1954 Mercury Turn Signal Switch

JMFL36

JMFL36

Senior Member
My driver's side brake light has never worked in the few years I've owned this '54 Mercury. Today I had a chance to trace the fault back to the turn signal switch. With a jumper across the brake switch leads and the turn signal switch unscrewed from the steering column, I am able to get the brake light to go on if I manipulate the switch by moving it around. But the light will not stay on when I return the switch to its place on the steering column. Solder joints and wires at the switch terminals are good, so I suspect I have an intermittent short in the Green-Orange Trace wire in the steering column or a faulty switch. The turn signals work as they should.

Does anyone know of a source for this switch? Or what will interchange with it? Searches of the usual suppliers came up empty. Part number from the 54 Merc book is 1M 14486-A. Or has anyone successfully pulled one of these switches apart and fixed it? Thanks in advance.
 

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There is one listed on the bay right now. Looks as a newer type replacement. Don't know anything about seller.
 
Thanks. Its a different part number and says it will fit 51-55 Fords. I have a note into him to see if this will fit a '54 Mercury.
 
With the harness still in the steering column and all the wires still soldered to the turn signal switch, I gently and slowly took the switch apart today. I cleaned up all the contact points and, after several tries, got the 4 tiny springs and 2 contact pads seated correctly and the switch put back together. Now everything works as it should. Fingers crossed that this fix will last for awhile.
 
John, I have a complete turn signal assembly including the switch and original wires for an automatic. Let me know if you're interested.
 
It looks like the switch I replaced in my '54 Ford a couple of years ago, but I'm going off of memory. Would they use a different switch for Ford and Merc? The brake light interfaces with the turn signal function so that the brake light can defer (for lack of a better word) to the turn signal on the side that's being signaled. Dissecting the old switch reveals the function.



The new switch I replaced it with was crap. It was broken right out of the box due to cheap quality. I fixed it because a different new replacement wasn't going to be any better, and the original was worn out. Sounds like you're getting a good functioning original, so that's probably ideal.
 
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