Lights Failing

[davidald]

Hello all. As of this evening all of the lights on my dash, and the headlights keep flickering intermitantly. RAA said alternator is fine. Put a new battery in but no go. Body Module perhaps?

[Converted]

Hi Davidald,

I'm not saying this is the problem, but it sounds the same as an issue I had with my BF. It took me hours to find why the headlights would not work, not just one side, but both. When I went to the dealer for a new unit, they explained how common this is and advised Ford stock hundreds of blinker stalks for the BA/BF.

The wires in the blinker stalk break just at the point where they exit the hollow in the stalk. There is a sharp edge on the plastic molding which rubs against the wire, usually the headlight power for the relay, and cuts the wire eventually with repeated right turn indication. It often starts intermitently before finally shutting down altogether.Just very poor design!

I had to replace the blinker stalk as the wire was cut too short to repair. I think the cost was @ $127(?) trade for a new ratating unit. You can't buy just the blinker stalk and clip it back in, but have to buy the whole rotating unit with both stalks.I didn't bother with a second hand unit as it would possibly show the same wear.

It's about a 35 minute job to replace, just be careful with the airbag unit and disconnect the battery first.

I also carefully filed the sharp edge and faced it with hot glue to prevent a re-occurrence.

Hope this helps.

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

damn if I knew it was that cheap and easy: $127 and half an hour I wouldn't have fixed it by soldering new wires in there!