turn signal switch wiring question???

[Underdog97]

I refurbish a lot of Ford turn signal switches and to answer your question is that they are interchangable. Different years have different colors on some of the wires but the switch is the same. If you need a diagram of which wires go to which connectors let me know and I will send them to you. I have an adapter that I made up for testing the 67 to 69 turn signal switches. It lets me plug in the earlier 2 connector switch to the 70 to 72 single connector on my 71 4X4, thus allowing me to test both style of switches.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey guys,

I spent a little time today messing with the turn signals...
So far, I've got P'side turns and all four lights blink with E. switch is turned on...
I don't have d.side turns, front or back.
I tried a differant flasher unit, still no d'side turns.
I checked to see if I had power at the turn signal (with key on) nothing.
Where should I start trouble shooting ???

KaptnKA S

[Underdog97]

I would start by checking to make sure that the pins on the connectors are tight. It's not unusal for them to be loose and not be making connection, especially if they were removed from the connector at some point during installation. Loose pins can be tightened by removing them from the connector and bending the barb outwards. If you've got power to the passenger side blinkers you should have power to the switch. in reading further back on the post it states that you also put a new canceling cam on the switch sometimes the contacts are worn on the switch side and not making contact with the little hard wires on the canceling cam.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Underdog,

I didn't replace the canceling cam, I replaced the whole switch with a good working one from the '71 CS I parted out..
I messed with it this afternoon...
I ended up putting the original switch that was in the '68 to begin with.
I know it worked except that it has a broken cam on one side...
I got the same thing with it.
I have parking lights, 4-way e-flasher, and p.side signals only...
I tried using a differant flasher as well...
Now it's dark... and my foot is thobbing. (I sprained it Thursday)

I'll check the connector... if the wire is out of the harness and I thouch a grounded tester to the wire with the turn signal switch on shouldn't the tester blink???

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[Thunderfoot]

I agree with Underdog97 that the problem sounds like it is in the TSS with the contacts on the canceling cam... The power for the turn signals is the same source for both sides, so if one side works then the other should unless it has a bad connection in the TSS or wire/connector...

FYI, the E-Flashers working on all 4 corners is good you got that hooked up correct and your Brake lights should work as well... The fronts working with the E-Flasher is a different circuit then Turn Signals, as the fronts don't use the TSS with the E-Flasher on. They are hooked up directly to the E-Flasher switch so they don't go through the TSS like the rears do...
Hope that is understandable, it is a little hard to explain...

[Thunderfoot]

You posted while I was typing up my reply....
Got a question for you... Do your Brake lights work, both sides??? I'm guessing they do...

EDIT: been looking at this and I think this might be your problem...
Try swapping wires #10 and #9 using this diagram below... The top side shows the 2 connector style and the bottom is the newer single connector...

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Thunderfoot..

I'll check out that wire swap and let you know how it works out...
In the meantime, I am going to order a new TSS...

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[Underdog97]

that's an odd one if both switches are doing the same thing. before ordering a new switch ( you might not need it ) aftermarket ones run in upwards of $60.00 and you still have to use your old connectors on them. Also they're generic in nature as the wire colors arn't correct for every year and you'd have to match it up to where the old connections are on your switch to be sure. Did I email you the conversion charts I use when refurbishing switches for the 67 to 69 connectors to the 70 to 72 connector and vice a versa? I'm trying not to sound like a salesman here but as someone who wants to see you get your turn signals working. I'd like to compare my complete turn signal system wiring diagrams and see what I can come up with. one question I do have and it might sound stupid but are you sure the left side turn signals arn't working and that it's not the dash arrow just not blinking? I've had that happen and it was in the wiring running to the instrument panel, even the bulb was good! PM me if you need a switch as I've got a few that are tested good!

[kaptnkaos]

Dang Underdog...

I already ordered a new TSS from NPD yesterday...
I ordered a repro one, for $32xx delivered, so it wasn't to bad.

Yes, I physically checked the outside lights...
I also used a test light to see if they were getting power... they're not.
So, pretty much came to the same conclusion that you'all did...
That switch itself must be bad...
I am puzzled, because the one that came out of the '68 worked fine except that one of the arms on the canceling cam was broken off.
If I could find the right canceling cam for the truck I would just replace it.
I tried to do that too.
The cancel cam on the '68 is differant...
It has no wires going to it, like the other ones I had, so there is nothing you have to splice in.
You remove the "C" clip, take out the cam, replace the cam replace the clip. Simple as that... truly a 5 minute repair.
Would a bad ground on the front cause both lights not to work?
I ask that because of having the whole front end off.
I don't see how it could be that, since the 4-ways and the park lights work.
I know they're differant circuits, but they share the same ground...

Still puzzled...
KaptnKA S

[SteveC]

i know my turn signal problem was because i had no power to the switch but i also had no power to the hole circuit that run the tss heater and the wiper washer

[Underdog97]

I've never heard of a canceling cam on a Ford that didn't have the 2 wires coming from it. there's suppose to be 2 wires running from the top of them and those are the power wires to the switch. That might be the cause of the whole problem you're having. The running lights and 4 ways run on a different circuit than the turn signals. the running lights work off the headlight switch and the 4 ways override the turn signal switch.

[Underdog97]

The grounding issue would affect the front lights only as they're a different ground than the taillights. Ford grounded the taillights by the screws that hold the taillight buckets onto the box of the truck and it's common for the ground there to be bad. the front lights are grounded to the core support of the truck with a 3/8 lag bolt, so there's a ground for the front and one for the back that work independently from each other.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Underdog...

I don't see how that switch could be the probem...
It's the same one that has been in the truck for 20+ years and worked just fine except for not cancelling when I made a left turn.
I think it might be one of those '68 anomolies like the windshield washer pump... a one year only item.
This afternoon, I am going to swap the wires so the wire that feeds the right side (which I know works) is feeding the left side.
Then go from there...
I would say if it works, then it pretty much has to be the switch...
If it doesn't, then I'm gonna haveta start chasing wires...

Gotta run, I'm gonna be late for church...

I'll let ya'all know what happens when I swap those wires...

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[kaptnkaos]

Today I managed to swap flasher units, that didn't change anything.

I was looking at the schematics that Thunderfoot posted...
I think I can see what could be a potentual cause for the problem...
Both circuits 9 & 10 (which would be d.side front and rear) have green base colored wire with similiar stripe colors (red and orange), it would be super easy to get those mixed up...
Not sure I'm gonna be able to check it out today.
I went out to mess with it, and got pretty much drenched just swapping out the flasher unit.
In between spells of pouring down rain, we're gettng hail showers...
So it looks like it ain't gonna happen today...
It's supposed to be nice mid week, so hopefully I'll get a chance to mss with it again then...

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[rjewkes]

Hey kapn',

Just a thought, The wire under the hood could be bad or have some corossion on them.

I had a dead wire on the cab side of my harness.

This effected my rear only. but if both wires had a problem.

did the new switch(from the 71) come on the column from the 71 or did you snake it into the 68's column?

coulda damaged it on the way in.