Electrical System?!?!
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 284
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From: Slippery Rock University
Electrical System?!?!
i gots me a nice lil problem... when i turn on my lights, they are VERY dim, and when i run with my truck, highway or city they are still dim. the lights are newer (within the past year and they are the better ones). when i hit a bump, which i do regulary on PA roads... the headlights flicker to how bright they should be then go back to being dim. Also, my radio wont stay on and thats hard wired to my battey directly. i did that myself. if anything, im very annoyed. HELP?!?! oh yea, i failed to mention... im a VERY poor college student still paying off a damn ticket lol so i cant afford many parts...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,412
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From: Munroe falls, Ohio
i would check the ground connectrions, the one on the engine block, the two by the parking lights, anywhere you see a wire touch the body you should remove it and use sandpaper and apply some vasoline/grease. if you are using higher wattage bulbs than the stock headlights, you must upgrade the system by using relays to supply the power to the lights, see "whiter lights brighter lights" in the tech section
the relays make the lights brighter by providing the full voltage, the stock system is really long and uses a thin wire resulting in a voltage drop.
the relays make the lights brighter by providing the full voltage, the stock system is really long and uses a thin wire resulting in a voltage drop.
Last edited by 84-250; Mar 18, 2005 at 08:49 AM.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
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actually the headlamps are grounded next the the battery and washer bottle for the headlamps. it is common for the connector to break off, and do exactly as you have described. i would remove the connector on the headlamps, and check for voltage at the + and - side of the headlamp plug. then check voltage from the + headlamp plug to the battery ground and engine. since everything else seems to be working ok, and you dont seem to having battery charging issues, a doubt if it is the frame-engine or body ground. you are likely going to find you have no ground connectionfor the headlamps. PM me if you want a picture of where the connections are, and i will get a picture out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,568
Likes: 33
From: Swansea SC
dim headlights
U are starting off in the right direction of checking grounds, loose wire or a bad ground. Other possibilities come to mind,headlight switch or the bright light switch on your floor board. Dont know what year it is but the headlight dimmer switch will cause this, all your power id fed through it ,there only like 7-9 dollars (but check it first) Start off with your grounds then proceed to checking your switches Good luck TR
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 284
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From: Slippery Rock University
well guys i had some play time today. i checked and cleaned my gorunds for my lights. they were ok, but now they are good. i tried the lights, no better, though. recently (within the past month) i got "KC" lights (knock offs) and put them on. all my trouble strated when i had to snip the wires cause my dumba$$ use too small guage wire for the ground. i fixed that w/ 12 guage ground, 12 gu pwr and 12 gu. aux. i used real connectors too! lol...( im noted for afro-american engineering my truck). i also said wtf and regrounded my CB. what do u know? my lights are back to normal, heater works fine, radio doesnt cut out like it likes to do (thats a whole other story) when i hit the brakes, turn singnal, or shift gears! yes. yall read right. any1 of those 3 would cause the radio to die. its a direct connect from my battery for pwr w/ a switch with a solid ground... anyway my lights magically work fine now. im scared... my Ford might behave for a week!
