turn signal problem ......babaloo09
 

When switching the directioals left or right, the flasher makes a buzzing sound and the lights don't work. the hazards will work & the flasher makes the normal clicking sound I've checked all the bulbs, sockets and fuses, they're o.k. HELP!!! ........Bob Booth :confused:

Ooops, I forgot to say it's my '93 villager.

the flasher for the hazards is actually on the back side of the fuse box. The flasher for the blinkers is the one on the front that you can see. That's beside the point though. Sounds like there's a contact issue in the blinker switch in the column. You may be able to clear it up be hosing it down with contact cleaner (you may need to remove the column cover to really get at it). You might try just swapping in a new flasher since they're cheap and see if that fixes it (or swap the flasher from the hazards around front to the blinker location to test). If the swap doesn't work, then it's probably the multi-function switch contacts.

babaloo09
 

I replaced the flasher twice with new ones to no avail. That was the one just above the gas pedal. The Haynes manual said that the '93 turn signal & hazards used the same flasher. But I never thought to look behind the fuse panel on the left side. If it doesn't rain or snow tomorrow, I'll try the switch cleaner. Thanks Slymer. I'll let you know.

ah... I guess that changed in 93. Then it's definitely the switch in the column. We had the switch problem with the hazards on the crown vic my wife drives. Contact cleaner sprayed down the hazard switch on the column (it's on top on that car) and then hose out the multifunction switch the blinker arm is connected to, and it sorted it.

To Slymer
 

I finally got to try the contact cleaner on the steering column switch. It didn't help. A friend suggested that it might be a bad ground, perhaps one going into the flasher. What would be your opinion of that? I appreciate your input about that?

it could be a loose wire somewhere along the line (grounds included). but since it uses a single flasher for both the blinkers and the hazards, it has to be something with the blinker switch or the wire harness connecting to it in the column or the wires on back to the fuse box or the grounding strap (wherever that is). The flasher is connected good all around if the hazards are working right. you might also try hosing out the hazard switch with contact cleaner since part of it's job is to disable/enable the blinker switch.

turn signal update
 

I took the villager to a Ford dealer to see if they could figure this thing out. The mechanic told me it was a grounding problem in the circuit board on the back of the instrument cluster. He said it was unfixable and wouldneed to be replaced. Trouble is that Ford no longer has any in inventory. If I could find a used one, it would have to be exactly the same. It's a digital unit, not analog. After the Cash for Clunkers program the chance of finding one will hard. I checked the local junk yards & it was a dead end. ..........BUMMER !

I could probably fix the board myself actually. Unfortunately, I'm in Texas. If it was simply a ground short from something, putting some electrical tape between the board and the casing at that point would solve the problem. If it's a chip problem, you' have to replace the chip. I do know that www.everdrive.com probably has it (though they are NOT cheap about rare parts).

http://www.everdrive.com/partdetails.aspx?sku=1195437 $199 USED Digital Cluster (Picture on this page is NOT the correct image and just a stock photo)

Hi slymer, Happy new year to you & everyone out there in cyber land. I called that outfit you told me about, they're sending me the part. I hope it solves the problem. I'll let you know.

turn signal problem
 

Here's an update on the turn signals & hazard lights. The instrument panel has been installed. As my luck would have it, the problem is still there. I'm thinking of cutting my losses and getting rid of the van. Every thing is great about it except the lights..........BUMMER!

well that's a bummer.

turn signals
 

Oh well. The old saying goes, when you get lemons, you make lemonade.Or somethig like that. Maybe I can hook them up externaly like I did with my '54 chevy hot rod. Like battery to fuse,to switch, to wires ,to lights. It's something to think about. I'll have to wait 'till warmer weather tho' It's tough out in the snow & cold. What do ya think ?

have you tried just pulling the multifunction switch out of the column and cleaning it (maybe even taking the switch apart and cleaning it directly)? I know that with my wife's 93, I had to hose it down pretty good from the hazard switch on top of the column while pressing the hazard switch in and out... but after that we haven't had any issues. You may need to replace that switch too. It sounds like it's a bad contact in the switch and the dealer just misled you.

If you're going to go through all the trouble of rewiring everything, might as well try cleaning/replacing that switch.

I hosed down the hazard switch on the dash board as you suggested, but it didn't help. I'll have to find out how to remove the switch and do that as well. As you can know I've spent a lot cf cash on this already with no result. But I'll keep trying.

yeah... try the stuff that doesn't cost anything but time first. and the hazard switch is on the dash and not the column? hmm... must be the re-badged Nissan Quest version. I've heard that those years were crappy. If it's a dash switch, then that is definitely not the problem. that's just a switch. multifunction switch for the blinkers in the column would be the best bet for taking apart and giving a good cleaning. That may be horrendously involved though. hopefully just taking the bottom cover of the column off will allow enough clearance to try to get that switch out and clean it out good.

turn signal problem
 

T0 whom this may concern. Slymer, I hope you are here as you stuck with me on this. The problem is finally solved. The signals were routed thru the hazard switch (?????). The hazard switch burnt out , which caused the signals to fail. Hard to figure why is was designed that way. I hope this helps someone someday. I now realize....there parts changers & true trouble shooters out there!

Turn signals went completely out. They don't work or make clicking noise. The arrows aren't lighting up on the dashboard either. There isn't any lights flashing on the outside of the car,front or rear when manually flicking the turn stick. Only in the front of the car if the lights are on will it indicate turning. The front end lights will flash if flicked manually. What should i do

Front doesn't blink, rear does for a while then buzzes
 

I had a similar problem. The front turn signals would not blink. The rear turn signals would blink for a few blinks but then the blinker module would start buzzing and they would stop blinking. I replaced the blinker module but it had the same buzzing problem. The hazard button would make all 4 front & back blink. I was baffled. THANKYOU babaloo09 !!!! I didn't think it could possibly be the hazard button but after reading your post I pulled out the button and when I banged on it, the front blinkers started working but then stopped but when I squeezed it they started working again so I definitely think it is the hazard switch. I know where one is at a salvage yard so will be swapping it out. I have been without a front blinker for over a year and you saved me a bunch of money. Sounds like that dealer gave you some real bad advice about the circuit board ground problem. Thanks again!!!