Hi all-

I’m having an issue with my 65’ coupe where I keep blowing the turn signal switch and I can’t seem to figure out why. The first time I noticed something was wrong, the right taillight was out. I wiggled the plug socket from the housing in the trunk and it seemed to fix the issue but unfortunately happened again soon after. I tried the same remedy again but it didn’t work and when I returned to the drivers seat I could see a trail of smoke in the interior coming from the steering column. Like a dummy I addressed it by replacing the TS switch and ended up burning the new one instantly. The next thing I did was replace the taillight housing and the connection wiring. I went from the plug socket to the two wire individual socket. That along with a new ts switch seemed to solve the problem, for a while. Since then I’ve burned through two more switches and have now ordered a third. Before I install it I want to track the problem down and address it correctly.

Is it a bad tail light harness? Bad ground? Or a short? How do I find it?

After i replaced the TS switch the last two times, all was well for a few months. Both brake lights worked and so did the turn signals. A recurring sign I’ve seen, when things are about to fail, is the right turn signal along with the right brake like will stop working followed by a slow down with the left blinker, and finally poof smoke from the steering wheel area.

i read on another forum it could be the ts switches could be contacting the metal in the steering column and causing a short. My plan is to use duct tape and create a cushion on the new switch, but anyone have any other ideas?

ive attached a pic of the disassembled ts switch where you can see what is shorting. Thanks for any help.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/mustang...731f983f8.jpeg