I have more headlight problems, I need Matt to come to LaCrosse

[Dannyboy]

OK. So we all know I have had two prior threads about my stupid headlights. And I made a fool out of myself in Attica with flickering lights and had to drive home four hours with the flash to pass lever for light. Well that was all fixed until the other day. After I got home from wheelin in the Pipeline, where I was in water, deep, but not over the hood, possibly splashing though, the next evening when I had the lights on, and went to fip on the brights,.......click...........Here we go again, the headlamps go out. I had a new switch in there, and this was the problem before. Parking lamps, interior, and taillamps, even trailer lights still work. NO HEADLAMPS. So I go and buy one more new switch, too embarassed to tell everyone here about my bad luck, go to put it in and Bada Bing,......No headlights. So I think my street glow cheap ass xenon bulbs fried some serious sh*t. Where do I start,
Oh yeah, if anyone has an autodimming mirror I have a switch for sale, brand new, the parts store doesnt ever return electrical stuff.

 

[mattadams]

have you checked the fuses for the headlights? While that would seem unlikely, I suppose it is possible. have you swapped out bulbs just to see if possibly on accident somehow blew both bulbs at the same time. I'd also check the connector for the bulb and make sure that it all looks ok, nothing blackened, etc. .

 

[Dannyboy]

Yes, the fuse I checked is the only one the OWNERS manual says, the 40 amp under the hood. I also put my stock headlamp bulbs back in and still no worky, I also disconnected the battery to reset anything that could be, and left the new switch in. Is there anything a manual will tell me, Perhaps I should go pick one up and start reading

 

[Bill Kemp]

There is another fuse box located in the drivers side footwell. There is a removeable cover on it.
Could be one of those fuses...
Good luck.

 

[Dannyboy]

If you are talking about the standard fuse block, there is no fuse for the headlamps associated with this block, if there is another "hidden" fuse panel, then I may have missed it, but according to the owners manual,this is irrelivent, Thanks anyway Bill.

 

[Dannyboy]

I also pulled the drivers side light assembly apart to try to clean the inside of my headlanp lens and now when I put it back together, the left blinkers dont work. So, how bad will the dealer hose me on this one, or should I go to my usual mechanic, cause I am not getting answers here that are getting my baby together, and it is kinda hard to drive without headlights, I have used brights in a few situations, like coming home from work taking back streets at 3 am

 

[gijoecam]

The headlight problem sounds like a sticky relay...

As for the turn signal, pull it back out and check that the contacts aren't all fuzzy... also, try turning the bulb around in the socket. (sometimes works, I swear! probably just scrapes the contacts)

Also, double-check the rear bulb on the side that isn't blinking... could be that the rear bulb burnt out and you just didn't notice.

Let us know what you find.

-Joe-

 

[Dannyboy]

Rear bulb works, front does not, I pulled the bulb and it looks like the filiment is broken, the blinker should work after I replace the bulb. As for the fried relay, where do I start with fixing that? Is there anyway I can use a tester to see where power ends and where it should be going?
Thanks again

 

[Bill Kemp]

Dan, I know they(Ford) change a lot of stuff each year but I have two 10 amp fuses in the inside fuse block for the headlights. One for ea. L & R
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1738477&a=13375247&p=52669620&Sequence=0&res=high
Hope this helps...

 

[Tito_146]

I had, kind of, the same problem a few months back. I did some research with a friend working in the dealer about the lighting system. Did step-by-step trouble shooting which goes like this:

1). First check the headlight bulbs. OK

2). Check the suckets. OK

3). Check the wirings. OK

4). Check the main fuse, fuses (inside) and relay. OK

5). Check the Hi-low level switch (took the whole thing apart). Aha!

Got carbon deposited all over the place. It took a while and a lot of pacience but got all the mechanism cleaned up. I asked my friend why did I get all the carbon deposits, he pointed to my high output lights and told me they were burning out the electric mechanism inside the level switch. Now my rig has the regular bulbs and for better lighting I'm looking at 9007 PIAA. They claim standard wattage but higher output.

 

[Dannyboy]

Gentlemen, Thank you very much. I shall try these things tomorrow. For the past 3 days here the temp has been over 100 so I may need to take it in just because I will literally die working on my truck in these conditions and I cannot work with sweat stinging my eyes

 

[Dannyboy]

I have diagnosed the problem. It was in the colum on the blinker lever. It turns out that the switch in there melted, and when I shifted from hi to low, it bent over and did not make any contacts.
Now the new problem.
I do not have the new lever yet so we bypassed the lever and I have a relay jammed in there to give me low beams only for the time being. On my way home from work some crazy sh*t just happened. My battery warning light came on, I lost power steering and battery gauge dropped.
Did I fry my Alternator?
After getting out of the vehicle, I popped the hood and antifreeze was coming out of the fill resivoir. Is this related? Is the cooling system some how electronic? Anyway I will get the new switch asap, but did I F something else up like I always do??????????

 

[Tito_146]

So it was the hi-low lever. Good you got that one in check. Now about the alternator and the power steering, you may want to check your pulleys, alternator, ac compressor, power steering pump, remember is only one belt driving everything. If one of these components is locked all others will be affected. Take the belt off by pushing the belt tensioner, is really easy, the check all the components move freely.

 

[Bmxboy]

Hehe...i got me Some of those SG headlight bulbs also Dannyboy...work fine for me, course i don't do much off roading.. lol

I mean, come on...i got them for 20 bucks a pair...not to shabby ehh?

Carl

 

[Dannyboy]

Yeah Carl, my truck had the passenger side headlight lens replaced so that one is way brighter than the drivers side, I wish I had new lenses on both sides.
Now to my other woes, THe wheel on the tensioner arm is the culprit. It seized up causing the "track" to literally burn up, I guess I will need to get the whole new track arm. Autozone for $39. Anyplace better? Used maybe.

 

[Dre]

check with your dealer. I had the same problem on mine although mine just broke to pieces.... usually when you loose your PS and battery light comes up you know it's the serpentine belt. Especially when you see it boil over..... how's the light problem dude? fixed it? these Limited's sure have lots of gizmos that might go crazy once you get into water too deep.....>

Lata,

 

[Rangernerd]

Check your Multi function switch (turn signal switch)

 

[Anime]

2001. Wow.

 

[mattadams]

I was going to say the same thing. Wow!