 7.5 - Brown - Radio
33 - 7.5 - Brown - Parking lamps - drivers side
34 - 7.5 - Brown - Interior lights, electric side mirrors, clock
35 - 7.5 - Brown - Parking lights - passenger side
36 - 10 - Red - Air bag
37 - 30 - Light Green - Heater blower motor
38 - Not used


RELAYS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX
Relay - Circuit
R1 - Daytime running lights
R2 - Radiator fan, high speed
R3 - Air conditioning
R4 - Air conditioning clutch
R5 - Radiator fan, low speed
R6 - Starter solenoid
R7 - Horn
R8 - Fuel pump
R9 - Headlight, low beam
R10 - Headlight, high beam
R11 - ECU module
D1 - Reverse voltage protection
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FUSE B0X
Relay - Circuit
R12 - Interior lighting
R13 - Rear window defroster
R14 - Heater blower motor
R15 - Wiper motor
R16 - Ignition
D2 - Reverse voltage protection
 
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Thanks Tony.

I blew the 13 - 20a yellow - Horn and hazard flasher warning system fuse. Most likely from that stupid attempt at an electronic relay. Once replaced, the hazards worked when I would play with the switch but the blinkers still did not.

I took apart my hazard and blinker switch and cleaned all the contact points. I put it back together, plugged in the (maybe) bad relay, and to my surprise the hazards were working again, so some dirty contacts were inhibiting me.

The blinkers were not though. I removed the relay and tested with an ohmeter the continuity of the blinker switch. When engaged I was receiving continuity at the relay plug ins. So like you suggested, there's probably something whacky with the relay.

Is it odd though to have a working relay for the hazards but then for blinkers it doesn't work?

Now, onto the A/C and my confusion there, about 3 months ago the A/C only worked on high, Ford replaced the 'blower motor resistor'. Too bad I didn't know there were warranties for that thing...I digress. This solved the issuea t hat time.

Since then I have noticed that sometimes when we tried to put on the MAX AC or AC or PANEL or any choices on that middle switch we would have to do it more then once to get it to work. This went on for a couple of days until today when nothing happens in any position from that switch. I took apart my dashboard and got to the switch and tested continuity at the switch, on MAX, AC, PANEL, Defrost, etc I was receiving continuity when on, and none when off.

I only see one fuse 37 - 30 - Light Green - Heater blower motor listed and it seems to be okay from my ohm tests and visual tests. I replaced it anyway.

Do I next go to the passenger kick panel to get to the blower and test it's leads or do I chase down relay problems? I guess I would see if the blower receives juice...think McFly!

I see 3 relays that pertain to my issue. Which one do I start with? I assume heater blower motor but I don't know. Does autozone let me buy these things then just return them opened?

R3 - Air conditioning
R4 - Air conditioning clutch
R14 - Heater blower motor
 
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" Which one do I start with?" R14

"Does autozone let me buy these things then just return them opened?"
Yes. But to be sure, this is what you do. Go in tell them the issue. Tell them someone suggested the part number and then let them confirm. Then try the part. If it doesn't work, they will take it back.

If you read the link for heater blower issues with Jeb Hoge's experience, he had an issue with the fuse not sticking properly. In addition, it could be the switch itself (not the resistor). In another link, there was a CEGer SetiRich checking the fuse panel.

Read this thread.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/s...er=1056473&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1
 
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whoa, before you try the blinker, please try changing your bulbs again and again until you get consistency. ,especially if they're intermittent or if water or moisture has gotten in there. The moisture can cause problems with your electrical system. Change your fuses, especially 3 on the inside fuse box that control the turn signals, please do that. The blinker or clicker is something that usually doesn't fail.
 
I looked up some wiring diagrams and have followed your instructions. Thanks for helping me along. I have learned an absolute ton about this contour.

I replaced the following fuses, let me know if I missed one:
12 - 15 - Light Blue - Horn, Hazard flasher warning system
33 - 7.5 - Brown - Parking lamps - drivers side
35 - 7.5 - Brown - Parking lights - passenger side

When reinstalling fuses I also took apart the fuse panel as a thread on these boards led me through, there was no burn damage or fried wires. It looked clean of corrosion.

I took apart and cleaned the switch assembly, it was a mess. I inspected the switch assembly and it's wiring harnesses, all looked clean and in good shape.

Upon reassembly, the hazards have now begun to work consistently with the Original Flasher/relay. The left and right blinkers still do not work.

So I decided to go to checker's and get a new flasher. You may get a chuckle out of this. I found a Trico ep34. They didn't offer the Tridon Stant EP34 Flasher. I purchased it, tried it and the blinkers and hazards did not work. I put the old flasher back in and the hazards began to work but not the blinkers. I went back to return the item and they said hell no. So I have this 14 dollar trico turd and it didn't help me.

I don't understand how two different ep34 flashers have not worked at all, yet the original equipment flasher works on hazard mode.

I will attempt to change all four orange lights in the car. Those lights do work when the headlight switch is turned on. Does that pertain to anything?

If I have the switch assembly removed from the car, how can I test to see if it is working like it should with a multimeter?
 
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Tony, Whats funny is in that those threads you sent; one guy says that his turn signals and heater blower went out at the same time. He details his fix, I'll be going through them all.

The blower went out on me when the parts store guy tried an 'electronic flasher'.

Looks like I'll be chasing down all these fuse/relay issues. Thanks, I'll check in later.
 
Blinkers, Hazards and blower motor are now working. Two things made it happen...

I made a very dumb mistake by not checking every single fuse in each fuse box. I had a blown fuse 12 15a - Light Blue - Horn, Hazard flasher warning system in the engine, a blown fuse 23 - 15 - Light Blue - Backup lights. I just never checked fuse 23 because it didn't relate to my problem, WELL I GUESS IT DID...:crazy:

I made a good choice by rebuilding the multi function switch, the intermittent blinker problem is now gone.

I learned some important things (NEW8 alert):
  1. Searching the forums works and reading all suggested threads works very well.
  2. The members are awesome!
  3. Testing every single fuse with an ohmeter is easy and should be done for all problems. Why not? Unless you know the entire electircal schematic you have no idea which fuse is inline to another.
  4. The flasher on the steering cloumn was not bad in my case, as many have said, it rarely fails.
  5. Changing the flasher to another type of flasher created worse results.
  6. My intermittent blinker problems were resolved by gently taking apart the multifunction switch and cleaning all the grease/dirt out, then reapplying electric grease.
  7. I didnt need to take off the bottom steering column cover, or take outmy heater blower, or look and test my heater switch. I simply should have checked all the fuses then done the cleaning or replacement of the multi function.
  8. Taking good care of contact points, and wire harnesses is essential to staying away from difficult problems. When checking fuses, check the harnesses for physical damage and corrosion too.
Thank you Tony and m4gician.

Now I'm onto fixing my driver's side window. It slides forward and there's a rattle inside the door. Not too mention someone tried using a screwdriver to break into the car via the handle. So now my door handle is jacked. Meth heads grrrrrrr!
 
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Thresher said:
..I learned some important things (NEW8 alert):
  1. Searching the forums works and reading all suggested threads works very well.
  2. The members are awesome!
....
Click to expand...

Where did you come from? Oh, Hawaii.

Maybe we can get a mod to sticky this? :laugh:

LOL. Glad it worked out fine for you.

I think Big Jim had mentioned something about the power windows issue a few months ago.
 
eh hem; a little addendum to my story. When I put the two trim pieces back on the steering column the blinkers/hazards stopped working again. It seem there is a bad connection between the flasher relay and the plug in area on the multifunction switch. Looks like I'll be buying a new one after all.

Maybe that explains why no aftermarket flasher was working...
 
Did this get fixed?

Did this get fixed?

I am having the same problem. Did this ever get fixed? Thanks!
 
The problem did get fixed. I'm not sure which part of the problem you are talking about but I'll review...

...I was an idiot and had a blown out fuse causing all the problems of the original part of the thread, testing all the fuses found that one was blown that according ot the manual and repair book had nothing to do with AC or blinkers...

...as for the intermittent problem with the flasher after I fixed all those issues, it turned out that the switch itself was fine, the flasher unit was replaced by our mechanic (not sure which type or brand) but it worked flawlessly. I think it was a Ford OEM as he said he had to wait a week for it to come in.

Any other flasher I tried from Napa Auto did not work. Don't try the electrnoic type :eek:
 
SAweet...

SAweet...

Thanks! It was the blinker problem. Mine was acting the same way. It must be the relay itself. I will try to get one ordered soon. Actually, today it hasn't messed up. I will try to get one to have one on hand. Thanks for your reply!
 
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