Turn signals are not working?

Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 181,000 MILES
Turn signals don't work but both indicators light up when the key is on. Neither the front or rear signal lights work when manually operating the switch. All the bulbs are good. Hazards work but only when the ignition is off. Both the turn signal fuse, #2 and the flasher relay fuse, #13 are good. The flasher relay is good because the hazards work. Are we looking at the switch in the column? Possible ground issue? The fact that the hazards only work with the ignition off has me stumped.
Saturday, December 28th, 2024 AT 5:14 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
Okay, do you mean the dash indicators light up IE left and right? Do the marker lights work? I suspect the flasher relay myself. It has two sections in it, one for hazards and one for regular turn signals. I would go to the flasher and check the wiring. Because the hazards are working that section is likely okay. That would be the White wire red stripe. The light blue is the turn feed. Probably the easiest test would be if you reversed those wires and see if the turn signals return. Or just swap out the flasher relay.
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Sunday, December 29th, 2024 AT 11:52 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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Both dash indicator lights light up together when the key is turned on. No signal bulbs light up outside the vehicle. Why would the hazards only work when the ignition is off? What if you have to drive slow with them on?
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Monday, December 30th, 2024 AT 6:47 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Okay, with the dash lights coming on with the key I have a couple more questions, does your truck have DRLs or Auto-Lights? One or both. Do they come on if you turn the headlights on as well? There are a few different wiring diagrams to sort through. The indicators though should only have power when the front TS are getting power and that may indicate something else as that power would need to be coming in from somewhere. You said the bulbs are all good, one or both front TS bulbs, do the dash indicators go out?
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Monday, December 30th, 2024 AT 10:27 AM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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I'm not sure but I don't think it has DRLs because when the ignition is on no front lights are lit until you turn the headlight switch on. Both front and back TS bulbs are lit when the hazards are flashing. I'm assuming the hazards use the same bulbs as the TS. Dash indicators both stay lit at all times the ignition is on. It's difficult because the truck is an hour away from me.
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Monday, December 30th, 2024 AT 10:13 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Okay, the lack of DRL and auto-lights should make it a bit easier. This does have all stock lights correct? Have seen some of the LED parts cause problems. Attached is the full diagram for the marker and turn lights as well as the headlights. The issue with the dash indicators being on as soon as the key is suggests there is power feeding back into them from somewhere, but none of the circuits should have power in them without the lights being on because the indicators should only be powered when the switch for turn or hazard is on. As much of a pain that it is you might try to narrow down where that is coming from by pulling fuses. Get it so the lights are on then pull Fuse 2, 6, 13, 23, 25, 36 40 and 42 one at a time to see which is feeding voltage back.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 4:17 AM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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Yes, they are all stock bulbs. The fuse layout was very helpful, thank you and when I get back down there, I'll try this. Maybe Sunday, weather dependent here in SE Wisconsin.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 7:50 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Yeah, very familiar with working in the winter. My first shop job was outdoors 90% of the time, either jump starting or towing cars. Back before everyone had fancy roll back trucks!
Not a rush, we will be here.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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Well I'm back. It appears the issue is with fuse #13. When I pull it the indicator lights go out. It appears this is the flasher relay fuse.
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Sunday, January 12th, 2025 AT 9:31 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Okay, fuse 13 powers only the flasher relay. The most likely item would be if the flasher relay has failed as a switch failure causing this type of issue would be very odd but not impossible. To test if it's the switch would be to find the flasher relay, remove it and then apply power to pins 1 and 4 and see if either one lights up the indicators. If it does, then move the switch and see if the lights change. If not, then it's the switch. If however, the switch actually turns on the correct lights, then it's the flasher.
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 AT 11:08 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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Here's something new, when the flasher relay is removed, and the key is on both indicator lights illuminate. I applied power to #1 and #4, I'm assuming with the key on. Since both indicators were already lit there was no change, even when moving the stalk. Is this the switch in the column or a short in the turn signal wire from the fuse block?
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2025 AT 5:16 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Okay, that could be related to the way the system checks for bad bulbs. Ford doesn't really have that even in the dealer information. However, that shouldn't cause the issue you have.
Did that test light up the exterior lights? IE move stalk to left apply power and left turn lights come on? Turn to right and right comes on? If not, then replace the switch.
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Thursday, January 30th, 2025 AT 2:57 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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I want to clarify the test. Ignition on, relay out, power to which wire for the turn signals? I don't own a power probe yet so I'm running a wire from the positive battery terminal. I'll have to rerun the test as I was only looking at the dash indicators, not the actual outside bulbs. Am I powering the white/red wire or the lt. Blue? Sorry but electrical is not my forte.
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Thursday, January 30th, 2025 AT 7:41 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Should be the blue wire but you can test with both.
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Friday, January 31st, 2025 AT 10:27 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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Here's a breakdown of the testing I did today. One time when I applied direct power to the blue wire the front and back turn signal bulbs lit and I could manually flash them with the switch. I couldn't repeat this. Fuse #2 has power in and out, but I can't locate or trace the wire from the back. Could this be an ignition switch issue? I'm currently at a loss.
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Saturday, March 8th, 2025 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Ignition switch doesn't affect that part of the circuit. It simply turns the power on and off. If applying power to the blue wire let the lights come on but then stopped the power is not getting to the blue wire, I would swap out the signal relay. Ford # 5L3Z13350AA
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Monday, March 10th, 2025 AT 11:29 AM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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All fixed. Fuse block showed ground but wasn't grounded. I relocated these two ground wires.
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Monday, March 10th, 2025 AT 7:06 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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OOF, just a bit of rust. Looks like a NY vehicle.
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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Wisconsin, lol. Thank you
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Hi there you fine fellows. I like to follow along to learn solutions. Had to add a tidbit. I'm in Wisconsin too. The land of where they throw a pound of salt on an ounce of snow.
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 AT 2:39 PM
Tiny
JEFF HERMAN
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The crazy thing is those wires initially showed ground.
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 AT 5:40 PM

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