No headlights!
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
No headlights!
Yikes, my truck all of a sudden lost its headlights.
1997 F350 4x4 reg cab long bed (old body style) 351W & E40D trans
One morning I went to start her up and turned on the lights. All lights turned on except the headlights. I tried working the switch thinking it may be loose or dirty, no avail. I checked the headlight bulbs, none were blown out and the filaments look intact. Saw the date stamp, they are original. I cleaned the contacts and made sure they were snug to no avail. I checked the fuse panel but the diagram did not list a headlamp fuse.
I cannot diagnose any further. Any help? Thanks a lot.
EDIT: Now that I looked at it again, it may be modified at one point as it had a snow plow setup on it. Most of the stuff is gone now.
1997 F350 4x4 reg cab long bed (old body style) 351W & E40D trans
One morning I went to start her up and turned on the lights. All lights turned on except the headlights. I tried working the switch thinking it may be loose or dirty, no avail. I checked the headlight bulbs, none were blown out and the filaments look intact. Saw the date stamp, they are original. I cleaned the contacts and made sure they were snug to no avail. I checked the fuse panel but the diagram did not list a headlamp fuse.
I cannot diagnose any further. Any help? Thanks a lot.
EDIT: Now that I looked at it again, it may be modified at one point as it had a snow plow setup on it. Most of the stuff is gone now.
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Cripes! If that's the case, then I have more work to do. I removed the snow plow light switch. I may have bumped it on in the midst of removing it. Or changing the path would kill the headlights. Urgh! Wait...why would they get turned off when the snow plow lights go on? It didn't have snow plow lights when I bought it. Just some wiring and the plow frame.
It was a mess along with the 7-way trailer wiring. Real hack jobs.
It was a mess along with the 7-way trailer wiring. Real hack jobs.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,446
Likes: 5,517
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
if it had th night saber lights with the relay packs in the engine bay, power going to the relay packs will turn the headlights off, and the plow lights on, even if the lights are not there.
if it had the old style lights, the spot where they tapped into the dimmer switch may be messed up, not allowing the lights to come on.
if it had the old style lights, the spot where they tapped into the dimmer switch may be messed up, not allowing the lights to come on.
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Ok, I was able to poke for a few before it got too dark to see.
Seems like the turn signals aren't working 100% anymore, either. Argh!
I traced the wires that were hanging under the dash where I removed the switch. It goes back to the plugs in front of the grille, and a few wires were tapped into the turn signal housings. I don't see any tapped into the headlight wiring. The plugs in front of the grille were marked Meyer. How did Ford supply trucks equipped with the snow prep package? I believe none of the snow plow wiring are original. Am I correct? If so, I want to get rid of them and get the lights working again. I see no way how the headlights could be controlled other than the factory way. There may be something hidden or I need to do more testing.
I managed to break the fragile instrumental panel and now it's loose. Sigh...so I didn't get the chance to pull the headlight switch and test.
Any advice at this point? Thanks, guys.
Seems like the turn signals aren't working 100% anymore, either. Argh!
I traced the wires that were hanging under the dash where I removed the switch. It goes back to the plugs in front of the grille, and a few wires were tapped into the turn signal housings. I don't see any tapped into the headlight wiring. The plugs in front of the grille were marked Meyer. How did Ford supply trucks equipped with the snow prep package? I believe none of the snow plow wiring are original. Am I correct? If so, I want to get rid of them and get the lights working again. I see no way how the headlights could be controlled other than the factory way. There may be something hidden or I need to do more testing.
I managed to break the fragile instrumental panel and now it's loose. Sigh...so I didn't get the chance to pull the headlight switch and test.
Any advice at this point? Thanks, guys.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,966
Likes: 2,728
From: Virginia
I have never seen any factory wiring provisions in the installation of a snowplow. I have had a snowplow on two trucks now, and I have asked and looked for rules on the headlights, and I don't think there are any, at least in my area. So both of my installations did not do anything with the headlight wiring. I only had to tap into the marker light wiring and the turnsignal wiring.
I would get the headlight switch out and see if you have power on the red/yellow. If you don't, then we need to back up to the headlight switch and the power feeding the switch. If you do, then we need to move ahead to the dimmer switch in the steering column, and then out to the headlight wiring connectors.
The later trucks do have fuses for the headlights. If I remember correctly, there are two fuses for the lowbeams in the underhood fuse box, and there is one fuse for the highbeams, but I can't remember if it's in the underhood fuse box or the underdash fuse box.
I would get the headlight switch out and see if you have power on the red/yellow. If you don't, then we need to back up to the headlight switch and the power feeding the switch. If you do, then we need to move ahead to the dimmer switch in the steering column, and then out to the headlight wiring connectors.
The later trucks do have fuses for the headlights. If I remember correctly, there are two fuses for the lowbeams in the underhood fuse box, and there is one fuse for the highbeams, but I can't remember if it's in the underhood fuse box or the underdash fuse box.
Trending Topics
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,446
Likes: 5,517
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
if the blinkers and marker lights are tapped at the light sockets, i can 99% say that it had the night saber lights in it. you say the plugs are still in the grill area and marked meyers. this is another hint.
access the rear of the headlight, like you are going to change the bulb.
check to make sure that the plug going into the headlight is actually the trucks wiring. the meyers system used a setup that went from the truck wiring to the relay box, and back into the headlight.
the wires going out to the grill come out of the relay blocks.
the blinkers and parking light wires also go from the trucks lights into the relay boxes with a green and yellow wire on each side, then out to the plow frame lights through the plow light wiring harness.
access the rear of the headlight, like you are going to change the bulb.
check to make sure that the plug going into the headlight is actually the trucks wiring. the meyers system used a setup that went from the truck wiring to the relay box, and back into the headlight.
the wires going out to the grill come out of the relay blocks.
the blinkers and parking light wires also go from the trucks lights into the relay boxes with a green and yellow wire on each side, then out to the plow frame lights through the plow light wiring harness.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
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
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
10-4, good buddy.
You might be right. I googled the plow frame the truck has on, and it appears it belongs to a Meyer EZ mount plow system. And the wiring was supplied by Meyer as well. They are usually paired with the night saber lights from what I've seen. So we're pretty sure it had a night saber light set once.
I will take pics of everything tomorrow and show them on here, so I hope that will greatly improve troubleshooting.
I remember seeing a white wire nestled about the front end.
How exactly do I diagnose the headlight switch after I manage to get it out? And the wiring for everything else in question? I have a cheap digital meter, a contiuntity(I think) tester.
I didn't see a headlight fuse listed in the fuse panel. I think they're all on the relays as of late but I'll have to find a diagram for the relay box, it's unmarked there.
You might be right. I googled the plow frame the truck has on, and it appears it belongs to a Meyer EZ mount plow system. And the wiring was supplied by Meyer as well. They are usually paired with the night saber lights from what I've seen. So we're pretty sure it had a night saber light set once.
I will take pics of everything tomorrow and show them on here, so I hope that will greatly improve troubleshooting.
I remember seeing a white wire nestled about the front end.
How exactly do I diagnose the headlight switch after I manage to get it out? And the wiring for everything else in question? I have a cheap digital meter, a contiuntity(I think) tester.
I didn't see a headlight fuse listed in the fuse panel. I think they're all on the relays as of late but I'll have to find a diagram for the relay box, it's unmarked there.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,966
Likes: 2,728
From: Virginia
Your truck is right in the transition period, so I don't know if it had the fuses or not. If the plow system did have some sort of relay box that interrupted the power to the headlights, I would definitely look the wiring over carefully for that.
If you have a digital meter, see if you can get it on dc volts. To make sure the meter is working, mess with the setting till you can touch the leads on the battery and get something close to a 12v reading. After that, when you start testing the wiring, put the black lead on a good bare piece of metal of the truck, and then stick the red lead on the wiring to test for voltage.
For example, to test the headlight switch, turn the headlight switch on, and then probe the connector for the red/yellow, with the black lead on a spot under the dash with the paint scraped away.
If you have a digital meter, see if you can get it on dc volts. To make sure the meter is working, mess with the setting till you can touch the leads on the battery and get something close to a 12v reading. After that, when you start testing the wiring, put the black lead on a good bare piece of metal of the truck, and then stick the red lead on the wiring to test for voltage.
For example, to test the headlight switch, turn the headlight switch on, and then probe the connector for the red/yellow, with the black lead on a spot under the dash with the paint scraped away.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Chad....just to mention it....did you by chance try to flip from hi beam to lo beam or vice versa? Didn't read where you tried that.....just in case........This is just to see if you have neither lo nor hi's.
BTW, I have quite a bit of test equipment here at the hose....don't remember how far you are from me. You can catch me on the MD Chapter usually....but not tonight!
BTW, I have quite a bit of test equipment here at the hose....don't remember how far you are from me. You can catch me on the MD Chapter usually....but not tonight!
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Finally hunted for a copy of the 1997 owner's manual online, and it shows the headlights has a circuit breaker integrated to the switch, and a fuse in the power distribution box under the hood. Will check that tomorrow along with other stuff mentioned. Thanks again.
Is there a source for wiring diagrams for my application? I had no luck.
Hey Bud! I forgot about the chapter - haven't been on here in a while before the headlights issue. You're an hour away from me. I am in Moco county.
No low/hi beams, either. Nothing is coming out of the headlights. The high beam indicator in the dash comes on when I hit the high beam switch, but no headlights.
Is there a source for wiring diagrams for my application? I had no luck.
Hey Bud! I forgot about the chapter - haven't been on here in a while before the headlights issue. You're an hour away from me. I am in Moco county.
No low/hi beams, either. Nothing is coming out of the headlights. The high beam indicator in the dash comes on when I hit the high beam switch, but no headlights.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,966
Likes: 2,728
From: Virginia
The high beam indicator in the dash comes on when I hit the high beam switch, but no headlights.
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Great! Less work for me. I haven't tackled this issue, I've been too lazy or cleaning the house instead for a move. Monday or Tuesday I will work on it and update ASAP. Thanks for the help so far. :cheer:
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
boomer383
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Mar 20, 2016 09:26 AM
54Guy
1978 - 1996 Big Bronco
4
Oct 25, 2004 08:27 AM