Contour Flasher

Factual Questions
1

Not anywhere nearly as interesting as interesting as it may sound.

All I ask is: Where is the Flasher in a 1997 Ford Contour? It is the fuse type dohicky that allows your singal lights and hazard lights to work. Mine is busted. I bought a new one for ~$15 and the guy told me to look by the fuse box. Yes, I am driving around without the ability to use turn signals (and I am one of the rare folks that really use them as God meant), I also negotiate my way to work into Detroit now without them. I will take the vehicle in this weekend, or switch to my other car (which I would rather not park in Detroit all day) if I don’t get an answer. I’ve also scrubbed Google for the answer…blah blah blah.

It is not in the fuse box (under the dash), it is not in the power distribution box (under the hood).

Hey putz, ask a Ford Dealership Service Dep’t!

HA! That is why I am posting. I just came back from one. I happened to be next to one when picking up some McY-Ds so I stopped in. I asked the guy behind the parts counter and he looked on his computer. “Hmm, it doesn’t tell me.” The other guy next to him says something cryptic, and the other one sort of ignores it. More typing. “Nope, doesn’t say anything”. A couple minutes later (6 yr. old son is still waiting in car with McNuggets aroma reaching critical levels) a guy with some grease under his fingernails strolls…errr…strides in. The first guy asks him. He says the same thing as the guy from where I bought the Flasher. Then gets on his own computer terminal and confirms that the other guy really couldn’t find the info. Then he says, “Then it must be in the power distribution box”. First guy, “He says he looked there”, actual mechanic, " ", me, “Well thanks, at least I don’t feel so stupid now” (not in a snotty way, but in a, I know you guys know your shtuff, and you couldn’t come up with an answer either way).

Any help?

Disclaimer: This Service Center has worked on another of my Ford’s and done a great job (all work was covered too).

Post Disclaimer: This isn’t so General a question, so if a Mod wishes to send it to the Pit, go ahead. :smiley:

Pb the gearless head.

2

I am afraid that I do not know. However next week I will be somewhere where I will have access to some excellent reference books, and should be able to find it for you.
If you don’t get an answer by Monday send me an e mail.

3

Every one I’ve ever seen, on 1960-2002 models from all of the big three and a few indie manufacturers (pre-Chrysler AMC) has been a round thing at one corner of the fuse panel (oddly enough, there’s only the one brand/part number, common to all cars). Are you sure your car has one (originally, or the old one fell out)? Perhaps yours has some fancy hidden-away thing instead of the standard unit? What does the replacement one look like?

Have you looked in the owner’s manual? It usually shows where such things are.

4

Rick thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it.

Gunslinger I looked in the owners manual and it doesn’t say. This is where I found out there is that thing called the power distribution box. As an aside, this is a pretty cool unit. In it I found extra fuses and a fuse puller.

If the Flasher fell out, I haven’t seen it (which doesn’t mean it hasn’t).

Is there one at all? I think so because the guy at Murray’s looked up on his computer the type I needed and came up with a part. The only reason I even know what a flasher is, is because I had them check my battery. I thought this was the culprit. It was fine. Then I described my problem and he said I needed a new Flasher.

There has also been a shift from old style (cheap aluminum skinned units) to new (expensive, three pronged plastic coated) units. I think I have the correct one.

In essence, I think you hit the nail on the head with the " Perhaps yours has some fancy hidden-away thing".

Thank you both for taking the time and effort to reply to this rather arcane question.

Pb

5

Perhaps it’s in the trunk?