My daughter's home from college with her 1998 Taurus. I'd like to fix her hazard lights. I replaced the turn signal flasher and was told by the Ford house that the same flasher works the turn signals and the hazards. Turn signals work (as long as the hazard switch is in the off position), but the hazard lights won't flash. Since the hazard switch does defeat the turn signals, I assume this suggests that the same flasher works both (?). Any ideas?

The problem ended up being dirt!! in the hazard switch itself.

How Did You Know That It Was Dirt???
It Happened To Me Just The Other Day.... I'm Not Sure If It's Too Cold Out Here Reason Y It Mulfunctioned

I took the car to a mechanic, and he diagnosed the dirty switch. I live in West Texas, by the way, and dust gets into everything here.

Your multifunction switch is dieing. The hazard lights will be the first to go, then either the turn signals or the wipers. I had to have mine replaced on my Mark VIII and Exped. and it cost about $180 at the dealer. You may want to have the switch checked at the dealer.

I took the car to a mechanic, and he diagnosed the dirty switch. I live in West Texas, by the way, and dust gets into everything here.

Thanks for the warning about the impending switch failure. I'll be sure and take my daughter's car in the next time she comes home from college. Thanks again.

cwalker - you said that a single flasher works the turn signals and hazards, is that the same on the 1996 taurus???? and does anyone know where that flasher is on the car?

It's Just dirt. I have a '97 LX and my older brother has a '97SHO and that happend to both of use. I just pumped the switch about ten or more times. That fixed it. My brother with the SHO pulled the steering apart to get the switch out and clean it. Mine works fine and with what I did and never has had another problem.