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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Headlights not working

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Old Nov 20, 2016 | 11:46 AM
  #1  
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Headlights not working

1984 F250 4x4, the engine is in great shape, and not much rust but it needs a bunch of little things fixed.

The headlights don't work at all but the side running lights do, the blinkers and brake lights all work. I was looking up diagrams of the fuse panel online and it doesn't have anything for headlights so is it fair to assume that it's direct wired somehow? Is there a relay or something I should look for that might be the problem? It could always be both bulbs burnt out I guess but that's rare and they look reasonably new
 
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Old Nov 20, 2016 | 05:28 PM
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Binkowski
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You'll get better specific vehicle information from the appropriate forum but...
Start with the basics...check the fuses, check the bulbs, check to see if there are any obvious visible signs of broken wires from both headlights. If all that checks out then its time to look at the headlight switch. Check to make sure everything is plugged in properly behind the dash. The headlight switch is known to wear out and go bad on all Ford trucks...going back a while actually as even my '72 had issues with the switch.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2016 | 05:40 PM
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White 97 xlt
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Check the dimmer switch, it's down on the floor and gets all the crap from the floor...
 
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Old Nov 20, 2016 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Binkowski
You'll get better specific vehicle information from the appropriate forum but...
Start with the basics...check the fuses, check the bulbs, check to see if there are any obvious visible signs of broken wires from both headlights. If all that checks out then its time to look at the headlight switch. Check to make sure everything is plugged in properly behind the dash. The headlight switch is known to wear out and go bad on all Ford trucks...going back a while actually as even my '72 had issues with the switch.
OK, thanks for the checklist, I'll run down that tomorrow.

Originally Posted by White 97 xlt
Check the dimmer switch, it's down on the floor and gets all the crap from the floor...
Yep, you could be right, I had that happen in my Mustang...though it didn't completely kill the lights, they would just go dead on high beams every time you hit a bump in the road (annoying to say the least)
 
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