59 Headlight Switch
 

I have had trouble with my headlight switch on my truck.The low beams will go out after a few .A few years ago i replaced the switch and wiring harness.I have never realy had the lights on much,so i did not notice the problem.It appears the breaker in the switch is the problem.I have ordered a heavy duty harness with relays from LMC.It will reduce the amp draw and should take care of the problem.Anyone have thought on the subject.
Terry

What you referring to as the breaker?

make sure all connections on back of the sealed beams are clean & tight , also make sure all grounds to the sealed beams are in good order as well as the bullett type connectors that attach the headlamp housing harness to the truck wiring harness. also check the connections on the circuit breaker itself sometimes the moulded eye conections burn off or get weak right where the wire attaches to the eyelet and cause a wire overheating problem.
this may be a lot less $$ than throwing new parts at it.
checking these easy
mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m-100 panel 64 econo p/u

Did you install high wattage headlights? The internal breaker may trip if you did, though I would think it would trip when the high beams are on, not the low beams. Does it also trip if you use the high beams?

From what i have read there is a 12 breaker made inside headlight switch

That a good idea. I have had ground problems before. I will check that. The harness is made to use with the new Halogen lights. Its only 29 dollars

Terry, if you have already installed your high wattage halogens, that is a likely problem. The grounding may also be at fault.

I have a 59 also, that light switch was used for only one or two years. Ford ran a lot of power through that switch, mine shorted out, lost lights. If you can find one, last price i seen was about $140.00!! I installed a small fuse panel with modern plugin fuses, and a $15.00 universal light switch. No more problems!! Plus you can easily fuse turn signals or any accessories you want.

I dont plan on getting Halogen lights,I just wanted the lights to stay on.

LMC has the switch for around 70. Mine is new.
The whole purpose of the new heavy duty headlight harness is to pull the high power straight from the battery. The light switch would then only power the relay's ,which only draw a small amount of power. Thanks for all the help and advice

There is a breaker inside the headlight switch.

Under normal conditions the breaker will come on and off again if there is a problem with something like a short in the headlight circut. I think even a short in something like a tail light may cause it :-huh, not 100% on that. If it just shuts off and stays off it could be the switch is going bad. At least there are replacements for 59's, I'm not so lucky with a 60.

Its a lot of trouble to change also. Mine goes of then cool down then comes back on

If thats happening you have a short somewhere, thats what the circuit breaker is suppose to do.

Just low beams. I never have driven it at night so did not even know there was a problem