please help

[mx6mike]

i'm going nuts.I have a 91 mercury sable that when ever you step on the brakes or hit the turn signals the flashers go on for approx 30 seconds to 1 min. when you turn on the headlights you cannot see the unwanted flahers going on the outside but you can hear them on the inside (annoying clicking). all of the lights other wise seem to be working. even the interior trunk light blinks. When you turn on the flashers with the flasher button they work as supposed to. does anyone out there have any ideas?

[Tanasi]

It's most likely the multi-switch. I was having similar with my 97 and replaced it and the problem went away.

[sprucebingsteen]

Originally Posted by Tanasi

It's most likely the multi-switch. I was having similar with my 97 and replaced it and the problem went away.

whats a multi switch and where is it? I have an 88 sable

[Tanasi]

Originally Posted by sprucebingsteen

whats a multi switch and where is it? I have an 88 sable

The multi-switch is the turn-signal - wiper control on your stear column. It's a pain to get to the first time.

[Cntrysthbst]

If you take the cover off the column you'll see the harness going to the switch/turn signal, disconnect it, then try your breaks again. If the flashers flash again....your turn signal switch is not causing the problem and you have a short somewhere, seems it would be wiring in the column or near it. If it does not flash then your problem points towards your turn signal switch. Note...if you do remove the cover on the column you may need to remove the cylinder as well to get the top cover off. Hope this helps.

[riproaringca]

Hiya!

I agree with the other posters here. It's likely the multiswitch on the steering column. And that's what it's called - the Multiswitch. (I originally called it the turn signal switch.)
My '97 Sable GS wagon's headlights were working fine, nothing unusual.
With the next turn of the ignition they would only light-up with the daytime running lights - nothing brighter!
After checking to make sure all my fuses were ok, I checked my Haynes manual (similar to Chilton) and came up with the multiswitch as a possible culprit.
Up here in Canada I was able to get brand new one for about $130 including taxes. You can try to get one from a junk yard, but make sure the code printed on yours is the same as the one you're getting from the yard. (I think mine had a bunch of numbers followed by the letter code AA.)

Hope this helps. Whoda thunk that particular switch could make so many things go crazy?!

[Tanasi]

I got a replacement multiswitch at Advanced Auto for less than $50. To remove the column covers you must also remove the ignition switch cylinder. I don't remember the particular things you have to do to remove the ignition but it's available here in this forum via a search.