Blinking Headlights
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Emmett, ID
Blinking Headlights
Well im new to this thing but here goes it. I recently noticed that if i have my brights on goin down the road and i use my signals my headlight blink dim while my signal is flashing....can anyone help me, i would really appreciate any help i can get, thanks.
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Bad grounds, common problem...
Check the Read First: FAQ thread at the top of the 73-9 forum for more info.
Bad grounds, common problem...
Check the Read First: FAQ thread at the top of the 73-9 forum for more info.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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There is a circuit breaker on the headlight switch that sometimes wears out and will cause the lights to flash on and off. But that is independant of the turn signals.
If I was to guess, I'd say bad ground in the turn signal system. Does it happen with both left and right turn signals? Do you have any cracked signal lenses?
Inspect the light bulbs for broken filaments or corroded bases. Or just swap in new bulbs. Check the sockets for corrosion. The sockets should have pigtail leads that are screwed to the truck body somewhere close to the socket for a ground. Check that those are clean and secure.
If I was to guess, I'd say bad ground in the turn signal system. Does it happen with both left and right turn signals? Do you have any cracked signal lenses?
Inspect the light bulbs for broken filaments or corroded bases. Or just swap in new bulbs. Check the sockets for corrosion. The sockets should have pigtail leads that are screwed to the truck body somewhere close to the socket for a ground. Check that those are clean and secure.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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I'd say you have a grounding problem in the area of your volatge regulator.
Remove all the cables to the battery and VR ..then remove the VR and clean up the contact area where it mounts, the connector tabs and the connector that plugs onto it.Apply a thin flim of di-electric grease to the area of mounting to prevent more corrosion.
Now Clean and secure battery cables on both ends.
Make sure there is a ground strap from the firewall to the engine block.
If after you do this preventative measure you still have a powewr feedback, check all the lighting grounds and clean them.
Remove all the cables to the battery and VR ..then remove the VR and clean up the contact area where it mounts, the connector tabs and the connector that plugs onto it.Apply a thin flim of di-electric grease to the area of mounting to prevent more corrosion.
Now Clean and secure battery cables on both ends.
Make sure there is a ground strap from the firewall to the engine block.
If after you do this preventative measure you still have a powewr feedback, check all the lighting grounds and clean them.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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At each headlight, turn signal/running light.
Headlights flickering on their own is usually the headlight switch problem.
When there is a multi-system problem it is usually a main system grounding problem.
Corrosion is the cause of huge grounding problems as the truck ages
Headlights flickering on their own is usually the headlight switch problem.
When there is a multi-system problem it is usually a main system grounding problem.
Corrosion is the cause of huge grounding problems as the truck ages
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Emmett, ID
Thanks for the killer feedback, im just gettin started with ma truck and i need all the edumacation i can get....lol, thanks again.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
These guys nailed it - sounds like a bad ground. With the ground not connected, the headlights are being grounded through the directional light bulb. When you turn on the directionals, the ground source goes away, so the headlights go out. Might only happen on one side, if one ground is good but the other is not.
Make sure the firewall is grounded to the block. AND make sure the battery is grounded to the block.
Then do what these guys already said, check the grounds on the headlight/turn-signals.
Make sure the firewall is grounded to the block. AND make sure the battery is grounded to the block.
Then do what these guys already said, check the grounds on the headlight/turn-signals.
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