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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

head light switch?

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Old May 1, 2011 | 09:23 PM
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head light switch?

i have an 86 f150 and the other day i was drivin home at night and my head lights just went off,they came on once but went off again does anybody know where i can pick a new switch up at or should i just put it to a toggle switch. ps the parking lights and switch dimmer both work just not the head lights.
 
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Old May 1, 2011 | 09:26 PM
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I would check the dimmer switch. It leads a hard life down in the floor in the early trucks. If you find it is the headlight switch, more than likely the wiring plug to the switch has melted also. The plug overheating and causing the switch to fail is a common problem. I believe LMC truck sells a relay harness to take the load off the headlight switch.
 
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Old May 1, 2011 | 09:49 PM
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The light switch has an internal breaker in it IIRC. My 84 did that and i replaced the dimmer switch first, didn't fix it, then the light switch a week later and no issues for 3years. Any auto parts store has them
 
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Old May 1, 2011 | 10:07 PM
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A toggle conversion has been considered by many and you will lose quite a few of your good functions if you do that, just buy a new one.
 
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Old May 1, 2011 | 10:09 PM
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You can buy both switches from any parts house. Rockauto.com is a sponsor here they have them. If the plastic on the harness is melted that depends on if you can remove & replace it from the switch if so just check it over & reuse it. If not replacing it will have to be done. Isn't Blue Oval a sponsor here? They care much the same stuff as LMC.
 
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Old May 2, 2011 | 01:44 PM
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Franklin2 mentioned the headlight relay harness from LMC... I installed one this past weekend and it was very easy. Not only does it greatly reduce the electrical draw through our truck's aging switchs and wiring harness, but the headlights are much brighter!
 
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Old May 2, 2011 | 09:09 PM
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i had the same problem with my old yj i just found the power wire for the head lights only and just wired it to a toggle switch and i still had all my other functions wouldn this work with my 86
 
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Old May 2, 2011 | 09:34 PM
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If you just put in a toggle switch, you remove the circut breaker from the circut. This can cause a electrical fire. Especially if the headlamp switches circut breaker is doing it's job and protecting the circut.

Do the job right, please, and replace the headlamp switch, or dimmer switch, and fix the wiring if applicable.
 
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Old May 2, 2011 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 81-F-150-Explorer
Do the job right, please, and replace the headlamp switch, or dimmer switch, and fix the wiring if applicable.
I agree. There's a tan/white-stripe wire that is known to get hot and melt the plastic when there's excessive resistance in the headlight circuit for some reason.

One of the responsibilities of owning a 30-yo truck is correctly fixing the problems that such a truck will invariably develop.
 
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Old May 3, 2011 | 06:43 PM
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I agree with ctubutis, sounds right.............
 
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