Customs Signal flasher '53 ford

Ok. Just bought a '53 Ford Customline and the turn signals don't flash, just stay lit. I got a new signal flasher but I can't locate the old one behind the dash or anywhere else. Does anyone know where it's supposed to be? Thanks.

 

The first thing you need to look at is if the lights inside the turn signals are lit. If one bulb is burnt out there is not enough current to make the flasher work. I think the flasher is located up under the dash on the drivers side. Has the car been converted to 12 volts?

 

I gutted my wiring harness when I was rebuilding the wagon but to the best of my knowledge it was hanging under the dash.

.I would suggest you join the 52-59 Ford social group,you will get a answer pretty quick there. HRP

 

Yeah, you'll generally find them hanging but there is supposed to be a spring bracket that the flasher fits into. Look for it in the vicinity of the steering column, Ford's good at hiding it....

 

Thanks for the replies. It's still 6V for now. I climbed under there and don't see anything resembling a flasher. I even stuck my phone all the way in there and snapped photos and nothing. I'll check the bulbs again to make sure they're all working.

 

Get a repair manual for that car. You will be glad you did.

 

What Crazy Steve said, usually screwed right by the gauges. Check on line for wiring diagram. Oldcarmanuals maybe. At least you'll know the color of wires to look for.

 

The oem flasher could have been rectangular in shape rather than cylindrical. It was held in by a spring steel clip near the gauge cluster. A shop manual should show it.

 

On the back side of the gauge cluster in the lower corner. It was square originally. Way up in there accessing from the bottom. I have the gauge panel out and you can see it easily on the car I'm working on.

1953 Ford Gauge Panel Flasher Clip by shivasdad posted Mar 28, 2015 at 10:05 AM

 

You could check on the Ford Barn too.

 

The replacement from NAPA is an Echlin 535 like this.

 

Since you have a '53 ford you need to hang out here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/1952-59-ford-social-group.282/

 

Thanks for all the info. I haven't had a chance to check anything out yet, been busy. I have a shop Manuel on the way. I think the flasher might be located on the bottom right side (in the photo) of the back of the dash cluster. Now I just need some time to actually check.

 

That is it, a rectangular one. A round one should fit the clip as well.

 

I recently changed it out on my '54. Had the same symptoms as yours. It was definitely a pain in the ass. I'm not sure I could even see it, I just kind of laid on the floorboard and felt around up there until I felt it.

 

Ok....new question. I changed the flasher and three lights work. I checked the bad lamp with a circuit tester and there's power to the socket but not at the socket itself. I can get a replacement socket and wires but I can't get the old socket out of the parking light assembly. Is there a trick to it. Here's a photo of the replacement socket for reference.

 

The factory sockets are pressed-in, I've driven them out. They're not in there all that tight IIRC....

 

Ok. Thanks. I suspected that but wanted to make sure there wasn't another way.

 

check that there is good ground there first. if it gets power to the socket ground is probably loose.