How to Replace Your Turn Signal Relay in Ford Cars

by Contributing WriterUpdated June 12, 2017

The flasher in the Ford car is easy to find under the dash. The flasher is only one part that may go bad in the turn signal circuit. Other parts that you should check are the fuses Ford car the circuit and the four turn signal bulbs. Many times, having a burned-out bulb in one of the positions is enough to make the circuit not behave properly.

Under The Hood:

 How to Replace Your Turn Signal Relay in a Ford F-Series

Check the fuses for the turn signals and make sure the fuses aren't blown and that is the reason they aren't working. You can save yourself a lot of time and expense by checking for a blown fuse first. If the fuse is blown, replace it and check the turn signal once more.

Find the turn signal and hazard flasher relay. In the Ford F-series trucks, the flasher relay works both the turn signal and hazard lights. There are a couple of relays in the location of the flasher/relay so make sure you get the right one.

Look under the dash near the steering wheel under the instrument panel. It is difficult to see when it is in its position, but you can get at it if you slide it out or unscrew the cap that is over it. There are two relay looking devices next to each other. One is black and smaller than the other, which is blue. The blue one is the one you want and has five pins on the connector end. Remove the flasher and relay and get a replacement at the dealer or auto parts store.

Reattach the blue flasher and relay to its position and start the truck. Check the turn signals and hazard lights to make sure they operate correctly.

 How to Replace the Turn Signal Relay on a 1997 Ford Ranger

Turn the Ranger's engine off. Remove the keys from its ignition, and make sure all electrical devices are switched off.

Remove the cover from the fuse panel located on the side of the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. Locate the relay in the slot numbered "10." On the underside of the cover is a fuse puller and several spare fuses. Remove the fuse puller from the cover.

Pull out the old relay, and install the new relay in its place using the accompanied fuse puller. Place the cover back onto the fuse panel.

Items you will need

  • Replacement 7.5A relay

 How to Replace Your Turn Signal Relay in a Ford Taurus

Turn on the hazard lights and walk around the Taurus, checking that all four turn signal lights are working. If any of them are not working, replace the bulbs. A non-working bulb in any of the turn signals will often make the turn signals appear that a flasher is going bad.

Locate the fuse box and check the fuses for the turn signals. There may be more than one. Replace any fuses that are blown and then recheck the turn signals again. If they still aren't working properly, then move on to replace the flasher.

Look for a round, silver-colored object near the fuse box. Put your finger on the object and turn on the turn signal. You should be able to feel a mechanical clicking as the turn signal blinks. This is the flasher.

Pull the silver flasher out of the socket and replace it with the new one. Each of the flashers should have two pins sticking out of the bottom side. Start the Taurus and recheck the turn signals to ensure that they work.

Items you will need

  • Replacement flasher

  • Replacement fuses

  • Replacement bulbs

 How to Replace Your Turn Signal Relay in a Ford Explorer

Check the fuses under the dash for any lines that control the turn signals. Examine the fuses and replace any that are bad. Start the Explorer and turn on the hazard lights. Walk around the SUV and take note of any lights that appear to be dead. Turn off the Explorer and replace any of the turn lights that were bad.

Recheck the turn signals again and see if one of these two things fixed the turn signal problem. If not, then gather the supplies you will need to change the relay. Look under the steering column and locate the fuse box. The fuse box is under the plastic kick panel. Under the panel is a yellow case that holds the turn signal relay.

Test that this is the relay by turning it on and placing a finger on the relay. You should be able to feel the relay clicking. Pull the relay from the socket and plug a new one back in. Reattach the kick panel and start the Explorer.

Check on the turn signals again and make sure that the lights are operating correctly.

Items you will need

  • Replacement turn signal relay

  • Replacement bulbs

  • Replacement fuse

 How to Replace Your Turn Signal Relay in a Ford Focus

Locate the relay cluster in your Ford Focus. Depending on the year model, it's in one of two places. It's either on the bottom underside of the steering column or on the left, driver's side foot well.

Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the fuse panel from the foot well or the underneath panel below the steering column. Be careful not to use too much pressure when you pry the panel open. There should be a small indentation, which makes opening the panel with a screwdriver much easier.

Find the turn signal relay and pull it out of the relay box. Make certain that you remove it carefully, as you can damage the other relays and fuses near it. In the Ford Focus, the turn signal relay is on the right side about two or three places down from the top of the box depending on the year model.

Put the new turn signal relay into the space occupied by the old one. It will only fit one way, so you need not worry about placing it in the wrong way.

Check to make sure the turn signal works before you replace the relay panel. Replace the relay panel and verify it's securely closed.

Items you will need

  • Turn signal relay

  • Flat-head screwdriver

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