Head and dash lights flicker???
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Daytona Beach, Florida
Head and dash lights flicker???
Does anyone know what would make my headlights and dash board lights flicker? On top of that, my idiot light for the alt. blinks at me at a regular pace, about three blinks per second. Then when I turn the clearance lights on, the idiot light slows it's blinking and when I turn the headlights on, the idiot light quits blinking. All of this just started last night. 
I've had the charging system checked and it passes with flying colors. I went ahead and put new star washers at the engine ground cable and on the BAT side of the solenoid and the battery terminals are cleaned. and it still flickers...
Have any of you guys ever run across this and what did you have to do to stop the insane flickering???
The truck in question is a 78 F150 custom 2-wheel drive with a 351M mated to a C-6 transmission. That's better than
I've had the charging system checked and it passes with flying colors. I went ahead and put new star washers at the engine ground cable and on the BAT side of the solenoid and the battery terminals are cleaned. and it still flickers...
Have any of you guys ever run across this and what did you have to do to stop the insane flickering???
The truck in question is a 78 F150 custom 2-wheel drive with a 351M mated to a C-6 transmission. That's better than
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Daytona Beach, Florida
Originally Posted by Mil1ion
Bad ground wire on the connector that goes to the Ins.cluster.
The headlight switch could also need replacing, they don't last forever
The headlight switch could also need replacing, they don't last forever
When you said "Ins. cluster" did you mean the printed film circuitboard behind the speedometer??? I guess it's time to have a look see, there's a couple of lights that need replacing. How can I identify the ground on this anyway??? Thanks for your help...
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From: Daytona Beach, Florida
I think I need to amplify on what I meant when I used the word "flicker"...
The headlights and dash lights (really, all of the lights) don't turn off and then turn on, what they are doing is sort of a pulsing, brighter then dimmer then brighter then dimmer and this happens in a constant, continuous cycling, about 5 cycles per second.
Whew, I'm glad I cleared that up...
The headlights and dash lights (really, all of the lights) don't turn off and then turn on, what they are doing is sort of a pulsing, brighter then dimmer then brighter then dimmer and this happens in a constant, continuous cycling, about 5 cycles per second.
Whew, I'm glad I cleared that up...
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I very rarely suggest replacing parts but,
You can start by replacing the headlight switch.
Get a Quality part from say = Standard or Wilson.
The circuit breaker is located inside the switch.
The get old and cause the lights to flicker.
Better yet is to convert the ford headlight system into thr GM system of relays & be done with flickering lights
http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/headlamp-harness.html
In response to the connection to the cluster the ground wire is black.
I don't know what position it is.
You can start by replacing the headlight switch.
Get a Quality part from say = Standard or Wilson.
The circuit breaker is located inside the switch.
The get old and cause the lights to flicker.
Better yet is to convert the ford headlight system into thr GM system of relays & be done with flickering lights
http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/headlamp-harness.html
In response to the connection to the cluster the ground wire is black.
I don't know what position it is.
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
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From: Virginia
Originally Posted by HomerWinzlow
Could be a charging system problem too.
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From: Hartville, MO
Pulsating Lights
I have a 1994 E-350 Shuttle Bus. 7.3liter diesel - non-turbo. 200 amp alternator. At idle the voltmeter reads a steady 13v or so. Driving down the road with no electrical loads the voltmeter will pulse between 12v and 14v. If I turn on the A/C the pulsating stops and the voltmeter will read 12v. If I have my headlights on they will pulsate along with all the other light on the bus. I just replaced the voltage regulator because the autozone guy recommended it. All they had was a 100 amp one - is that okay with a 200 amp alternator? It did the pulsating thing before I changed out the voltage regulator also.
Also, The A/C in this bus draws alot of power. If I have it on while idling the voltmeter will start reading 10v after about 5 minutes. Both batteries are brand new. Would a deep cycle for the main battery help at all?
Thanks, Jeff
1994 E-350 Shuttle bus
7.3 liter diesel - non-turbo
Also, The A/C in this bus draws alot of power. If I have it on while idling the voltmeter will start reading 10v after about 5 minutes. Both batteries are brand new. Would a deep cycle for the main battery help at all?
Thanks, Jeff
1994 E-350 Shuttle bus
7.3 liter diesel - non-turbo
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From: Virginia
I would check all the wiring behind the alternator going to the starter relay. If nothing is melted, then the only recommendation I have is change the alternator. There have been some weird problems on here with alternators that just can't be diagnosed with a machine. Sometimes they work ok till you rev them up at a high rpm, or they start getting warm, then they quit charging. It's hard to troubleshoot something like that.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,595
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
A lot of those older shuttle buses had alternators that were aftermarket with thier own heavy duty regulator. These were not Ford alternators, but installed by the company who built the shuttle bus body, like Bluebird and others. They often are dual output alternators. Its best to get a matching regulator for thier alternators. They often have complex wiring arrangements for the cables too and thier own regulator wiring harness spliced into the main loom.
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