Headlight problems...

[jzhoward]

I have a '97 Limited and the Low Beam on the driver side is out.(High beams work fine) I changed the light and it's still out. I then checked all fuses...all are in good shape. Now What!? Anyone have any Ideas? Anything could help. Thanks!

JZH

 

[CobraSVT1184]

Check the socket...make sure nothing is rusted or melted by any chance. I had both my sockets start to give me problems and i just replaced both sides.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Use a test light with a long needle point to get inside of the socket to test for voltage.

 

[twowheelpeel]

I have your answer. I just went through the same thing on my old 95.
The problem is the LOM, which stands for Lamp Out Module. It is located under your CENTER console near the radio.
Undo your center console, look forward near where the radio meets the console. You will see a small black box bolted to the passenger side of the console. Unbolt it and open the black box. You will find a small motherboard which is the LOM. Pull it out and take a good look at it.
The souder (sp) joints are known to break loose causing a short which in turn causes the driver side low beam not to work. I found a loose souder joint, added one drop of souder, and it fixed the problem. It's the strangest problem with the cheapest fix I've ever heard of.
If the joints look good and the board is fried, you will have to buy a new one. You can only get it from Ford, and they want about $60 for it.
If that's the case, you might want to get one out of a junk yard.
Let me know how you make out. I found out that this is a common problem on the older explorers.
Good luck.

 

[twowheelpeel]

Also, On my 95, when it did this, I could turn the headlamps on, smack the center console on the passenger side near where it meets the radio, and the lamp would come on, and stay on for the remainder of the trip.
You could try giving it a smack too, but it all depends on the condition of that LOM.
I am confident you have the same exact problem that I had. I went through two new bulbs, a new turnsignal switch that others suggested, and found it to be the LOM.

 

[jzhoward]

Got it!

Twowheelpeel hit it right on the button!! I got in there and sure enough, there was the bad solder. Super easy fix. Thanks for using so much detail to describe where the LOM was and everything. You're help is much appreciated!! Thank You!


OK... Round 2.

Now...on the same explorer, '97 Limited, the dash lights from about 50mph to 100mph are super faded. I can't hardly see them at night. I checked fuses for the speedometer and all but again all fuses seem to be ok. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions will help! Thanks!


JZ