Directional Signal Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pjdavis]

Hi Guys!

Today is exactly 1 year since I picked up my MKIV from the FFR. I have written in the past about the directional signals and the Russ Thompson system. Finally last spring we got it working. After mounting the dash and a loose pile of wires - to tow it down to the MD MVA to do the title inspection and drive around for a while with a temp tag - I noticed that it kept shorting out as it canceled the signal. I just guessed it was a loose wire. I am hoping to get the car safety inspected and tagged next week (before my 56th b-day). I have made a new comp dash - got the awful wipers working, etc. However I can't get the directional signals to even blink. I checked the relay - the hazzards work so I swapped the relays - so I know they are both good - but can not get the signals to blink. I even made a switch - on-off-on - to see if I had a short or something in the RT system. Nothing....

This has held me up since last weekend. Anys thoughts?????????

Thanks!

PJ

[Big Blocker]

What harness? Factory Ford, Ron Francis, Painless, ISIS? ????

Are you using one or two dash indicators?
If one do you have the diodes placed in the right direction (stripes toward the bulb)?
If two, check to see if your TS/Brake/Parking bulbs are installed correctly, they can be "clocked" 180° out of phase and short to ground.

I see you have already disconnected the RT switch to verify it is NOT causing the problem. Try setting up a test scenario with only the rears in play . . . No issues, connect the fronts one at a time, test again. If the rears give you a problem, try connecting them one at a time . . . Test again. Trace your wire harness path and look for shorts to ground (wires pinched or cut thru).

Check ALL your grounds with a meter, bad grounds in our cars cause a multitude of issues.

Are you using LED bulbs? They require an "electronic" flasher, not the older "thermal" flasher.

HTH

Doc

[JKleiner]

I think what you are calling a relay is the flasher unit.

I know we've talked in the past PJ, and if memory serves you have a Francis harness. The RF harness is set up so that the path is from the fuse to one side of the flasher, thru the flasher to the gray "turn signal feed" wire then to the turn signal switch.

There are two male spades on the flasher that plug into the fuse block. Pull the flasher and check for power (with the ignition on) at one of the female connectors that the spades plug into. If you don't have it you'll have to work backwards to the fuse. If you do have power there you need to work forward from the other terminal to the turn signal switch to see if you have continuity.

If you are good on both of those you'll have to go into the turn signal switch.

Good luck,
Jeff

[pjdavis]

Thanks Jeff - I am so close....Thanks Doc - the ron francis harness - two indicators - I know the diodes are right as it worked before - I will check what Jeff said and your idea of isolating the front and rear.

[mvright]

PJ, If you need another set of eyes, let me know. Should be available this weekend.