Stock lighting problem

[bmacd]

Hi. I hope this is the right forum to post in. I have a near-bone stock '96 xlt and a few months ago, it was raining, and i activated the right hand turn lever and it made a whining noise, so i depressed it and raised it again, and it was fine.

Fast forward to today....the noise still comes on every once in a while, but not often enough for me to get motivated and find what the problem is. My new problem is that when i turn on my lights via the dash switch, sometimes the headlamps don't come on (only the amber surrounding lamps). I have to use the "fast-highbeam/pass" lever and pull it back once and they'll turn on as if nothing had happened. My other problem is that when i push highbeam/turn signal arm in the opposite direction (for full-time highbeams), the headlamps die (and the amber lights remain on). I know the highbeams DO work, b/c i have temporarily flash them to turn on my regular lights, as previously mentioned, so what gives? Bad wiring? Loose ground? Bad lever/switch? Where can i start to look and what should i prepare myself to buy? Thanks guys

Bill
-=bmacd=-

 

[cdsl227]

I've got a somewhat similar problem...

The Low Beam on the drivers side doesn't work...I had and HID Conversion in there. One ballast went bad so I put in new stock bulbs until the ballast comes in from the warranty.

With new stock bulbs the High Beams work. I traced the wire as best I could given the Haynes manual diagram doesn't match up without a little imagination.

My solution- I'm giving the search for the cause of the problem one more attempt...I'll spend all day saturday tearing down the wiring to find it- if no luck-

I'm gonna get the aftermarket wiring harness for the 90/100watt bulbs and use the passenger side connector to power the harness relays for the headlamps.

The Hanes manual has a diagram if you're gonna try and trace out the problem. You may be able to narrow it down more that way.

 

[Texan01]

You got a bum Multi-Function switch aka the turn signal lever.

Mine would buzz whenever you hit a left turn. I replaced it and also fixed my bum washer pump, bad turn signal switches. I never ran into the no-headlights problem but that same switch also controls the highbeams.

 

[bmacd]

so what is the part that i'm replacing? The physical control arm? A switch within it? Resistors/control boxes? Is the dealer the only way to get this part? Is there a part number? Is this a more-common-than-not problem?

-=bmacd=-

 

[bmacd]

ttt

-=bmacd=-

 

[Majisto]

Common, yes. Expensive, not really. Dealer part, Nah. Dangerous if not fixed, YES!

 

[socky3850]

As others have stated, it's your multi-function switch. It comes as a single unit and costs about $47 plus shipping from Ford Parts Network. I know this because I replaced mine just last week. It's a very simple job and took me about 45 minutes. Disconnect your battery and remove the lever for your tilt steering. This just unscrews. Then remove the upper and lower shrouds on your steering column. (3 screws) This will give you access to the switch. It's attached with two screws. Now comes the hard part and this is removing the electrical connectors. Then connect and install the new switch and button everything back up.

 

[96_explorer.com]

Originally posted by socky3850
As others have stated, it's your multi-function switch. It comes as a single unit and costs about $47 plus shipping from Ford Parts Network. I know this because I replaced mine just last week. It's a very simple job and took me about 45 minutes. Disconnect your battery and remove the lever for your tilt steering. This just unscrews. Then remove the upper and lower shrouds on your steering column. (3 screws) This will give you access to the switch. It's attached with two screws. Now comes the hard part and this is removing the electrical connectors. Then connect and install the new switch and button everything back up.

I am about to try to put mine in (turn signal switch harness) and I wish it was that easy yes you have to reove the upper and lower shruds, but to take them off I had to remove my harness when my gages are and then that will get access to get the top and bottom shruds on my X. Now I ran into an issue. I looked at the harness and yes it only has to screws that you have to remove to get to it,,,, but now it seems it will not move and I have to take the steering wheel off to get to it. Now may I ask is this the exact way to remove everything to get to the old turn signal switch and also,,, what are the steps to take off the steering wheel since I have airbags.?? I just do not want my airbags to pop out if I remove the steering wheel.

Thanks if anyone can help me out.

 

[bmacd]

DO NOT REMOVE THE STEERING WHEEL!!!!

It's absolutely not required. It's a tight fit removing the screws, but it can easily be done. I would have taken pictures doing the install, but it was so simple that i didn't think it was necessary. The hardest part of the install was removing the steering wheel tilt, which i ended up scratching up the ridges on the end of the lever. After i got the wheel-tilt lever off, it took me no longer than five minutes from start to finish to complete this.

I'm not sure what else to tell you, but do not remove the steering wheel.

-=bmacd=-

 

[96_explorer.com]

BMACD,

Here are pics that I just shot @ 10:00PM .

But this is what I had to do to get to remove the top and bottom shurds.

Also here is what it looks like now. Do you think I can remove it now?? *the turn sig harness by taking out the 2 screws.

so this ppic above should this be enough to take off the harness?? Thanks.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Oh man...you didn't even have to take the dash panel out. All you have to do is to take the ignition key cylinder off and unscrew a couple of screws, then unscrew the tilt steering wheel lever off and pop the steering column plastics off. It's that easy. You do not have to take the dash panel off. But then again, you've done it.

But back to your question...you need to take the bottom part of the shroud off too in order to unscrew the bottom part of the multi-function signal switch. After unscrewing the top and the bottom, pop off the plugs and you're done!

 

[bmacd]

not sure where there was some confusion, but you went way out of your way on this project.

All you needed to remove was the top and lower shroud on the steering column...removing that dash piece was not necessary.

-=bmacd=-

 

[96_explorer.com]

LoL. Well thanks for the info. I will get on it tomorrow and get everything put back together. Next time I'll know better. I never even though to removing the ingnition

Thanks

 

[96_explorer.com]

Just wanted to say thanks and I got everything put together w/o any other problems. Its was an easy fix and I did more then what I should off,, but putting it all back together was quick and it was a fun experience. Thanks. and I must say you all are very helpfull here

A+++