Hello,

Had this happen twice to me recently.

Yes i searched on here, didn't find what i was looking for.

1998 ranger 3.0 manual trans.

Two times i used my hazard lights and they quit working two different ways.

First time they were on while i parked on a hot day, 15-20 i came out (moving/loading things from a house) and i noticed i didn't here them clicking. they were off but the button was still in the on position. i saw a small puff of smoke come from the multi-function switch. so turned them off and the turn signals didn't seem to work either. After 10 minutes or so off they came back on and worked normal.

Replaced the multifunction switch (MFS) a month later with one from a junkyard (99 explorer).

Accident (not me) on the interstate few days ago, sitting on the side of the road waiting, hazards on for 20 minutes and then they stopped flashing and stayed on solid, turn signals came on solid too. after 10 minutes off they came back on normally.

wth, did i unfortunately have two bad MFS's or is there a flasher relay for them in one of the fuse boxes, i thought the newer 97 and up rangers do not use the flasher relays any more it was all in the MFS. it has two small 5 pin ISO relays in a small relay box under steering column. i replaced those last time, no change.

Sorry for long post i like to give details

Rickster

 

Um that explorer switch isn't gonna work for you. The resistor disc inside the **** for the windshield wiper delay is different. Ford changed the resistor values in 99.

I would check the wiring that goes to the top connector (weird shaped one, not the rect one (thats for the wipers)) of the switch and make sure they aren't loose.

The flasher should be a bright yellow box. Underneath your steering column. Its right above your OBDII connector. I got a pic for ya:
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Huh? That yellow thing is a relay for the flashers only or turn signals too? Will look at that soon, thank you. the MFS might have been from a 97 explorer, can't remember? I might get the right one and new soon just to be safe. rockauto.com has it for $48 + ship/hand...

 

Its for the turn signals and the hazards. Think about it: your hazards are the same as your turn signals except one does both and one does just one side.

If your wipers work fine at all the intervals then its a pre 99 switch, and you will be ok. I know when I put a 98 style in my 2000, the wipers wouldn't work until I turned them to high and then they were slow and they wouldn't turn off until I cut the ignition.

Oreillys has them for 21.99 and its a Motorcraft one.

If you goto the junkyard any ranger 95 and up is the same and any explorer 95-2005.

I would try another switch because relays usually don't go bad that often. Also, like I said check the connections especially at that connector I mentioned. There are some high currents that go through that switch and can eventually heat up to the point the wires melt and can short out or just disconnect.

 

Thanks for helping me, yes my wipers and everything that the MFS controls works fine except for this hazard light issue.

Found the yellow flasher relay. might see how much one of those is?

If this problem happened with my original MFS and then another used one, it might be this flasher relay box. i will check that connector too.

 

21.99 at oreillys. You can probably plug it in and check it and if that don't work you can always take it back and say I found a loose wire or something so I didn't need this.

 

Thank you, yep i replaced the flasher relay with the oreilly's one. Set the hazards on on a relatively warm day for 45 minutes came back out and everything was still working. The relay was warm as hell, but working. Is a hot to the touch relay normal???

 

There is a coil in the relay so when they get energized they can produce heat.