HELP Headlights won't turn off
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Your truck doesn't have a headlight relay. The headlight power runs from the headlight switch to the steering column dimmer, and then out to the headlights low and high beam. First check the fuse you are pulling to see what it is labeled. Make sure it really is a headlight fuse. Most of the older trucks didn't have a main fuse for the headlights, you are in the years where they may have started but I am not sure. What I would do then is pull the headlight switch plug and then put the fuse back in and see if the headlights are on or off.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
Your truck doesn't have a headlight relay. The headlight power runs from the headlight switch to the steering column dimmer, and then out to the headlights low and high beam. First check the fuse you are pulling to see what it is labeled. Make sure it really is a headlight fuse. Most of the older trucks didn't have a main fuse for the headlights, you are in the years where they may have started but I am not sure. What I would do then is pull the headlight switch plug and then put the fuse back in and see if the headlights are on or off.
here is a picture of the fuse it’s right off the battery terminal and appear to run all the way eventually into the headlight switch
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
do I have to disassemble the dash to get to the switch to be able to disconnect it? Or should there be a fuse that controls it?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
You may need to investigate that wire with the fuse in it that you had in your hand a little more. Follow it along and see if you run into some small black boxes that would be the relays. And then they would plug into the headlight wiring. If you do have a relay kit installed, there is a chance one of the relays has welded itself shut making the lights stay on.
You would be way ahead if you go buy yourself a testlight from the store to do some testing.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 396
Likes: 10
From: Fort Mill SC
Typically I would say this is a bad headlight switch, kinda a ford trademark, with the aftermarket wiring who knows what the issue could be, easy, or as easy as it appears, would be to remove whatever that wiring is for, I'm going to assume it was for strobes or something like that, probably a state vehicle or highway construction in its first life.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
Typically I would say this is a bad headlight switch, kinda a ford trademark, with the aftermarket wiring who knows what the issue could be, easy, or as easy as it appears, would be to remove whatever that wiring is for, I'm going to assume it was for strobes or something like that, probably a state vehicle or highway construction in its first life.
had a separate switch inside the cab for the lights. However the turn signals still are acting up, they don’t always appear in dash but will be on, then if I slowly raise them up or down it’ll work everytime for whatever reason, but do a quick up or down and it doesn’t always register
New User
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2003 F250 SD CC, V10
My headlights will not turn off. The switch is not involved because I can unplug the light switch and there is no effect. The light switch still works because I can still use it to turn on the lights full and use high beam and the system knows they are on because the chime works. There is apparently not 12 volts going to the lights when they are stuck on as they are a little dim.
Is there a lighting relay involved that may be leaking?
Thanks,
My headlights will not turn off. The switch is not involved because I can unplug the light switch and there is no effect. The light switch still works because I can still use it to turn on the lights full and use high beam and the system knows they are on because the chime works. There is apparently not 12 volts going to the lights when they are stuck on as they are a little dim.
Is there a lighting relay involved that may be leaking?
Thanks,
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Start pulling fuses till they go out. When you get to the fuse that makes them go out, see what circuit that is. That will clue you in on where to look as to how the power is getting to where it should not be.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff396
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Apr 5, 2007 07:55 AM
