High beam trouble
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Tankville
High beam trouble
I got a 1970 f250 ranger xlt heavy duty special.... Its got a whole lot more wires + gizmos near the battery, I think this is something to do with being an HD special. Anyways... My highbeams work but they start to flick on and off after awhile then they die and I gotta go back to low beam to get light action.
Low beam doesn't give me grief, just the highbeam, its like something can't handle the juice after they've been on for a couple minutes then flickers+ finally quits.
Any ideas? Keep in mind I got the HD wiring thing going on... Theres 3x more wires to route through. Any one familier with this?
Thanks for the help
Low beam doesn't give me grief, just the highbeam, its like something can't handle the juice after they've been on for a couple minutes then flickers+ finally quits.
Any ideas? Keep in mind I got the HD wiring thing going on... Theres 3x more wires to route through. Any one familier with this?
Thanks for the help
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
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From: california
If it's just the high beams having trouble. I would check the high beam switch or maybe a bad headlight switch. What's the wattage of the headlights you're running? Check out the tech articles. There was one titled "whiter whites, brighter brights" or something like that. It shows how to wire up relays. But I would check out the things I mentioned first.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Tank,
I had this problem with my '67 when I put in Halogens--I couldn't find simple old fasioned low wattage sealed beams. In fact, it only took one Halogen headlight to trip the breaker. It's a real yucky feeling to be driving along in the dark and have the headlights cut out and then turn on and off in a flashing pattern. Folks you pass going the other way think there's a problem ahead or your being kidnapped by some Al-Queda guy or something. Anyway, adding heavier Guage wires and Relays was all it took for me. Nothing was wrong with the light switch or Circuit breaker--In fact, it was doing just what it was supposed to do.
I had this problem with my '67 when I put in Halogens--I couldn't find simple old fasioned low wattage sealed beams. In fact, it only took one Halogen headlight to trip the breaker. It's a real yucky feeling to be driving along in the dark and have the headlights cut out and then turn on and off in a flashing pattern. Folks you pass going the other way think there's a problem ahead or your being kidnapped by some Al-Queda guy or something. Anyway, adding heavier Guage wires and Relays was all it took for me. Nothing was wrong with the light switch or Circuit breaker--In fact, it was doing just what it was supposed to do.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Tankville
Thanks for the replys I'll try another switch. I dunno what wattage the head lights are but they can make the person in front of me hit the brakes and go allover the road while going around corners if I leave'em on by accident. LoL
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Look into the relay modification. It is a popular modification. You can find a tech paper on it using the link on the right side of this page. You can also find discussions on it here and in the 73-9 forum with the search function.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: maui
i had a similar problem at night ,fog and snow,not funny.when i pressed the floor switch both headlights die,then only high beams worked.i change the floor switch for $10 in napa and now its good.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Once had to replace the floor switch and the next time loose and dirty plug. Cleaned and a shot of wd-40 and good again.
orich
orich
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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That floor switch can be a PITA with all of the dirt and junk that gets in it. Normally it just fails to operate or the lights dim or flash off and on in an erratic manner. When the headlight circuit breaker goes bad the lights usually work for a while and then start blinking on and off.
I am going to a turn signal stalk switch column and getting rid of that floor switch. Takes a lot of fabrication and electrical work tho.
I am going to a turn signal stalk switch column and getting rid of that floor switch. Takes a lot of fabrication and electrical work tho.