Low Beams problem
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Stevens County, WA
Low Beams problem
I've got an issue going on where the low beams don't work. The parking lights and high beams and fog lights all work. The fuses are all good. This happened about 3 months ago for a few minutes until I hit a pretty good bump on the road and the lowbeams came back on. Today they went out again. Any suggestions on where to look would be much appreciated.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,369
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
low beams and high beams are separate circuits IIRC. Might be a bad relay or loose wire for the low beam circuit. Check behind the drivers side headlight for the harness plug and/or ground. You might also check the owners manual to see if there are separate fuses for the low beams and high beams or if they're relay controlled somehow.
It's been a while since I messed with them and I have an HID kit so I don't remember exactly how the wiring hooks up anymore.
It's been a while since I messed with them and I have an HID kit so I don't remember exactly how the wiring hooks up anymore.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Stevens County, WA
low beams and high beams are separate circuits IIRC. Might be a bad relay or loose wire for the low beam circuit. Check behind the drivers side headlight for the harness plug and/or ground. You might also check the owners manual to see if there are separate fuses for the low beams and high beams or if they're relay controlled somehow.
It's been a while since I messed with them and I have an HID kit so I don't remember exactly how the wiring hooks up anymore.
It's been a while since I messed with them and I have an HID kit so I don't remember exactly how the wiring hooks up anymore.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh, NC.
Hey folks, This is a old post, but in searching to find a solution, this post is the closest to finding what might be my problem.
What is the MFS and where is it? Is this inside the steering column?
I have HID kit installed. I connected a normal headlight bulb to one of the connectors and same results....no low beam, only high beam.
So bypassing the HID's says they are not the issue.
Checked each and every fuse. Switch back and forth trying to see if any intermittent issue. Moved all wiring around shaking, ect. No intermittent results.
So, thinking this is this MFS, but not sure where to begin with it. I need to travel tomorrow night and would really love to have this fixed so I don't blind everyone on high beams.
What is the MFS and where is it? Is this inside the steering column?
I have HID kit installed. I connected a normal headlight bulb to one of the connectors and same results....no low beam, only high beam.
So bypassing the HID's says they are not the issue.
Checked each and every fuse. Switch back and forth trying to see if any intermittent issue. Moved all wiring around shaking, ect. No intermittent results.
So, thinking this is this MFS, but not sure where to begin with it. I need to travel tomorrow night and would really love to have this fixed so I don't blind everyone on high beams.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,496
Likes: 94
From: So. Jersey
Hey folks, This is a old post, but in searching to find a solution, this post is the closest to finding what might be my problem.
What is the MFS and where is it? Is this inside the steering column?
I have HID kit installed. I connected a normal headlight bulb to one of the connectors and same results....no low beam, only high beam.
So bypassing the HID's says they are not the issue.
Checked each and every fuse. Switch back and forth trying to see if any intermittent issue. Moved all wiring around shaking, ect. No intermittent results.
So, thinking this is this MFS, but not sure where to begin with it. I need to travel tomorrow night and would really love to have this fixed so I don't blind everyone on high beams.
What is the MFS and where is it? Is this inside the steering column?
I have HID kit installed. I connected a normal headlight bulb to one of the connectors and same results....no low beam, only high beam.
So bypassing the HID's says they are not the issue.
Checked each and every fuse. Switch back and forth trying to see if any intermittent issue. Moved all wiring around shaking, ect. No intermittent results.
So, thinking this is this MFS, but not sure where to begin with it. I need to travel tomorrow night and would really love to have this fixed so I don't blind everyone on high beams.
Trending Topics
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,604
Likes: 4
From: Claremore, OK
I'm fairly certain the Multi Function Switch (MFS) is your blinker stock on the left side of the steering wheel column. There is four screws on the underside of the column that you'll need to remove...as well as the small lever for the tilt wheel to get the covers off. I've found that lowering the wheel all the way before pulling the covers make it easier to get the top half off.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh, NC.
Thanks for feedback! I will try to locate one today from Ford. Sounds fairly easy to replace. Will report back if this fixes the issue as I had found lots of posts in search and lots of suggestions but OP never did come back and close out what the fix was. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 5
You did check to see if the bulb socket was plugged in?
I hate to say that because I am going to tell an embarresing story. Many years ago the shop I was at at the time had a car with that problem, had all the bells and whistles DRL; Delayed Head lamps etc.
Three of us wound up working on it checked everything couldn't find a problem. Dang near a hundred years combined experience. The guy that sweeps the floor walked by and asked did ya check the bulbs.
Sure enough some how the sockets had worked loose and the bulbs could get no power.
Once the shop forman could quit laughing his **** off,he chewed us out and for a week everytime he would walk out into the shop he would holler " Master Mechanics my Assss". Wasn't nothin we could say but hang our heads LOL.
Just goes to show sometimes no matter how experienced you are it can be the simplest thing to bite ya in the buttt.
I hate to say that because I am going to tell an embarresing story. Many years ago the shop I was at at the time had a car with that problem, had all the bells and whistles DRL; Delayed Head lamps etc.
Three of us wound up working on it checked everything couldn't find a problem. Dang near a hundred years combined experience. The guy that sweeps the floor walked by and asked did ya check the bulbs.
Sure enough some how the sockets had worked loose and the bulbs could get no power.
Once the shop forman could quit laughing his **** off,he chewed us out and for a week everytime he would walk out into the shop he would holler " Master Mechanics my Assss". Wasn't nothin we could say but hang our heads LOL.
Just goes to show sometimes no matter how experienced you are it can be the simplest thing to bite ya in the buttt.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh, NC.
I hear ya....
In my original post above, I mentioned plugging up a new bulb to the socket and same results. This bypasses the HID kit and is the original plug socket that would still work.
One of the 2 local ford dealers has one MFS in stock so will pick it up at noon after I get off work and hopefully can get this resolved before dark and my trip tonight.
Years ago, my son in law was working on his explorer in my garage. It would not start. We tried everything we knew. Towed it to Ford. Guy put a fuse in the fuse panel and it fired right up. He claimed he did not remove the fuse...hmm. No idea on that one, but if there is no fuse in the location, it could not be tested. Who would know it was missing and how.....duh.....no one knows.
In my original post above, I mentioned plugging up a new bulb to the socket and same results. This bypasses the HID kit and is the original plug socket that would still work.
One of the 2 local ford dealers has one MFS in stock so will pick it up at noon after I get off work and hopefully can get this resolved before dark and my trip tonight.
Years ago, my son in law was working on his explorer in my garage. It would not start. We tried everything we knew. Towed it to Ford. Guy put a fuse in the fuse panel and it fired right up. He claimed he did not remove the fuse...hmm. No idea on that one, but if there is no fuse in the location, it could not be tested. Who would know it was missing and how.....duh.....no one knows.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh, NC.
Ok, I replaced the Multi Function switch. Did not fix. Left it in since there was some reference to a recall so figured sooner or later it might fail. So eating that cost.
Tried a new headlight switch. Did not fix.
Removed battery to get to wiring. Backed out the HID kit to find the original factory wiring and plugs. Realized 12 years ago I had put in the APC heavy duty wire harness which as I traced back, it has 2 relays. Bypassed back to factory plugs and low beams working! YEAH!
Tried to switch the relays, but low beams would not work with the harness, so since I am now using HID's, I really don't need the heavy duty harness. Hooked the HID's back up and all good now!
It appears there was some corrosion in the relay plug area that might be the culprit.
Thanks for feedback and glad to get this resolved!
Tried a new headlight switch. Did not fix.
Removed battery to get to wiring. Backed out the HID kit to find the original factory wiring and plugs. Realized 12 years ago I had put in the APC heavy duty wire harness which as I traced back, it has 2 relays. Bypassed back to factory plugs and low beams working! YEAH!
Tried to switch the relays, but low beams would not work with the harness, so since I am now using HID's, I really don't need the heavy duty harness. Hooked the HID's back up and all good now!
It appears there was some corrosion in the relay plug area that might be the culprit.
Thanks for feedback and glad to get this resolved!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
