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’98 F150 electrical problem

bobl | Posted in Tools for Home Building on June 30, 2007 06:54am

Turn signals don’t work, no turn signal indicaters on dash either, no bulb lights. parking lights work front and rear.
brake lights (in the tail lights) don’t work, upper brake light works.

replaced relay #1, no go (brought it back sucker cost $19)

checked fuses #1 & #18 both good. owners manual had these related to relay#1 (flashers) and parking, brake lights).

????

 

bobl          Volo, non valeo

Baloney detecter    WFR

“But when you’re a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn’t matter.” SHG

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Replies

  1. User avater
    IMERC | Jun 30, 2007 07:15pm | #1

    light switch is toast..

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    1. User avater
      bobl | Jun 30, 2007 10:21pm | #8

      that's one of the things I'm afraid it might be, but the brake lights don't work, wouldn't think that would go through the switch, but maybe I shouldn't use logic. 

      bobl          Volo, non valeo

      Baloney detecter    WFR

      "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

      1. USAnigel | Jul 01, 2007 12:21am | #13

        The rear brakes flash for turn signals so the switch comes into play. My 97 f150 has the same switch and its on #3!

      2. User avater
        IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 12:33am | #14

        yup...

        it all goes thru the dash board light switch and steering colum...

        I keep a spare switch in the glove box... common problem...

        another thing...

        check the fuse box under the hood... there's fuses and relays in there...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

        1. seeyou | Jul 01, 2007 12:35am | #15

          >>>>check the fuse box under the hood...You beat me to it. I had a similar problem on a Dodge truck. One of those big fuses had fried.http://grantlogan.net/

           

          Sometimes, when I lie in bed at night and look up at the stars, I think to myself, "Man! I really need to fix that roof."

          1. User avater
            IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 12:40am | #16

            and you can borrow a relay from something that is working and put it in the lighting circut...

            so ya do without AC for a day or two till ya get another... if that's the problem...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

        2. User avater
          bobl | Jul 01, 2007 02:01am | #17

          "I keep a spare switch in the glove box."confused
          a spare switch? that goes in the steering column? or a relay that goes in the fuse box? 

          bobl          Volo, non valeo

          Baloney detecter    WFR

          "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

          1. User avater
            IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 06:57am | #19

            spare switch for the dash board (replaced that several times) and maxi fuses and relays for under the hood...

            had to repair the colum switch once...

            oh yeah...

            if yur blinker relay (that little can in the dash board fuse box) is no good you can get the same symptoms...

            same for the ignition switch...

            but because it's the brake lights in this mess too... go under the hood and then the blinker relay....

            check to see if the wires are hooked uo to brake switch and emergency brake..

            got standard or auto trans???Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          2. User avater
            bobl | Jul 01, 2007 05:04pm | #25

            auto trans 

            bobl          Volo, non valeo

            Baloney detecter    WFR

            "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

          3. User avater
            BillHartmann | Jul 01, 2007 08:43pm | #28

            Try cycling the emergency blinker on and off. And does it work work when on?.
            .
            A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

      3. DougU | Jul 01, 2007 02:45am | #18

        that's one of the things I'm afraid it might be, but the brake lights don't work

        If you dont have blinkers and brake lights I'd check the column thinggy like IMERC suggested, had the very same problem, not on a F150 but it was a ford. And it was the column switch thing.

        I had just brake lights go out on me, couldnt figure it ou and it turned out to be some sort of central box under the truck that all the brake fluid lines went to, this was the relay for the brake lights, part cost me $400 used!

        Doug

        1. User avater
          IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 06:59am | #20

          that was the ABS module... that's another place to look...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

          WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          1. DougU | Jul 01, 2007 07:33am | #21

            ABS mod, yea thats the damn thing.

            I was at Ft Leonard Wood  for my DIL's boot camp graduation thing when an MP pulled me over, told me I had no brake lights!

            I drove back to TX without the damn lights, scared I'd cause an accident but I made it. No place to get it fixed on the good Ft on a Sunday so........

            Doug

          2. User avater
            IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 08:23am | #23

            hard to believe there are so different things wired together...

            and with Ford.. one thing giving up the ghost it to take several other thingds with it...

            I've been thru several times what bobl is going thru....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          3. rez | Jul 01, 2007 03:44pm | #24

            oh the pain, the pain.

            be found on road deadI have thus a tight shingled and plastered house, ten feet wide by fifteen long, and eight-feet posts, with a garret and a closet, a large window on each side, two trap doors, one door at the end, and a brick fireplace opposite. -Thoreau's Walden

  2. DougU | Jun 30, 2007 07:16pm | #2

    Use your arm signals properly

  3. USAnigel | Jun 30, 2007 07:19pm | #3

    Weak point is the turn switch on the colume. first check all the plugs for the wires. Try moving the switch around. Check for power going to the switch. Get a manual for the colours of the wires.

  4. User avater
    IMERC | Jun 30, 2007 07:58pm | #4

    steering colum switch...

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  5. User avater
    Sphere | Jun 30, 2007 08:33pm | #5

    Rusted ground connection.

     

    1. User avater
      bobl | Jun 30, 2007 10:22pm | #9

      hmmm 

      bobl          Volo, non valeo

      Baloney detecter    WFR

      "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Jun 30, 2007 11:16pm | #12

        Mt F350 has intermittent ground discontinuity,,usually in the turn signals and brake lights. I found rusted connections all over the place...I also have a slew of cab over lights and side body marker lighhts..hit a few bumps and I flash like a christmas tree. 

  6. User avater
    maddog3 | Jun 30, 2007 09:21pm | #6

    buy new bulbs

    .

    .

    .

    .

    , wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?

  7. roger g | Jun 30, 2007 09:23pm | #7

    I've got a 99 ford F150 (crap) and I've had lots of electrical problems though not what you have. I've had my radio go on when it's parked. Sometimes I can turn on the heater fan and use the indicators when they keys are still in my pocket. All in all, if I don't use the truck for a week the battery is dead. Apparently they (Ford) are having problem with the G.E.M. (generic electronic module) and for some reason it can give all sorts of different probles. I remember one guy couldn't turn off his interior light and that was related to the GEM.

    For huge dollars I can replace the GEM but they can't say why it happened and whether it will happen again. It must have something to do with dampness because it happens alot in our rainy season which is from the beginning of  October right through to the end of September;)

     

    roger

  8. mrfixitusa | Jun 30, 2007 10:27pm | #10

    I had a similar problem with a toyota pickup.

    Crawl under pickup and examine wiring harnesses.

    You may have a wire which has rubbed against metal. Or the harness has dropped down and is rubbing on a tire.

    Look at places where the harness goes up into a metal compartment.

    Also, my son was driving his car a while back and hit a skunk or possum and the animal bounced around under the car and managed to pull a wiring harness loose.

    Good luck !

    ^^^^^^

     

    a Smith & Wesson beats four Aces

  9. curley | Jun 30, 2007 10:42pm | #11

    I agree with Sphere, I'd check for a good ground. My Ford wagon had a similar problem. I don't remember Ford using a chassie ground rather a ground wire which wasn't making a good connection.

  10. paulandre | Jul 01, 2007 07:56am | #22

    bob I think ford uses lucas ignition.

  11. User avater
    IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 06:01pm | #26

    sent ya an email...

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  12. User avater
    IMERC | Jul 01, 2007 06:03pm | #27

    it's gotta be able to get out of the drive way to be found on the read..

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  13. User avater
    bobl | Jul 11, 2007 02:54pm | #29

    It was the column switch

     

    bobl          Volo, non valeo

    Baloney detecter    WFR

    "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jul 11, 2007 03:07pm | #30

      How'd ya find it? Mechanic? 

      1. User avater
        bobl | Jul 11, 2007 04:36pm | #31

        yuptried doing some things recommended here, but came more to believe that it was the switch and knowing capabilities decided to go to mechanic 

        bobl          Volo, non valeo

        Baloney detecter    WFR

        "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

      2. User avater
        bobl | Jul 11, 2007 05:37pm | #32

        should mention that someone here offered to talk on the phone and walk me through the column switch routine, while I really appreciated the offer, I know my skill level. Now wasn't the time to try and improve that skill level. 

        bobl          Volo, non valeo

        Baloney detecter    WFR

        "But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG

        1. mrfixitusa | Jul 11, 2007 05:42pm | #33

          A good mechanic (not me) could probably use a volt meter to take readings at various locations and could pinpoint the problem in a matter of minutes.^^^^^^

           

          a Smith & Wesson beats four Aces

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