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My headlights are possessed?

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Old 10-27-03, 11:12 PM
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Question My headlights are possessed?

Ok so recently my headlights have been acting weird...I will either put my headlights up without being on or turn them on (either way it does the same thing) with the car on or off (once again doesnt matter) and they will go up and down repeatedly about at least 3 times, sometimes more, until they finally stop in the upright position. Sometimes if i turn them on and off about 3 times it will stop doing this every time after, or i will adjust them with the manual cranks underneath the car when the car is off and it will fix it...however, the next time i turn my car on after its been sitting, its back to the same ol' situation. I cant seem to get it to stop no matter how times i adjust it with the manual crank things, so has anyone else had this problem or know what i should try and do?
Old 10-28-03, 01:38 PM
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the switch went bad all the time
if it goes up and down then it wouldnt be the headlight motor, gotta be the switch
Old 10-28-03, 01:46 PM
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Bad solder joint in the headlight switch. Very common failure. Replace it.
Old 10-28-03, 04:30 PM
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get the switch and the plug, not just the switch, make sure on the plug to get enough wireing. This is commin on all ford parts.
Old 10-28-03, 05:33 PM
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Uh, it's not the switch. If it was the switch, it would've just died and not work at all.

Winking headlights is usually due to a short in the headlight motor itself. Check under the headlights - do you have the rubber caps? I bet you don't - this causes water to get into the headlight motor and cause a short.



-Ted
Old 10-28-03, 05:59 PM
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i have the rubber cap on the driver side one but not the passenger side one...

so how do i fix this? go to an electrical shop or something?
Old 10-28-03, 08:10 PM
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in the words of my rotary impaired exhaust mechanic. "***** f***ed up"
Old 10-28-03, 10:17 PM
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I think you have a bad switch, but it would be the switch somewhere inside the headlight assemby which tells the motors to stop because the headlights are up.
Sounds like those contacts are messed up so it keeps trying until the switch finally works right.

That's my guess. Looking at the FSM, page 50-48 it seems like those switches may be internal to the motor. (Maybe not.)

That should be enough to get you started.
Old 10-28-03, 10:19 PM
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Originally posted by theloudroom
I think you have a bad switch, but it would be the switch somewhere inside the headlight assemby which tells the motors to stop because the headlights are up.
Sounds like those contacts are messed up so it keeps trying until the switch finally works right.

That's my guess. Looking at the FSM, page 50-48 it seems like those switches may be internal to the motor. (Maybe not.)

That should be enough to get you started.
Page 14-38 of the FSM shows the headlight assembly. There are not external switches show, so the limit switches must be internal to the motor.

I would saw either replace the headlight motors, or try and open them up and fix those switches.
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