Car Blinker Fun

Riboflavin

I know this isn't car talk but I have an interesting problem no one has been able to track down.

I have a 2007 Ford Explorer so it really could be anything but here goes:

My blinker will get "stuck" on like the bulb is out at random times. When this happens it is both blinkers. Bulbs have been replaced it is not the bulbs.

Sometimes I go to use it and get no blinking just a solid green. Sometimes it blinks first then goes solid green.

It fixes itself after random periods of time. It will, of course, not do it for a mechanic.

Through trial and error I have found I can force it to work by putting on my hazards then turning my hazards off.

Any ideas?

BlazeFire

Have you looked at the flasher relay at all? A quick Google suggests your vehicle uses something called a "smart junction box" to control the flashing.

mRahmani

Sounds like an intermittent connection somewhere in the light circuit. A couple of possibilities I can think of:

- there's a multifunction switch that controls hazards and turn signals, it could have worn out connections
- a previous owner could have modified the wiring to add a harness for towing a trailer. I've seen problems when aftermarket ones get old and start shorting wires to ground in weird ways

Given that the hazard switch can temporarily resolve the problem, though, my bet is that the first one is your likely culprit. Amazon has the unit for $50, though you could likely pull one out of a local junkyard for much cheaper.

Riboflavin

Thanks.
My car repair skill is low.
I looked up the smart junction box and it was like $250. For that I'll use the hazard fix until it goes altogether.
The turn signal switch MRahmani linked to on Amazon is only $50 but I wish there was a way to test it before I went through the trouble of replacing it.

**I found a video on replacing the switch and it doesn't look too difficult*** (famous last words)

webguy20

Riboflavin wrote: »

Thanks.
My car repair skill is low.
I looked up the smart junction box and it was like $250. For that I'll use the hazard fix until it goes altogether.
The turn signal switch MRahmani linked to on Amazon is only $50 but I wish there was a way to test it before I went through the trouble of replacing it.

**I found a video on replacing the switch and it doesn't look too difficult*** (famous last words)

You got this! Also if it doesn't work there are car threads in Both D&D and SE++ and both are full of a ton of knowledgeable folks who might not visit H&A.

mRahmani

Disregard