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light panel stumped on what to do


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okay for a week now my dashlights have been blinking when i use my turn signal but theres a catch all my lights have to be on wheni use the turn signals and all my lights are good i don't know i aslo lost the cig lighter too it doesnt work any one got ideas and i checked the fuses and changed some out but still have this problem please help me i hate electrical

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the smaller fuses are okay they have 15 in them and i got a headlight out but the guage lights blink when the turn signals are on. could it be a relay or the switch also my wipers are slow could the motor go out and ur package thank you btw ima put new the stick on this weekend and ill have u put a new pic up for me

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Remove the bulbs from the FRONT turn signals and try it. My guess is the dash lights won't blink.

 

For some reason, the front turn signal sockets on the XJs and MJs get funky after awhile. Things seem to work -- sort of -- but the ground within the socket is bad, so the turn signal filament, in order to find a ground, backfeeds through the parking light filament. Or vice versa. Or both. Then, when the lights are ON, that path is being used so when you try to run the turn signal with the lights on, much hilarity ensues.

 

Simple fix is a replacement socket. Skip the junkyard. There's a Ford socket that's a perfect replacement, available in the HELP! aisle at all the national parts chains.

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which one do i replace or should i just knock out the both right away

You can start by testing, as I suggested. Remove BOTH front turn signal bulbs, then operate the lights, the hazards, the turn signals, etc., and see if the blinking of the dash lights goes away. Remember that unless you have a heavy-duty flasher pulling the front bulbs will change the flash rate. That's not what you're looking for -- you want to see if removing the front bulbs (which will eliminate any back-feeding) will eliminate the blinking dash lights.

 

It's almost never a good idea to start throwing parts at a problem until you have at least narrowed down the cause. I'd rather not discuss how I learned that ... and how much the lesson cost me.

 

BTW -- do the dash lights blink when you use the hazard flashers?

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okay so i replaced the headlight that was out. might as well buy another, cuz its way brighter then the other. while i was changing the headlight, I opened up the passenger turn signal. the bulb glass is loose so i just left it. it still works. also yes the hazards make the dash blink and just playing around in the truck, I turned on the fan while the keys are out and the lights were on. wierd. but i roll with windows down not worried about it but just throwing it out there. new windshield wipers on too and paint to fix my white hood and fender nothing a lil rattle can can't fix haha

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Okay. Moving forward (we hope).

 

The hazards use a separate flasher than the turn signals, so if the hazards make the dash lights blink, too, then the problem isn't the turn signal flasher. This makes me suspect more strongly the front turn signal sockets.

 

Remove the bulbs from the front sockets and try it again -- with no bulbs in. If it won't flash on the turn signals, use the hazards. See if the dash lights still blink.

 

Sitrep at 08:00.

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Sorry, Mate. Army jargon.

 

"Sitrep" is short for "situation report." It just means "let us know what you find out."

 

So what's this harness that "everybody" is talking about? Sounds to me like you're throwing parts (and money) at the problem without even knowing what or where the problem is. I hope it works, but it's not a great way to approach troubleshooting.

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