headlamp switch help!

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Mar 20, 2009 | 10:16 AM

V10man

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From: Mesa

headlamp switch help!

My son's 92 F150 has had a problem with the headlamp switch. When you pull it out(turn it on) either the headlamps or the tail lights would work. You could wiggle the **** and they would eventually come on together. We bought a new switch at Auto Zone and installed it. Now it's worse! Only one set of lamps will now work and not in the right position on the switch. As far as we know, no one has messed with the wiring. What could possibly be wrong? Is there a trick to installing the switch that we overlooked? Help! He needs to be able to drive at night to go to work. Thanks.

Mar 20, 2009 | 10:33 AM

Lazy K

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The plug connectors to the switch are known to burn. Check that and replace if found to be bad.

Mar 20, 2009 | 11:28 AM

*2fords*

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From: Nixa

I had to replace the head light switch on my 93 F-250 twice. The second time, I took the time to look around a bit and found that two of the wires had burned at the connector. So I cut off the bad ends and put new connectors on, cleaned up the burnt plastic, stuck the connectors back into the plastic, and used some plastic filler to hold the connectors back in place. Then rapped alot of electrical tape around the whole block. After all that I plugged onto the light switch put the dash back together, and it has been working great ever since. That was back in 2005.

Mar 20, 2009 | 05:28 PM

V10man

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From: Mesa

OK,

Took it apart again. There are no burned wires anywhere. All the plugs look good. I tested each with a test light. With the switch pulled all the way out, only the headlights are on. In the first notch, nothing works. If you pull the switch to 1/2 way between the first and second notch only the parking/tail/dash lights work. I'm sending the son back to Autozone for another switch.

Mar 20, 2009 | 06:14 PM

V10man

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From: Mesa

Well, we exchanged the switch and now the new one does the same thing but this time you can get the switch 1/2 way between the first notch and the second and all the lights now work. But, only the headlights in the full on(second notch) and no tail lights in the first notch. I'm still thinking this is a switch issue. Gonna try NAPA next. BTW, NAPA sells a new connector plug if yours is melted.

Mar 20, 2009 | 06:53 PM

truckrider814

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From: Sterling, Va

Did you check all the fuse's cause when my switch went back it blew like three diffrent fuses. When i replaced mine the headlights and taillights would work but the interior lights wouldn't and found that a couple of fuses had blowen from the switch going bad.
Hope this helps

Kyle

Mar 20, 2009 | 09:12 PM

87 XLT

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From: SoCal

A quick look at a wiring diagram will show you what Kyle is saying. You need to check the fuses.

On my 87 Ranger theres a fuse link & 2 fuses feeding juice to the headlight switch.

On my 97 Ex theres 2 fuses feeding juice to the headlight switch

And on my 95 Taurus there are 3 fuses feeding the headlight switch.