Headlights and Dash Lights Don't Work

[plug]

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Here's the deal. For a couple months now, i've had a problem with my headlights not coming on. What i would do to fix it was to turn my high beams on for a sec, let go, then my headlights would come on. A couple nights ago, i get in the explorer and none of my dash lights would come on, no gauge lights like the speedometer, tach, etc and none of the A/C lights or radio bezel lights would come on either. The lights that do come on are the ones like the airbag light, brake light, etc., just all the normal ones that flash when you first turn the car on. Oh, and my aftermarket stereo also lights up OK. So, then my headlights started to flicker, cut in and out on me, then i smelled a burning smell. I pulled over for a quick investigation, didn't see any smoke in the car or under the hood or anything, so i proceed to drive home. My headlights start flickering again so I pulled the highbeam switch and let go like i would do in the past. This turned my headlights off and they never came back on. I can't get them to come on at all now. I'm assuming i have 2 wires that have melted together or something, any advice on where to start looking? Do i need to pull the steering wheel off and look under there? I'm assuming this isn't a fuse right?

 

[plug]

ttt

 

[VirtualExplorer]

Looks like you have a cut wire that is grounding out causing the fuse to pop
your gonna have to trace it to the source

 

[caldi55]

I had that happen I had to replace the multi switch 2x
I had the burning smell
it was the wires getting to hot
I think the cause was I used aftermarket blue head light bulbs that needed to much power

 

[SteveO2569]

my speedometer lights also failed on me, its not too bad thought its only from 0mph to 35mph and sometimes i see smoke coming out from my steering wheel near where my emergency light switch is, it has only happened maybe 2 times, not all the time so i havent really done anything about it, what do you think this could be?

 

[plug]

thanks for the tips. I guess i will start under the steering wheel. I'm not sure what the multi switch 2x is, but i have had problems with the blinker arm thing in the past, as well as my hazard lights not working properly (it's like one or the other, turn signals work, or the hazards work, but not both, lol) I bet that is my problem . i found one on eBay for like $75 a while back so maybe i'll go ahead and buy a replacement. thx again, Plug

 

[TPLYNCH]

Do the parking lights come on? Do the dash lights work if the headlight switch is turned to parking lights? It may be your headlight switch itself.

 

[Ray Lobato]

If you didn't blow a fuse yet, then I would agree with Tom, that it might be your switch. If the fuse is blown then you probably have a hot wire grounding out somewhere.

 

[plug]

thanks for the replies. yes the parking lights come on, but i can't get the headlights to come on, or any of the dash/AC/radio bezel lights. The stereo lights work. I haven't driven it in awhile and haven't even checked the fuse yet.

 

[96ExpXLT]

Similar problem - needed new headlight switch and wiring plug

I had a similar problem with my dash lights and tail lights. I never experienced any problems with my head lights but the dash lights and tail lights went out. Brake lights worked fine. My after market radio lights would work unless I was in cruise control, which turned them off for some reason. I could also turn off the key and remove it without killing the engine if the headlights were on. I then could turn off the engine with the head light switch.

Turned out to be the head lamp switch and wiring plug for it. Somehow over heated and melted the insulation on some of the wiring and on the switch. Had to replace the switch ($25 autozone) and had to rewire/solder a new plug for it ($33 Ford dealership, came with pigtails and heat shrink tubing). That completely fixed the problem.

Yours also might be the multiswitch in the steering column (turn signal, wipers) as mentioned above. It is harder to get to than the headlight switch, so I would check the headlight switch first.

 

[kubben]

Where is the head lamp switch exactly?