Headlight Switch Replacement?
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma, TN
Headlight Switch Replacement?
Hey guys. I'm having trouble with my lights...
When my headlights are off, they're off (at least that works).
When my switch is turned to parking lights, my parking lights and display gauges are NOT on.
When my switch is turned to headlights, my headlights are on, but my parking lights and display gauges are NOT on.
I read around on here saying my headlight switch may be going out.
So I tried to take a picture to see what type I needed (have an 1999 F250).
Here are three pictures of the switch...
What should I try?
P.S. It's not the dimmer.
When my headlights are off, they're off (at least that works).
When my switch is turned to parking lights, my parking lights and display gauges are NOT on.
When my switch is turned to headlights, my headlights are on, but my parking lights and display gauges are NOT on.
I read around on here saying my headlight switch may be going out.
So I tried to take a picture to see what type I needed (have an 1999 F250).
Here are three pictures of the switch...
What should I try?
P.S. It's not the dimmer.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 145
From: Billings, Montana
Looks to me like you broke the switch, somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the following instructions also apply for removing the switch on your pickup. I think you need to pull the whole thing and replace it. http://www.scribd.com/doc/377317/Expedition
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 2
From: North Lake Tahoe
Looks to me like you broke the switch, somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the following instructions also apply for removing the switch on your pickup. I think you need to pull the whole thing and replace it. http://www.scribd.com/doc/377317/Expedition
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma, TN
Where Did You Get Those, And How Much WeRe They? Also How Hard Are They To Hook Up? They Look Really Look.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 2
From: North Lake Tahoe
I got them from OTRATTW.net (over the river and through the woods). The switch bodies were $10 and Contura V Laser etched Rocker was $5. Total of $15 bucks. It was a little intimidating with all the wire behind there but I was able to figured it all out. I have to get back behind the dash to replace the SES light bulb in the cluster, so i'll take pics, hopefully this week as i'm also changing out front wheel hubs, axle and drive shaft U-joints and the 200k mile service.
In the 650 dash kit I soon plan on placing in two more gauges where the one small hole is in replacement of the parking brake valve would have been.
In the 650 dash kit I soon plan on placing in two more gauges where the one small hole is in replacement of the parking brake valve would have been.
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma, TN
Was it difficult to wire those up. I'm not the most electrical guy, but would really love that headlight setup, plus it seems to look a little cheaper. Just wondering if you could walk someone through it. There are a lot of wires back there.
Thanks
P.S. - does that even sound like what happened though, I mean I could have broken it, but does it still sound like that is why my truck's lights aren't working properly?
Thanks
P.S. - does that even sound like what happened though, I mean I could have broken it, but does it still sound like that is why my truck's lights aren't working properly?
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 2
From: North Lake Tahoe
YA, back to your question. Got a little sidetracked. It sounds like to me that the headlight switch has gone out. Before you make that the decision go through the fuses, which I doubt thats the problem according to your description. Check all the grounds, look around in the engine compartment by the headlight wires and battery grounds, Go poke around with a flashlight first.
For everything that I did, at 15 bucks a switch, bought 200ft of 16gauge wire times 12 for different colors for color code, and a bunch of delphi plugs and connectors, It blew way past my budget, but now I got a bunch in stock.
To do the head light switch, it wont be inexpensive as it would time consuming. So the piece that broke off sitting in your hand, I used that as the frame piece because it fit back into its location then I cut out the center to fit the switches. I had to use a dremel toll to cut, that plastic is tuff. I'll try and get behind the dash this week to get some pics.
For everything that I did, at 15 bucks a switch, bought 200ft of 16gauge wire times 12 for different colors for color code, and a bunch of delphi plugs and connectors, It blew way past my budget, but now I got a bunch in stock.
To do the head light switch, it wont be inexpensive as it would time consuming. So the piece that broke off sitting in your hand, I used that as the frame piece because it fit back into its location then I cut out the center to fit the switches. I had to use a dremel toll to cut, that plastic is tuff. I'll try and get behind the dash this week to get some pics.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma, TN
Scott (or anyone else)...
What actually happens to the switch to cause it to stop working? I mean I read a lot of threads with this problem when I was researching them. I'm just curious what actually "goes out"?
And I'm still debating new switch from Rock Auto (about $60) or used from eBay ($30) or rockers (~$45 and I still don't have instructions ; - nor information on the cluster brightness wheel - didn't see it on OTRATTW ). I'm wondering if the used ones will be problematic, because they go out so frequently. The one on ebay has 111K on the truck that they came off of.
Thoughts? And thanks in advance.
What actually happens to the switch to cause it to stop working? I mean I read a lot of threads with this problem when I was researching them. I'm just curious what actually "goes out"?
And I'm still debating new switch from Rock Auto (about $60) or used from eBay ($30) or rockers (~$45 and I still don't have instructions ; - nor information on the cluster brightness wheel - didn't see it on OTRATTW ). I'm wondering if the used ones will be problematic, because they go out so frequently. The one on ebay has 111K on the truck that they came off of.
Thoughts? And thanks in advance.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 543
Likes: 3
From: Gilmer, TX.
The way I understand it, Ford has always had ALOT of juice flowing through the switch. and eventually, they get baked. Plastic is not fond of heat cycling. Hence the relay mod for your headlights.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 2
From: North Lake Tahoe
I'm not exactly sure what causes them to go out, but just like the gauge cluster there are little circuit boards in there and with enough bouncing around or water from leaks causes the solder to break or corrode or just bad soldering.
As for the dimmer light switch for the gauges, I did not get it at OTRATTW. dimmer switch came off of a Peterbilt truck. Which mine is not working or my wiring is not correct off the dimmer, you can find other ones on ebay.
I don't have a wiring diagram for the headlight wires, hopefully someone can chime in with one. I do have to get behind the dash to replace a light bulb in the gauge cluster, I'm going to try this weekend, my family just has a lot of birthdays this month and its tight. But I will get in there and label all the wires for you. I still need to tie in two wires that I didn't know what they went to. two small black ones. I'm assuming one of them is for the running lights to flash when you set the alarm, so I need to get back in there to tighty it up. It's up to you on which way you want to go but I will post a wire schematic for you to go off of, The head lights were the only thing I didn't do a schematic on, why I don't know.
As for the dimmer light switch for the gauges, I did not get it at OTRATTW. dimmer switch came off of a Peterbilt truck. Which mine is not working or my wiring is not correct off the dimmer, you can find other ones on ebay.
I don't have a wiring diagram for the headlight wires, hopefully someone can chime in with one. I do have to get behind the dash to replace a light bulb in the gauge cluster, I'm going to try this weekend, my family just has a lot of birthdays this month and its tight. But I will get in there and label all the wires for you. I still need to tie in two wires that I didn't know what they went to. two small black ones. I'm assuming one of them is for the running lights to flash when you set the alarm, so I need to get back in there to tighty it up. It's up to you on which way you want to go but I will post a wire schematic for you to go off of, The head lights were the only thing I didn't do a schematic on, why I don't know.
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma, TN
Bad news - got a new [ used, but he said it was working when it was taken out - and he's from PSN, so I somewhat trust him - 
] switch, and installed it. Same issues. I did notice this time (don't know if it matters or not, but it was probably doing it before), but the radio lights are out as well. So, basically everything but headlights are out. I fully thought this was going to be the fix, so I didn't really try anything else you guys suggested, because of the "which I doubt is the problem".
So I'm ready to try some more... Scott, what did you mean by ... "Check all the grounds, look around in the engine compartment by the headlight wires and battery grounds, Go poke around with a flashlight first." - which grounds am I looking for/at, and I hate electrical work. As for the fuses - visually check all of them or did you happen to know which one(s) I'm concerned with.
Thanks, man. Disappointed that wasn't the problem. Seems like I've got much more tedious diagnosis to perform, and I was just hoping you guys could start me in a more narrow direction. Thanks again.
] switch, and installed it. Same issues. I did notice this time (don't know if it matters or not, but it was probably doing it before), but the radio lights are out as well. So, basically everything but headlights are out. I fully thought this was going to be the fix, so I didn't really try anything else you guys suggested, because of the "which I doubt is the problem".So I'm ready to try some more... Scott, what did you mean by ... "Check all the grounds, look around in the engine compartment by the headlight wires and battery grounds, Go poke around with a flashlight first." - which grounds am I looking for/at, and I hate electrical work. As for the fuses - visually check all of them or did you happen to know which one(s) I'm concerned with.
Thanks, man. Disappointed that wasn't the problem. Seems like I've got much more tedious diagnosis to perform, and I was just hoping you guys could start me in a more narrow direction. Thanks again.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 2
From: North Lake Tahoe
Bad news - got a new [ used, but he said it was working when it was taken out - and he's from PSN, so I somewhat trust him - ] switch, and installed it. Same issues. I did notice this time (don't know if it matters or not, but it was probably doing it before), but the radio lights are out as well. So, basically everything but headlights are out. I fully thought this was going to be the fix, so I didn't really try anything else you guys suggested, because of the "which I doubt is the problem".
So I'm ready to try some more... Scott, what did you mean by ... "Check all the grounds, look around in the engine compartment by the headlight wires and battery grounds, Go poke around with a flashlight first." - which grounds am I looking for/at, and I hate electrical work. As for the fuses - visually check all of them or did you happen to know which one(s) I'm concerned with.
Thanks, man. Disappointed that wasn't the problem. Seems like I've got much more tedious diagnosis to perform, and I was just hoping you guys could start me in a more narrow direction. Thanks again.
] switch, and installed it. Same issues. I did notice this time (don't know if it matters or not, but it was probably doing it before), but the radio lights are out as well. So, basically everything but headlights are out. I fully thought this was going to be the fix, so I didn't really try anything else you guys suggested, because of the "which I doubt is the problem".So I'm ready to try some more... Scott, what did you mean by ... "Check all the grounds, look around in the engine compartment by the headlight wires and battery grounds, Go poke around with a flashlight first." - which grounds am I looking for/at, and I hate electrical work. As for the fuses - visually check all of them or did you happen to know which one(s) I'm concerned with.
Thanks, man. Disappointed that wasn't the problem. Seems like I've got much more tedious diagnosis to perform, and I was just hoping you guys could start me in a more narrow direction. Thanks again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 85
From: Kent Station, WA
I would grab your factory manual from the glove compartment and check which fuses pertain to the issue. Pull the fuse and do a continuity check to see if it is good. Otherwise it could be a ground like Scott said or possibly a failed relay.
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma, TN
I feel so dumb. It was a fuse. It just didn't make that much sense to me. I thought it was weird that one thing on the circuit (actual headlights) worked and something else (running lights / console display lights) didn't. I guess they're on different circuits then. Regardless... thanks guys for the help, and I'm sorry to have bothered you with something so simple. I do really appreciate your help!