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Blinking Headlights

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Old 12-13-2006, 05:50 PM
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Question 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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Old 12-13-2006, 07:33 PM
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Hello- Welcome to FTE! Check out the list of tech forums we have on FTE. There is a wealth of information and expertise here to help you. Check the links at the bottom, and the menu bar at the top, of the page for more information and resources. Have fun!

Bad grounds, common problem...

Check the Read First: FAQ thread at the top of the 73-9 forum for more info.
 
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Old 12-13-2006, 07:35 PM
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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.
 
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Old 12-13-2006, 07:45 PM
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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.
 
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Old 12-13-2006, 08:05 PM
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where are the lighting grounds?
 
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Old 12-13-2006, 10:27 PM
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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
 
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Old 12-13-2006, 10:41 PM
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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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Old 12-13-2006, 11:05 PM
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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.
 




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