'99 Explorer headlight problem.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 7
From: Gainesville, GA
'99 Explorer headlight problem.
I have the automatic lights. On the freeway tonight the headlights blinked a couple of times then came back on. A couple of miles later they went off for a longer time then went out altogether. I followed a car for a while trying the high beams and low beams with no results then I pulled back on the high beam stalk and the lights came on. I could tell by the radio and heater lights that if I released the stalk the light would go out. After about 10 more miles the dash lights went to the dim mode and the lights worked as normal the rest of the way home about 15 more minutes. I did turn the light switch on after they came back on so I don't know if that helped or not. They're automatic headlights. What should I look at to be the problem. I'm old and usually don't drive at night but when I do the lights must work. Thanks.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,819
Likes: 83
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
If the interior lights were not dimming in correlation to the headlights working, I'd suspect the multi-function switch (MFS) which can be a pretty common part to fail since it gets used so frequently (assuming you use your turn signals). However, that should not have an impact on the dimming interior lights. So if you're quite confident the interior lights were only dimming at the same time the headlamps worked, then you probably need to look elsewhere.
Unfortunately, with the auto lamps, there are a lot of areas that could be causing what you describe. Again though, the dimming of the interior lights can help narrow down a few items since the dimmer feature has its own relay. It does point more to the auto lamp module or the ambient light sensor and associated wiring, especially if turning the headlamps on manually seemed to make the headlamps work more reliably.
If you're comfortable reading wiring diagrams and have a multimeter and know how to use the basic features of it, you can do some better troubleshooting by looking at diagrams from here, selecting Wiring Diagrams, and entering the vehicle information. The second Headlamps diagram that is listed is for the autolamps.
-Rod
Unfortunately, with the auto lamps, there are a lot of areas that could be causing what you describe. Again though, the dimming of the interior lights can help narrow down a few items since the dimmer feature has its own relay. It does point more to the auto lamp module or the ambient light sensor and associated wiring, especially if turning the headlamps on manually seemed to make the headlamps work more reliably.
If you're comfortable reading wiring diagrams and have a multimeter and know how to use the basic features of it, you can do some better troubleshooting by looking at diagrams from here, selecting Wiring Diagrams, and entering the vehicle information. The second Headlamps diagram that is listed is for the autolamps.
-Rod
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 7
From: Gainesville, GA
Started the car and the lights didn't come on tonight so I turned the light switch on that my son and I repaired yesterday and the lights came on. When I arrived home I moved the mirror slider and the lights came on with the switch off. Bad sensor in the mirror. It's probably not getting repaired.
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