Headlights/lights turn on and off with ignition only?

[Stone27]

So my problem is that the car lights turn on if and when the car does and it doesn't matter where the switch is set. They DO turn off when the ignition is switched off and as far as I can tell there is no auto lamp feature on it which would be what I would think is causing it. I have checked the relays and fuses and they are all good. I bought the car like this as I thought it to be a minor issue I didn't really need to fix. Now I'm not so sure as it seems I'm replacing the head light bulbs like 4-5 times a year as they are always blowing out (I think its due to water or too much moisture after/during a car wash b/c the bulb itself is always completely broke), its similar to if water were to hit a light bulb while its on, it will pop and leave the glass everywhere. Anyway, thanks in advance.

P.S. its a 2000 XLT 4.0L SOHC 4x4 stock lights all around.

 

[Flash]

Obvious question to ask: Do you have the slider switch on the rear view mirror?

The 2 main reasons for halogen bulbs to blow continuously is bad earth and touching the glass of the bulb during installation.

 

[Stone27]

I don't have the slider on the rearview mirror but I did notice something that looks like a button/sensor pinned between the inside of the windshield and the top of the dash. I was thinking maybe it is a sensor and the windshield may have been replaced with one alon with the rearview mirror. I have never heard about touching the bulb of the headlights so I'll watch for that next time. When you say bad earth are your talking about the ground wire not being sufficient.

 

[DjDom]

Sounds like you touched the bulb with your hands..
Your hands have oils on them, that when transferred to the bulb, remain on the glass, and after a certain temperature, they just shatter.

 

[Stone27]

I'll put the new ones in more carefully. Hopefully that stops them from blowing again. If so great, cuz I'm dumbfounded as to why the lights turn on and off with the car but don't care all that much as long as the lights don't keep blowing.

thanks Flash and DjDom, much appreciated.

 

[Flash]

When you say bad earth are your talking about the ground wire not being sufficient.

Yes. I sometime forget you guys speak American, not English

If you didn't know not to touch the glass of a bulb I'd say that's the problem.

I was wondering if maybe you had the auto lights feature but with a different mirror but I don't know how the system works so I thought I'd ask the obvious question first.