headlamp/dimmer control issue
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Joined: Jun 2003
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headlamp/dimmer control issue
Recently, my truck started exhibiting an odd electrical problem in that after some time on the road with headlamps on, they would inexplicably start random flashing.
I thought it might've been related to the aftermarket driving lights I installed, so I stopped turning them on. The problem appeared to stop, so I thought nothing of it until last weekend when it happened again in earnest.
Yesterday I popped open the dash panel and had a look at the switch.
Aside from accidentally snapping off one of the retaining clips for the wiring harness, this is what I've discovered:
2 crimp-on connections were unsecured in the block (retaining clip destroyed)--one for dash lights, the other unknown.
The female side of the block is cracked & cooked (brown) pretty well around one connection that appears to be a feed for the headlamps.
This same wire also gets pretty darned warm when the lights are on. Shifting the connector within the block reproduces the headlamp flickering.
Note: the parking/marker lights, interior dome light, and dash lights are unaffected. Previous owner may have had "ground effects" installed.
I already expect to replace the wiring harness block (since I snapped a retaining clip off and it's cooked) but should I be concerned about the wire temps?
also, any input on where I can get the replacement plastic bit above would be quite helpful.
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1994 Ranger XLT 2wd 4spd w/OD EFI 140k miles
I thought it might've been related to the aftermarket driving lights I installed, so I stopped turning them on. The problem appeared to stop, so I thought nothing of it until last weekend when it happened again in earnest.
Yesterday I popped open the dash panel and had a look at the switch.
Aside from accidentally snapping off one of the retaining clips for the wiring harness, this is what I've discovered:2 crimp-on connections were unsecured in the block (retaining clip destroyed)--one for dash lights, the other unknown.
The female side of the block is cracked & cooked (brown) pretty well around one connection that appears to be a feed for the headlamps.
This same wire also gets pretty darned warm when the lights are on. Shifting the connector within the block reproduces the headlamp flickering.
Note: the parking/marker lights, interior dome light, and dash lights are unaffected. Previous owner may have had "ground effects" installed.
I already expect to replace the wiring harness block (since I snapped a retaining clip off and it's cooked) but should I be concerned about the wire temps?
also, any input on where I can get the replacement plastic bit above would be quite helpful.
-
1994 Ranger XLT 2wd 4spd w/OD EFI 140k miles
Last edited by majerror; Jul 23, 2003 at 07:42 AM.
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From: Virginia
headlamp/dimmer control issue
The aux lights you, or the previous owner had hooked up, overloaded the factory lighting circuit. This melted the plastic and ruined the connector, causing a bad situation to get worse. If you get a new switch and connector, and use only the factory lights, then I believe you will be good to go. If you want to add your aux lighting, use a relay with a seperate fused circuit running from the battery. You can trigger the relay with the factory headlamp switch, without causing harm, because the relay coil draws very little current. The relay will then switch the larger new circuit from the battery that you add, eliminating the load on the factory switch.
