'91 Explorer - headlights flicker on and off

[miss scum]

I have a 1991 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4, and I have a problem with the headlights flickering. It doesn't matter if it's on high or low beams, or parked or driving. They will just randomly go off for up to 2 seconds, and come back on. Sometimes it will only do it once or twice, and other times it's almost constant.

Usually though, it seems to be at least 10 minutes into my trip that it starts, but over time it seems to be getting worse, and sooner into the trip. I checked the fuses, and they seem to be fine, and the actual wires to the headlights seem to be fine, because I actually stopped the truck and wiggled wires and jumped on it to see if it would do it, and it's not sensitive that way.

Any ideas?

thanks,
-mel

 

[F14CRAZY]

Try replacing the light switch and/or make sure the wires going to it are okay, but it sounds like you've done that already.

 

[miss scum]

the dimmer switch, or the headlight switch?

hopefully headlight switch, because that's probably around $15, while the dimmer switch is around $100. =\

 

[F14CRAZY]

I would say the headlight switch mounted on the dash. The dimmer switch (on the steering column that runs the turn signals, right?) would be not fun to replace. the headlight switch would be pretty simple.

Open the ash tray, and use a Torx driver, nutdriver, or small socket to remove the two screws. Pull the ashtray out. You can just let it hang there kinda. Pull off the bezel around the dash (it snaps off). The rest should be self explainatory.

 

[Az_NavajoRob]

Try checking the headlight circuit breaker. Fords used to put them on the starter solenoid, sharing the lug for the battery cable. It is a self-reseting type that will produce the symptoms you mentioned if there is a short in the headlight circuit. If, after replacing it, you still have the problem, I'de look at the rest of the headlight circuit for a short. Try disconnecting one headlight, then the other - maybe the bulb is bad and is causing a short?