Flickering headlights..... knob removal??
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Westbrookville NY
Flickering headlights..... **** removal??
Ok, so I have a 1976 F-250 Highboy with a 360, 4 spd manual....
For some reason, my headlights only work when they feel like it... I pull the **** and they come on. Within a few minutes they shut off, only to come back on again, and go off again, and come on again, at completely random times. Both headlights go off and come on at the same, all the other lights (tail lights, parking lamps) stay on.
Ive traced all the connections under the hood, and replaced the high/low beam switch on the floor... which was pretty corroded.
I want to check the switch behind the dash... but... I can't remove the light switch knod or the windshield wiper knobb! I didn't try TOO hard... because Im scared of breaking it.... I don't know whether to pull or twist or what but I cant get them out.....
Anyways.. Anyone have any other idea what it could be?? I'd like to drive at night some time soon....
Thanks guys!!
For some reason, my headlights only work when they feel like it... I pull the **** and they come on. Within a few minutes they shut off, only to come back on again, and go off again, and come on again, at completely random times. Both headlights go off and come on at the same, all the other lights (tail lights, parking lamps) stay on.
Ive traced all the connections under the hood, and replaced the high/low beam switch on the floor... which was pretty corroded.
I want to check the switch behind the dash... but... I can't remove the light switch knod or the windshield wiper knobb! I didn't try TOO hard... because Im scared of breaking it.... I don't know whether to pull or twist or what but I cant get them out.....
Anyways.. Anyone have any other idea what it could be?? I'd like to drive at night some time soon....
Thanks guys!!
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 739
Likes: 1
Best done with the battery disconnected.
There probably will be a small "pin" on the switch itself that has a small spring under it. All you should have to do is pull the headlights to the 'on' position and press the pin inwards against the switch itself. The shaft should pull straight out. Check out photos of the replacement switch, or if you've already purchased it? You should be able to see what I'm talking about.
S-
There probably will be a small "pin" on the switch itself that has a small spring under it. All you should have to do is pull the headlights to the 'on' position and press the pin inwards against the switch itself. The shaft should pull straight out. Check out photos of the replacement switch, or if you've already purchased it? You should be able to see what I'm talking about.
S-
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
On the top side of the switch as it is mounted in the dash there is the pin that tedy speaks of. Reach up under the dash and push the pin in and at the same time pull the shaft and **** off as one piece. Make sure the headlights are on before pushing the pin. You can after getting the **** and shaft out push it back in gently to turn off the lights and then it will slide right back out. If you push it to hard it will lock back in and you need to repeat above steps again.
The W/W **** just pulls straight off. If you look on the backside of the **** you will see a small indent where you can pull the spring steel clip back and relieve the pressure from the shaft.
If none of this makes sense to you try a search of the forum, it has been beat to death plenty times before.
The W/W **** just pulls straight off. If you look on the backside of the **** you will see a small indent where you can pull the spring steel clip back and relieve the pressure from the shaft.
If none of this makes sense to you try a search of the forum, it has been beat to death plenty times before.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 881
Likes: 0
From: dallastown pa
then **** should pull right off some have a really small set screw on them. replacement ***** are like 8 or 11 dollars. then after the ***** off you unscrew the nut and switch slides out under the dash.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
None of the original ***** on 73-79's have a set screw.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 881
Likes: 0
From: dallastown pa
mine may not be original mine in my truck and my spare switch both have the same pull ***** with a set screw.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
1973/79: Wiper Switch **** / Headlamp Switch **** & Shaft
Wiper **** / Retained by a spring clip which was only sold with the ****.
1973/74: D1AZ-17513-B / Also used on 1971/72 LTD's.
1975/79: D3OZ-17513-B (was-A) / Also fits: '73/76 Torino/Montego; '74/76 T-Bird; '74/80 Pinto/Bobcat; '78/79 Bronco.
D3OZ17513B is still available from Ford / MSRP: $12.28 / FTEpartsguy.com price: $8.84
Headlamp Switch **** & Shaft
1973/75: D3TZ-11661-A
1976/79: D4FZ-11661-A / Also fits '73/80 Pinto/Bobcat; '78/79 Bronco.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
The problem is the original Ford wiring, which doesn't use headlight relays like the rest of the world. There's a circuit breaker built into the switch which carries the current for ALL the lighting in the truck. The breaker gets weak with age, hence the pulsing or flickering lights. My '76 does the same thing, but I haven't got around to fixing it yet (it's somewhere around #15 on a list of about 120 things to fix).
Somebody posted a link or a tech article here a while back on how to rewire the headlights using relays like "normal" vehicles do. Not a bad idea.
Somebody posted a link or a tech article here a while back on how to rewire the headlights using relays like "normal" vehicles do. Not a bad idea.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Sticks(seabeck) , Wa
I just fixed this same problem on my truck. My headlights were flickering like that so I started by replacing the dimmer switch on the floor, then the dimmer switch pigtail...
That didn't work so I replaced the headlight switch and it fixed the problem. I stopped by the junkyard and pulled a headlight switch out of one of the old trucks.
First, pull the ***** for the headlights and wipers straight out...They will just pop off.
Then you got to take the dash panel off (the black plastic piece that covers the display cluster). Its just a couple of screws.
Then you will see a thin locking nut that holds the headlight switch onto the front of the dash. It is groved and I used a flathead to get it moving. Once this is off, you can pull the entire switch out the back of the dash panel.
Once it is free, you can remove the actual switch component from the plug by just pulling it away from the plug. Pop in a new switch and your good to go...
That didn't work so I replaced the headlight switch and it fixed the problem. I stopped by the junkyard and pulled a headlight switch out of one of the old trucks.
First, pull the ***** for the headlights and wipers straight out...They will just pop off.
Then you got to take the dash panel off (the black plastic piece that covers the display cluster). Its just a couple of screws.
Then you will see a thin locking nut that holds the headlight switch onto the front of the dash. It is groved and I used a flathead to get it moving. Once this is off, you can pull the entire switch out the back of the dash panel.
Once it is free, you can remove the actual switch component from the plug by just pulling it away from the plug. Pop in a new switch and your good to go...
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