Blinker Stem Metallic Sound + Cowl Issues

[soldier989]

I noticed my blinker stem is making a metallic rattle when it returns to the middle position. Sounds like a spring. Still operates normally, but my concern is it failing in the future. Ran multiple searches on the forum and couldn't find anything posted.

Update:
Video posted. Went to a Ford dealer after my hood ripped my 2nd wiper cowl off and showed this at the same time. Service advisor couldn't hear it (naturally), but we did check another new Bronco to see if this was a characteristic, and it's stem was nice and quiet.

So, appointment next Saturday for them to rip my cowl apart to diagnose why it doesn't clip down correctly and to take my steering column apart to review the switch. Then order parts, then rip it all apart again to replace any parts.

Update 7/23/23:
Blinker switch was ordered. Service advisor/Tech didn't listen to me when I said the cowl needs held down before raising the hood. The hood grabbed the cowl, mangled it further, and tore+wrinkled the clear bra. Tech blamed the issue on the hood being out of adjustment, being too close to the cowl and adjusted the hood forward, unnecessarily. Gaps between the hood and tie downs on the hood are now really close and the gap between the cowl is now large. The issue is that the cowl isn't properly clipping into the cowl housing, not that the hood is too close. SMH. Another cowl was ordered and I have little confidence they're troubleshooting the right issue. I left the dealer with more headaches to deal with.

I know it's minor. It's the moral of it all. I don't offer suggestions for fun, I do it to help and be preventative. This is why I hate taking my car in for service.

Update 8/9/23:
Dealer replaced entire cowl assembly. It appears I was right. The housing that the cowl clips to was the culprit. Blinker stem replaced and now sounds normal.

I had quite the debate with the service manager regarding the damage to my hoods PPF. Everything was to blame, except the neglegence of their advisor and/or tech for ignoring my advice to hold the cowl down when opening the hood. It doesnt matter what events lead up to the point of the tech forcing the hood open, that single event caused this problem. In the end, it'll be fixed and handled, and the manager still thinks they're "taking one on the chin" for me by covering the repair.

Oh, and Ford closed my case apparently. Good to know they considered the problem resolved before resolving the problem.

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[JohnnyBronco]

On the serious side i Have not noticed anything amiss with my blinkers. They continue to work as they should.

O the brighter side let me be first to ask how long ago you changed the blinker fluid? I always change ineos when I exchange seasonal tire air.

 

[soldier989]

Its changed at least once every fill up. I only use the finest premium synthetic hypo-allergic anti-slip ceramic coated 0w with molecular binding enhancers. I was told by someone at AutoZone to never trust anything else.

On the serious note. They still function normally for now. But with only 2k on the clock, I'm thinking more about the future. If nobody else reports that theirs makes this metallic rattle, I'll bring it up to service at some point. Doesn't take anything away from the car. It's full of minor issues that I'm letting slide.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I noticed my blinker stem is making a metallic rattle when it returns to the middle position. Ran multiple searches on the forum and couldn't find anything posted.

I don't recall hearing this noise. It sounds like the spring is rattling. I did see many people post issues with the opposite blinker cycling when their blinker returns, like the spring is too tight.

So, has anyone noticed on theirs? It's possible I just now noticed this, but I doubt it. I'm mostly concerned about my blinker stem binding, not so much the noise. I'd also prefer not to have techs replaced this under warranty and tear apart my steering column.

Hello, Brett! Send us a private message with your VIN and the name and location of your local Ford dealer. I’d be happy to see what I can do to assist with this noise concern. Thanks!

 

[soldier989]

Hello, Brett! Send us a private message with your VIN and the name and location of your local Ford dealer. I’d be happy to see what I can do to assist with this noise concern. Thanks!

I've gone ahead and PM'd you my information. When showing the blinker switch noise to a Ford service rep, we went out to another Bronco on their lot and could not duplicate the concern. It's isolated to my car.

My wiper cowl also ripped off earlier today when opening my hood. This is what prompted me to see the service department today. I was able to get the cowl back down and safely drive to the dealer. They also could not get the clips to seat correctly and scheduled an appointment next Saturday to disassemble my cowl and try to determine the problem. This cowl was just replaced by another dealer on Tuesday that had the same issues clipping down.

 

[soldier989]

Dealer confirmed the blinker switch is defective and ordered a new one.

Asked my service advisor to inform the tech to hold the cowl down before opening the hood when they go to troubleshoot. Didn't listen. Opened the hood, hood caught the cowl, further mangling the cowl and messing up my clear bra. Their solution was to adjust my hood forward, claiming it was out of adjustment from the factory, causing the cowl to get grabbed. In reality, the only reason the hood snagged the cowl is because the clips aren't getting secured and the cowl is lifting up.

So I came out of the dealership with a messed up clear bra and my hood being adjusted forward unnecessarily. Swell. I had the advisor write on my paperwork about the clear bra damage and had it signed. It's claimed they have someone who will replace the clear bra, but I can't say I trust the previous clear bra to be removed (without further damage) and replaced with the same type. I am thankful the bra was there, or else I'd likely have messed up paint. Why is it so hard for people to listen? I told them how to prevent this headache before it ever happened. I have no confidence the next cowl will snap down and be secured properly, as I believe the piece it secures to is the problem. Queue the circus music.

 

[Mlarv]

As for them not hearing the sound. I had a 2007 Explorer with a suction sound coming from the dash area (like a vacuum hose off sound). My SW sent the best Tech to ride with me and listen to the sound. I get going and the sound started, I asked the tech if he could hear it. He looked right at me, and said what did you say, I can't hear out of this ear. Needless to say he couldn't hear it. They did get it fixed after another tech heard it, and figured out where it was coming from.

 

[SoDak1623]

My parents' 2 door just came in Monday and when the dealership went to open the hood for PDI it pushed the cowl into the windshield and cracked it, so they are waiting on a new windshield before delivery. Pretty ridiculous that this kind of stuff makes it out of the factory. Ford has no excuse for quality control that's worse than 80s Chrysler.

 

[soldier989]

I agree. That is ridiculous, but It is fortunate that they caught it on PDI. My appointment is for 8/9. We'll see if they fix it with just the cowl replacement, or if it's actually the base it clips into, like I think it is.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

My parents' 2 door just came in Monday and when the dealership went to open the hood for PDI it pushed the cowl into the windshield and cracked it, so they are waiting on a new windshield before delivery. Pretty ridiculous that this kind of stuff makes it out of the factory. Ford has no excuse for quality control that's worse than 80s Chrysler.

Hi there! Would you send us a private message with your VIN and dealership name and location? I’d like to look into this concern on my end.

 

[soldier989]

Warranty work completely today. Final update above. For those that have issues with their cowl failing to remain secure, make the suggestion to check the box the cowl secures to.

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