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Headlight issues

Old Apr 20, 2014 | 08:29 PM
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Headlight issues

I just purchased the a HID kit from retro-solutions, but I have a issue with my headlights I wanted to get resolved before the install. I have the auto lights but I just realized like a couple months ago that I can't shut my lights off. I turn the switch to the off position but they stay on, they do go off when the key is turned off, any ideas?
 
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Old Apr 20, 2014 | 09:07 PM
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relay sticking? Does it do this with just the auto setting, or manual as well? I can't say for sure without looking, but i think there is a separate relay for the auto lights. You can try swapping that relay with another and see if it changes anything.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2014 | 09:18 PM
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I was under the impression that there was no relay on my truck, it's a 03' f350 SBCC lariat. They don't shut off in either the auto or manual position, I don't have a wiring diagram, could you point in the direction of the location of the relay?
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 04:57 AM
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https://owner.ford.com/servlet/Conte...e&ord=23587283

If you don't have your owners manual you can find it here. You do have relays on your fuse panel. I looked and I didn't see any for the headlights. Generally anything that draws a lot of Amps is operated by a relay so the switch doesn't burn out. I'll try and look more into it later and see if I can find anything.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 05:24 PM
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it sounds more like you have daytime running lights.
they come on at key on and stay on until key off.
DRL's are lower power than regular headlights.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 05:59 PM
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I've found a few articles about fords using a Light Control Module that has relays that go out. But I can't find anything about one on the diesels, and I can't find one on my truck.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 07:05 PM
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Greg_8507, thank you very much for looking into this for me, TJC is correct, I do have the DRL's just didn't realize there was no way to shut them off. So I disabled the DRL's and everything works great now.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 07:12 PM
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Tom may be on to something with the DRLs. At night is there a difference in brightness when switching them on and off? High and low beam?

The auto lights on my 02 F350 will not turn off until you turn off the motor. They will stay on for a selectable time after the key is off. On my 93 Aerostar the auto lights were fully auto, turning on in darkness and off once it sensed light. Which is great going thru a tunnel, under a bridge etc. On the truck I have to manually turn the lights off again.

Not hard to pop out the bezel around the light switch in a search for hacked up wiring. Could be the wiring was kluged together to install a gauge or car alarm or something.

Do you have a chip on your truck? HIDs are know to cause massive RFI and can stall the truck when turned on. Install a couple ferrite beads aka RFI chokes on the cables to prevent this.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by meales37
Greg_8507, thank you very much for looking into this for me, TJC is correct, I do have the DRL's just didn't realize there was no way to shut them off. So I disabled the DRL's and everything works great now.
I'm glad it was something simple.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2014 | 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by meales37
Greg_8507, thank you very much for looking into this for me, TJC is correct, I do have the DRL's just didn't realize there was no way to shut them off. So I disabled the DRL's and everything works great now.
I never even realized DRLs were an option on an SD. It must not have been a very popular one . . .
 
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Old Apr 22, 2014 | 12:29 PM
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Aawlberninf350, there is a difference between the DRL's in the brightness and the reg. lights when I turn the switch to the "off" position, with the DRL's they are a little dimmer, not sure why there is even a "off" position on the switch when you don't have the ability to turn them off. My auto lights are fully auto, they come on when I start my truck in the garage before pulling outside, and shut off when they sense light. I've looked at the wiring from the switch, nothing looks out of the ordinary. I do have the PHP Hydra chip, I haven't had the truck out at night yet, but I will will look into the RFI chokes if I have any issues.
 
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Old Apr 22, 2014 | 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Pikachu
I never even realized DRLs were an option on an SD. It must not have been a very popular one . . .
DRL is a canada thing. being in montana, it is very possible he has a canadian trucks with DRL
 
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