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89 mustang 5.0 crazy headlight/dash gauge problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter 89foxbodyHO
  • Start date Start date Mar 16, 2013
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89foxbodyHO

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#1
  • Mar 16, 2013
  • #1
Hey guys new member here and i need some help. Its an 89 foxbody 5.0 ho and i have a problem with my high beams i cant figure out. When i turn my headlights to high beams my temp gauge goes allthe way up past the red mark, battery gauge drops all the way down, both of the turn signal lights on the dash come on and stay on, the tach stops working and all the lights behind the dash pn the right side turn off(from the speedometer over). Also with the high beams on the left side dash lights blink with the blinkers if i turn them on. none of the headlight wireing has been cut or spliced ive never seen anything like this. if anybody has some tips or idea they would be much appreciated.
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
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#2
  • Mar 17, 2013
  • #2
short to ground somewhere is what it sounds like to me
 
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89foxbodyHO

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Ok what ground would you be talking about? i just bought it this way the owner before me put in a set of one peice ebay headlights and said thats when it started but he said he didnt touch the wireing at all. I just put the oem set back in
 

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.
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#4
  • Mar 17, 2013
  • #4
There might be a short in the wiring as in the old wire may have some fraying in it causing bare wire to be touching the body
 
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89foxbodyHO

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ok i gave it a quick look over but theres not much wire showing out of the original plastic covering over the wires. but ill definetely take another look thanks
 

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.
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#6
  • Mar 17, 2013
  • #6
http://www.faxonautoliterature.com/...y-Foldout-Wiring-Diagram-Original-P25243.aspx

Here's the link its the best diagram I've ever seen better then chiltons or Haynes sorry excuse for diagrams
 
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89foxbodyHO

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  • Mar 17, 2013
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Also i just came to realize without the key in the ignition if i turn the headlights on and turn them to high beam the fuel pump primes and the door buzzer dings just like if i turn the key to the on position. weird? is it possible the multi funtion switch is gone to crap causeing this?
 
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89foxbodyHO

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the car also came with no fog lights the plugs are just danggling could that cause the circuit to not be fully closed or something?
 

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.
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#9
  • Mar 17, 2013
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No that wouldn't affect the circuit
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
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#10
  • Mar 17, 2013
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aftermarket radio in the car ?
 

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.
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#11
  • Mar 17, 2013
  • #11
Yeah if the dimmer is wired into your aftermarket radio that needs to be removed it happened in a 96 explorer it kept blowing his high beams and dash gauges because it was hooked up
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
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#12
  • Mar 17, 2013
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disconnect it and see what happeneds
 
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89foxbodyHO

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yes it has an aftermarket radio and i think its wired into the dimmer. The reason why is the dimmer only dims the three knobs for heat. and when i turn the dome light on with the dimmer switch the radio shuts off so im thinking thats a dead giveaway. i unplugged the radio and still no difference but i havnt got around to unhooking it. if that was the cause wouldnt it change by me just pulling the plug from the back of the cd player?
 

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.
10 Year Member
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#14
  • Mar 17, 2013
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Not necessarily because the dimmer would still be wired in
 
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89foxbodyHO

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#15
  • Mar 17, 2013
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Im gonna go see if it is wired and if so im gonna rip it out and ill let you all know what happens.
 
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89foxbodyHO

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no luck there, the cd player wired with a group of wires that had a white sticker on it that said ELECT TEST 1ST. there was maybe 12 or 15 wires cut and only 3 used. one for power one for battery and one for panel light then he ran his own speaker wires throught the car. So now the cd player is completely unhooked anyways just to make sure. Now like i said earlier with no key in the ignition if i turn the headlights on and switch them to high beam the fuel pump primes and door buzzer digs just as if i turn the key to on. That is not normal is it?
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
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Mar 17, 2013
#17
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No there is definitely a short some where i just dont even know where to begin to tell you to look
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
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Mar 17, 2013
#18
  • Mar 17, 2013
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Did you un plug from the back of the radio or at where its physically wired?
 

gearheadboy

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Mar 17, 2013
#19
  • Mar 17, 2013
  • #19
Just a FYI for you here. It could be a LOOSE or corroded ground to one of those items. If a ground circuit loses a place to ground, it will seek out a ground through another circuit and in the process power it up. Also check for blown fuses which can cause this problem.
 
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TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,483
8,687
234
S.I.NY
Mar 17, 2013
#20
  • Mar 17, 2013
  • #20
I think the first place to check would be with a meter continuity to ground from the radio . If that is good then try the headlight switch. IF thats good move on to the headlight harness itself. This is deff gonna be a rough one.

How about disconnecting the dimmer switch and seeing what happens. That can make funky stuff happen too.
 
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