Anyone else having problems with light switches?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
I have an '87 F series. I replaced 2 switches thus far and may have to replace the one I put in today. The light dimming part of the switch doesn't work. I may have either burned the wire off that coils around the switch or it may have physically come apart due to some sideways push on the light switch ****. Is this a common fault of the ford switch? Is there a more heavy duty unit?
I've also been told by a electrical technician that the Ford switch isn't made to carry extra current required by trailer lights and that it is best to wire a seperate circuit with a toggle switch for running trailer lights. Today I replaced a melted block connector and the headlight switch and thought I solved my fuse blowing problems, but I'm not sure. Any input or similar experience?
Tony
I've also been told by a electrical technician that the Ford switch isn't made to carry extra current required by trailer lights and that it is best to wire a seperate circuit with a toggle switch for running trailer lights. Today I replaced a melted block connector and the headlight switch and thought I solved my fuse blowing problems, but I'm not sure. Any input or similar experience?
Tony
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
The smartest thing you could do is to convert the headlight system to run off a relay instead of the Extra drain through the switch.
Besides the tech article here on FTE
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/articles/delanty/brighter_lights.html|Whiter Whites...Brighter Brights]
this is what I'm talking about.
[link
wp.clearsource.net/dsigns/james/headlights.htm|Ford Headlight Upgrade]
[font color=red]Dennis
FTE Assistant Administrator
[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|Club FTE]
[link: motorhaven.autoanything.com|How YOU Can Support This Site]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/canada_flag_animated.gif
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
Besides the tech article here on FTE
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/articles/delanty/brighter_lights.html|Whiter Whites...Brighter Brights]
this is what I'm talking about.
[link
wp.clearsource.net/dsigns/james/headlights.htm|Ford Headlight Upgrade][font color=red]Dennis
FTE Assistant Administrator
[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|Club FTE]
[link: motorhaven.autoanything.com|How YOU Can Support This Site]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/canada_flag_animated.gif
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
>The smartest thing you could do is to convert the headlight
>system to run off a relay instead of the Extra drain through
>the switch.
>
That's a good suggestion for brighter headlights. A motorcycle group I belong too also makes this suggestion to enhance headlight performance. However the problem seems to be in the design of the switch in the dimming circuitry for the dash lights. I'll have to pull it apart again to determine the problem for sure, but I'm thinking that the spiraled wire (reastat?) has broken again after only a few hours of use. Does the headlight voltage go through the spiral wire too? I wouldn't think so, but....??
Tony
>system to run off a relay instead of the Extra drain through
>the switch.
>
That's a good suggestion for brighter headlights. A motorcycle group I belong too also makes this suggestion to enhance headlight performance. However the problem seems to be in the design of the switch in the dimming circuitry for the dash lights. I'll have to pull it apart again to determine the problem for sure, but I'm thinking that the spiraled wire (reastat?) has broken again after only a few hours of use. Does the headlight voltage go through the spiral wire too? I wouldn't think so, but....??
Tony
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
Probably not BUT, With the design of the switch all that extra heat being generated by the power going through it to the headlights can't be good gfor the switch & its components (like the cluster lights circuit).
When the headlights suffer from flickering> The cluster lights flicker too.
Remember the circuit breaker is built-in to the headlight switch.
Maybe buy a MOTORCRAFT switch instead of aftermarket parts(if that what you did).
[font color=red]Dennis
FTE Assistant Administrator
[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|Club FTE]
[link: motorhaven.autoanything.com|How YOU Can Support This Site]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/canada_flag_animated.gif
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
When the headlights suffer from flickering> The cluster lights flicker too.
Remember the circuit breaker is built-in to the headlight switch.
Maybe buy a MOTORCRAFT switch instead of aftermarket parts(if that what you did).
[font color=red]Dennis
FTE Assistant Administrator
[/font]
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|Club FTE]
[link: motorhaven.autoanything.com|How YOU Can Support This Site]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/canada_flag_animated.gif
[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
>Maybe buy a MOTORCRAFT switch instead of aftermarket
>parts(if that what you did).
Sometimes that is a good suggestion. Both of my last 2 headlight switches came from Ford. I am ready to try an aftermarket switch this time around. There seems to be alot of sideways play at the point where the switch stem turns on the contact for the dimmer part of the switch. VW (and probably other cars) I think has "A BETTER IDEA" with seperate switches and circuits for headlight activation and dash light dimming. Maybe I'll end up retrofitting something like that in my ford dash.
Thanks for the input. I may try that headlight rewiring also.
Tony
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
The dimmer part of the switch is just a variable resistor to drop the voltage going to the dash lights. Maybe something is connected to cause an extra current drain. The resistor is rated at a certain number of watts. If this rating is exceeded, it will fail. Volts x amps = watts. I have seen very few problems with the dimmers. Usually the sliding contact gets dirty and the dashlighs don't come on.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Oct-02 AT 10:41 PM (EST)]Update,
Well, on a trip to Va I was without dash lights so I went investigating. I found that when I depress the clutch all the way to the floor, the dash light fuse pops. I can depress the clutch partway to activate the clutch safety circuit without incident, but if I push it to the floor, it the fuse pops. I popped 3 fuses confirming this factor to the problem. I checked around for bare/pinched wires and/or wires hiding under the floormat or wires that would contact the clutch pedal. I found one bare wire and taped it, but it didn't look like it was arcing anywhere and it didn't solve the problem. I did a little preliminary investigation on the wiring diagram and found that there is a connection between the clutch safety switch and the dash lights, but today I wasn't able to find the page. Could the clutch switch and the dash lights be on the same fuse and the clutch safety switch shorting itself out? Any similar experiences or help? I havn't been able to find a clutch saftey switch aftermarket and the one Ford dealer I inquired want's $35 for a new switch.
Tony
Well, on a trip to Va I was without dash lights so I went investigating. I found that when I depress the clutch all the way to the floor, the dash light fuse pops. I can depress the clutch partway to activate the clutch safety circuit without incident, but if I push it to the floor, it the fuse pops. I popped 3 fuses confirming this factor to the problem. I checked around for bare/pinched wires and/or wires hiding under the floormat or wires that would contact the clutch pedal. I found one bare wire and taped it, but it didn't look like it was arcing anywhere and it didn't solve the problem. I did a little preliminary investigation on the wiring diagram and found that there is a connection between the clutch safety switch and the dash lights, but today I wasn't able to find the page. Could the clutch switch and the dash lights be on the same fuse and the clutch safety switch shorting itself out? Any similar experiences or help? I havn't been able to find a clutch saftey switch aftermarket and the one Ford dealer I inquired want's $35 for a new switch.
Tony
Trending Topics
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 630
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
Anyone else having problems with light switches?
Awesome link Mil1ion! I think I will make that mod when I get back from Mississippi next month. Thanks.
Bill
Bill
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
86ford302help
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Nov 1, 2013 12:03 AM
