I posted this over on Turboford, but since it's a 'Merkur specific' problem I should probably post it here, as well.
I have an 86 XR4Ti, and for the last several years it has given me none of the usual electrical 'Merkurisms'. However, after parking the car for several months, my turn signals don't work anymore.
So far I have checked the fuses, replaced the flasher relay (three prong relay), and checked for current at the relay connector and the signal lamp connector in the hatch. There is voltage at the relay (~12.5 volts). At the connectors, on the left side of the vehicle I get a steady 12 volts (the lamp just stays on), but on the right side I don't get any voltage.
I'm thinking (shudder) grounds. Would bad grounds do this? Which grounds should I check for signals and where are they located? As well, I am reading ~12.5 volts at the relay, but on the flasher relay housing it says it's a "12.8" volt relay. Is there not enough voltage to actuate the armature (I think?) in the relay?
Any suggestions would be awesome.
Turn Signals Do Not Work
Play with the hazard button, move it up and down slowly, if it you get the turn signals to work, take it apart and take the spring out. Thats what I had to do to get mine to work, now I have to pull the hazard button up instead of letting the spring do it.
01 Cavalier - it still runs!
08 Evo X GSR - Stock.. for now
08 Evo X GSR - Stock.. for now
Thank you for posting, Shigma. I actually just came in to describe how I fixed the problem (and it was the hazard switch!).
If you pull off the red hazard button and white switch you will see four vertical contact points in the top of the turn signal switch assembly. These contact points correspond to four pieces of metal imbedded in the white switch. I removed all of these pieces of metal from the switch except for the one on the far right. I also removed the spring so that the switch would remain closed. Thus, only the contact on the right could be connected, and since I removed the springs it will always remain 'on'.
Shigma, this is exactly what you did, with the exception that I removed the other three contact points. I did this because when the hazard switch was pressed fully down, the fuel pump would engage and not shut off (with the engine running). I was quite surprised when I started the car and could not get it to stop by removing the key!
So I guess the bottom line is that, for whatever reason, the 'right hand' contact on the hazard switch has to remain connected for the turn signals to work. Hopefully anyone with the same problem will come across this post and not waste the time that I did this morning.
However, I have some more questions: how does the circuitry for the hazard lights/switch fit in with my fuel pump/ignition switch? Is this fairly standard for all XRs? (I did install a 255 lph pump recently, but I cannot see how that could cause this phenomena.) Why are the signals tied in with the hazards, especially when they operate from separate relays? For curiosity's sake, it would be great if someone could answer these questions.
If you pull off the red hazard button and white switch you will see four vertical contact points in the top of the turn signal switch assembly. These contact points correspond to four pieces of metal imbedded in the white switch. I removed all of these pieces of metal from the switch except for the one on the far right. I also removed the spring so that the switch would remain closed. Thus, only the contact on the right could be connected, and since I removed the springs it will always remain 'on'.
Shigma, this is exactly what you did, with the exception that I removed the other three contact points. I did this because when the hazard switch was pressed fully down, the fuel pump would engage and not shut off (with the engine running). I was quite surprised when I started the car and could not get it to stop by removing the key!
So I guess the bottom line is that, for whatever reason, the 'right hand' contact on the hazard switch has to remain connected for the turn signals to work. Hopefully anyone with the same problem will come across this post and not waste the time that I did this morning.
However, I have some more questions: how does the circuitry for the hazard lights/switch fit in with my fuel pump/ignition switch? Is this fairly standard for all XRs? (I did install a 255 lph pump recently, but I cannot see how that could cause this phenomena.) Why are the signals tied in with the hazards, especially when they operate from separate relays? For curiosity's sake, it would be great if someone could answer these questions.