headlights kill the engine
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New User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Clinton
headlights kill the engine
Hi all, just rebuilt my '94 F-250 4x4 from the ground up. I got it all back together and was driving it for a few weeks until one evening I went to go away, turned the headlights on and the engine shut off. It will run with just the parking lights on, but as soon as you pull the headlights, just like someone hit the kill switch. I did check all my grounds, and checked for pinched wires in the harness. Any other ideas?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
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From: Sand Lake, MI
I know you said you checked all the grounds but you should double check the grounds right next to the radiator, drivers side top right next to the cap, on a bolt into the header. Two or three ground wires there, don't recall the exact count.
If the right one is off or broke right there the motor will stall when the lights are turned on, if not at that point follow the wires back looking for a break in the wires.
If the right one is off or broke right there the motor will stall when the lights are turned on, if not at that point follow the wires back looking for a break in the wires.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
There's a Ford technical service bulletin (TSB) on this.
#272. 881616 -- An Engine Stumble/Miss When Headlamps On/Off
"connect a ground strap from the headlight surround sheet metal to a good engine ground, preferably directly to the battery ground strap" to take care of a ground loop generated thorough the sheet metal surrounding the headlights.
#272. 881616 -- An Engine Stumble/Miss When Headlamps On/Off
"connect a ground strap from the headlight surround sheet metal to a good engine ground, preferably directly to the battery ground strap" to take care of a ground loop generated thorough the sheet metal surrounding the headlights.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Clinton
Fixed Ground
From the factory, there is a stud coming through the inner fender portion beside the battery box. It looked good by visual sense but when I put my wrench to tighten the entire stud turned. So I cut my wires reconnected them to a new grounding block that I mounted on the inner fender and grounded it with 6awg stranded wire straight to the battery terminal. At least the engine stays running with lights on. However I noticed that when I have the lights on and the heater blower and the wipers on, my voltage is dropping to around 9 or 10 on the voltmeter in the dash. After shutting them off it doesn't recover very well, so I did check some other threads about this problem and found it may be some connector issues, and or some other grounding issues.
I want to thank you both for your recommendations and assistants with this problem.
I want to thank you both for your recommendations and assistants with this problem.
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