1997 explorer headlight issue

[jtech]

HELP!!! 1997 explorer xlt 4dr 4x4 Headlights will shut off while driving down the road. They go out for 5 seconds and come back on by themselves! Can not figure this thing out. I've checked all relays and can't find one that runs headlights. It does it everyday usally twice in 30 miles! NOT safe!!!!! Jumped a wire from another fuse to headlight fuse and still does it so it is after fuse box. Now I'm lost??????

 

[Rudy602]

Bad ground?

 

[chapsdeva]

Could be the multifunction switch (MFS) is starting to go bad (contact points are getting burned or corroded). On mine, I would turn on the headlights and nothing...giggling the MFS would cause them to come on. My high beams worked fine though. I also had problems with my wipers coming on by themselves, so that helped narrow it down to the MFS. I just replaced mine last week...piece of cake. There are a few write ups on this forum about diagnosing and replacing a bad MFS.

 

[jtech]

MFS ? Wiper switch

 

[jtech]

I've tried hitting the brights when it happens and have no brights either. Cluster lights are fine also so I don't think it in light switch itself. I'll try messing with switch next time it happens.

 

[bobflood]

MFS problem can mess up the high beams also. That's the first place to look. Very easy to replace.

 

[jtech]

I'll give it a shot

 

[swetrid]

When you look at the multifunction switch, check the wiring really well because the mf switch connectors break and the wiring gets loose.

 

[bobflood]

Hasn't happened to me, but just reading on this forum apparently the "lights out module" can also cause problems with the headlights going out.