One Turn Signal Blinks Super Slow+Dash Smoke-77 NYB

[77newyorker440]

Hey guys,
A new problem popped up today. I hit the left signal while turning and it just stayed on for a while. Eventually, it started blinking, but only like one blink every 45 seconds. Right side works fine, unable to test hazards as my switch is broken so if I pull it out I have to reset it by removing the steering wheel and pushing it from inside the column. I am thinking it is a bad bulb (would that include the bulb in the dash?)

This does not relate, but just for thought, I also have a small wisp of smoke coming from under the dash but it only happens when the car high-idles for about 20 min every morning, which occurs while I take a shower before school, anyone seen this before? I think it may have to do with the fact that my heater core is leaking, cause I haven't done really any electrical work on the passenger side, especially not recently

Thank you,
77newyorker440

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

"the car high-idles for about 20 min every morning, which occurs while I take a shower before school" You leave your car running and unattended? Very bad idea especially when you know there maybe a "small wisp of smoke" happening.
You may come out to find your car fully engulfed in flames.
Oh BTW leaving a car running and unattended, even in your own driveway is illegal in some states. Massachusetts for one. (old blue law state).


.

 

[Totally 80's]

On the right side of the instrument panel, smoke could be a resistor. Steam would be a leaking heater core. If it's the heater core, it's an awful job. Check your bulbs and connections for the slow blink. If the hazard switch is faulty, you may want to check that as well.

Aaron

 

[77newyorker440]

"the car high-idles for about 20 min every morning, which occurs while I take a shower before school" You leave your car running and unattended? Very bad idea especially when you know there maybe a "small wisp of smoke" happening.
You may come out to find your car fully engulfed in flames.
Oh BTW leaving a car running and unattended, even in your own driveway is illegal in some states. Massachusetts for one. (old blue law state).


.

Yeah, now that this has happened there has been a pause to my prior habits. Not a legal problem out here in the country though, I would be shocked if someone said something

 

[77newyorker440]

Okay, good point on the bulb, I have fixed that issue. About the smoke, any specific resistors I should look for? It seems to come from the black plastic near the central glove box but on the passenger side

 

[commando1]

seems to come from the black plastic near the central glove box but on the passenger side

Do you have ATC II?

 

[77newyorker440]

Do you have ATC II?

No sir, I have manual AC. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but it did start around a similar time to when I used the heat for the first time in a while to defog the window, not sure if that is a coincidence. Also, I've only been able to catch it after high idling for a while, never while normally driving

 

[Big_John]

How does the smoke smell?

Electrical burning has a sharp stink and antifreeze has a sweet smell.

Floor wet?

Do you remember what the blower switch was set at? On high, the resistor is bypassed so there would be no issue with that.

 

[77newyorker440]

I would say it has more of a sharp stink. Floor is not wet but coolant is coming out of condensation line in the firewall. I had the blower on position 3, as it does not work on high. However, when it smokes the blower motor is not on, as I usually don't turn on the air condition while it is high-idling. I have moved the switch to high, a/c is still off, maybe that will help?

 

[commando1]

Multiple unrelated electrical problems.
@Big_John You take over.

 

[3175375]

I would say it has more of a sharp stink. Floor is not wet but coolant is coming out of condensation line in the firewall. I had the blower on position 3, as it does not work on high. However, when it smokes the blower motor is not on, as I usually don't turn on the air condition while it is high-idling. I have moved the switch to high, a/c is still off, maybe that will help?

May be the blower motor resistor, or a combination of the mode control switch and blower motor resistor.

 

[Big_John]

I would say it has more of a sharp stink. Floor is not wet but coolant is coming out of condensation line in the firewall. I had the blower on position 3, as it does not work on high. However, when it smokes the blower motor is not on, as I usually don't turn on the air condition while it is high-idling. I have moved the switch to high, a/c is still off, maybe that will help?

Usually, when you let the smoke out of something electrical, it happens once, maybe twice, and it stops because whatever fried is done frying. You've got a lot of things going on here though.

I'm leaning toward it being steam from leaking coolant, but those other electrical issues are troubling. The first thing to do is stick your head under the dash and look at the wiring. If nothing is obvious, you need to try to duplicate the conditions and see if you can get it to smoke (or steam) and figure it out from there.

It could be the switch, resistor, motor, or wiring... If its electrical.

 

[75LandYacht]

Okay, good point on the bulb, I have fixed that issue. About the smoke, any specific resistors I should look for? It seems to come from the black plastic near the central glove box but on the passenger side

You state you fixed the blinker issue. What was the problem young David!!

 

[77newyorker440]

You state you fixed the blinker issue. What was the problem young David!!

It couldn't have been more obvious, i can't believe I didn't check for it sooner, the bottom half of the twilight wasn't lighting up. Harvested an 1157 bulb from my non-running F-100 and now it blinks perfectly. Also, no smoke with the high idle this morning

 

[1970FuryConv]

I would say it has more of a sharp stink. Floor is not wet but coolant is coming out of condensation line in the firewall. I had the blower on position 3, as it does not work on high. However, when it smokes the blower motor is not on, as I usually don't turn on the air condition while it is high-idling. I have moved the switch to high, a/c is still off, maybe that will help?

If coolant is coming out of the condensation line at the firewall, it does sound like you have a problem with the heater core. One way to remove the heater core, would be to remove the dash as an assembly to expose the heater box. At that point you could eyeball all the wiring to see if anything looks burnt. Or you could smell around the wiring to see if it you can detect a problem.