Headlights going completely OUT!
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 7
From: South Alabama
Headlights going completely OUT!
65 F100, 352ci
Wow....will that get your attention on a dark night. The first time it happened, they came back on about the time I "felt" my way to the shoulder. It happened again and I wiggled the wires on the switch and pushed and pulled the switch, but didn't help, then it just came back on. When I got back home, I found the ground connection and cleaned very good. Thought it was fixed and it happened again a few nights later????? What the heck is going on here? I just knew it was the ground. Both high and low beams are affected, and when it goes out, wiggling wires and switch doesn't help, so it really doesn't seem like the loose connection is in the switch, and definately not at the lights, because both headlights and parking lights are going out together. Any ideas appreciated......Gary
Wow....will that get your attention on a dark night. The first time it happened, they came back on about the time I "felt" my way to the shoulder. It happened again and I wiggled the wires on the switch and pushed and pulled the switch, but didn't help, then it just came back on. When I got back home, I found the ground connection and cleaned very good. Thought it was fixed and it happened again a few nights later????? What the heck is going on here? I just knew it was the ground. Both high and low beams are affected, and when it goes out, wiggling wires and switch doesn't help, so it really doesn't seem like the loose connection is in the switch, and definately not at the lights, because both headlights and parking lights are going out together. Any ideas appreciated......Gary
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Replace the switch. Either your current is tripping the internal breaker (a bimetal saferty device to keep the truck from overheating the wiring circuit) or the breaker is worn out. Usually this is evidence of some bad grounds or wiring.
I may be wrong but I've had similar situations on GM vehicles and this was 99% of the fix.
I may be wrong but I've had similar situations on GM vehicles and this was 99% of the fix.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
You ought to be running down I-85 pulling a trailer while running about 80 mph. and have it happen. The lights kept comming back on so I kept hammering, worring the hello out of the truckers.
Never did find what was wrong but ground cleaning is all I can atribute. I did the brighter light upgrade, and don't drive it a lot at night but it hasn't happened again for a few years.
Check around the dimmer switch also.
John
Never did find what was wrong but ground cleaning is all I can atribute. I did the brighter light upgrade, and don't drive it a lot at night but it hasn't happened again for a few years.
Check around the dimmer switch also.
John
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 9
From: Sun River St. George
You have a short in the system. The circuit breaker is doing its job and this breaker resets. I would look for a bare wire, hot connection (including where the wiring plugs into the switch). Pull the switch and look at all the blades and the sockets in the wiring harness plug. Any blackning or obvious heating is cause for concern. Use bulb grease when you put it back together and use a wire tie to hold the switch and wiring harness tightly together. This is a problem that will not go away on its own.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 7
From: South Alabama
Thanks for the replies
I'll post the results after I check all these things. Thanks much.....Gary
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Had this happen a lot.
Most of the time it was the Light Switch.
But one time it was a short. If it is a short
look closely for wiring added that goes to
camper, aux lights, etc.
Most of the time it was the Light Switch.
But one time it was a short. If it is a short
look closely for wiring added that goes to
camper, aux lights, etc.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Dimmer switch
Mine was in the dimmer switch. Got pulled over in South Dallas going to work. Passed by 8 Sheriff Deputies in a row and the last 1 got me. No ticket but I had to wait till daylight. 2 hrs late that day.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: East Flat Rock NC
My guess is the dimmer switch! In the dark mountains of N.C.when the lights
go out you play that dimmer switch like your on hee-haw!
I think when you get to kicking that switch on and off it cleans the contacts
hence the lights come back on.
go out you play that dimmer switch like your on hee-haw!
I think when you get to kicking that switch on and off it cleans the contacts
hence the lights come back on.
