• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Brights switch backwards

  • Thread starter Thread starter nards444
  • Start date Start date Apr 18, 2021
N

nards444

Member
Feb 18, 2020
68
18
18
NY
Apr 18, 2021
#1
  • Apr 18, 2021
  • #1
Getting my dash back in order and at the last thing. When you turn the lights on the bright light indicator comes on and so does the brights. When you push the lever forward for brights regular lights stay come on and the bright indicator stays on. So something is backwards here.

With that said the light switch is aftermarket and only has lights doesnt have the fog lights switch. Old owner looks to have cut the fog lights out and has OEM style but after market lights. Eventually I get to the point of putting fogs back in. But after monkeying around trying to figure out for now the issue with the lights.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,827
10,508
203
polk county florida
Apr 18, 2021
#2
  • Apr 18, 2021
  • #2
Well, not all models take the same multifunction switch, so what we working on here nards?
Pics of switch there now?
 
N

nards444

Member
Feb 18, 2020
68
18
18
NY
Apr 18, 2021
#3
  • Apr 18, 2021
  • #3

Mustang LX Headlight Switch (87-93) - LMR.com

This quality replacement 1987-93 Ford Mustang LX headlight switch with your your lights shining again.
lmr.com
General karthief said:
Well, not all models take the same multifunction switch, so what we working on here nards?
Pics of switch there now?
Click to expand...
Its the LX swtich in the LINK. Car is a GT.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,827
10,508
203
polk county florida
Apr 18, 2021
#4
  • Apr 18, 2021
  • #4
I would look at some head light wiring harnesses between 89 and say 92-3 and see if they are the same and check the gt model too, they may be the same, I don't know.
 
N

nards444

Member
Feb 18, 2020
68
18
18
NY
Apr 18, 2021
#5
  • Apr 18, 2021
  • #5
after looking at it further. The wire harness at the switch is factory and original. The plug going into the light is factory and original and the bulb is a standard 9007 halogen. Lends me to believe the switch must be different, doesnt make sense as the LX and GT was virtually the same. But I want fog lights at some point anyways so getting the right switch is a step.
 

KRUISR

10 Year Member
Apr 16, 2015
1,791
884
143
Apr 18, 2021
#6
  • Apr 18, 2021
  • #6
So for fog light switch, get this if you can't find an OEM one...

Mustang GT Headlight Switch | (87-93) - LMR.com

Get your 1987-1993 Mustang GT headlights shining brightly again with a replacement headlight switch from 5.0 Resto.
lmr.com

Both LX and GT have the fog light wiring in the dash, LX just doesn't have the switch. Back in the day I installed some aftermarket driving lights and tied it into the factory wiring and sourced a GT headlight/fog light switch combo to make it all work.

I know the turn signal switch on the steering column (includes the high beam switch) does vary by year. Looking at LMR, it looks like 87-89 and 90-93 are different (wired different too). You could have the wrong year switch with your factory wiring.
 
N

nards444

Member
Feb 18, 2020
68
18
18
NY
Apr 19, 2021
#7
  • Apr 19, 2021
  • #7
KRUISR said:
So for fog light switch, get this if you can't find an OEM one...

Mustang GT Headlight Switch | (87-93) - LMR.com

Get your 1987-1993 Mustang GT headlights shining brightly again with a replacement headlight switch from 5.0 Resto.
lmr.com

Both LX and GT have the fog light wiring in the dash, LX just doesn't have the switch. Back in the day I installed some aftermarket driving lights and tied it into the factory wiring and sourced a GT headlight/fog light switch combo to make it all work.

I know the turn signal switch on the steering column (includes the high beam switch) does vary by year. Looking at LMR, it looks like 87-89 and 90-93 are different (wired different too). You could have the wrong year switch with your factory wiring.
Click to expand...
Who knows what people do to these cars over the years. The car always was a GT. It does the have the LX taillights which wouldnt matter for this. I did find the switch you posted and bought it. The turn signal switch looks to be original.
Well see if the switch I bought fixes it, if not everything works and probably as far as Im going to go with it.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Apr 19, 2021
#8
  • Apr 19, 2021
  • #8
The headlight switches are interchangeable. There is no difference in how they are wired. You can put a switch with the fog lamps into an LX, plug in the fog lamp wire, and have power at the fog rail pigtails. Everything else will work as it should.

turn signal switches are different though. There’s an 87-89 switch and a 90-93 switch. I believe the difference is due to the change in column, but I haven’t looked for wiring differences

what year is this car?
 
N

nards444

Member
Feb 18, 2020
68
18
18
NY
Apr 19, 2021
#9
  • Apr 19, 2021
  • #9
Mustang5L5 said:
The headlight switches are interchangeable. There is no difference in how they are wired. You can put a switch with the fog lamps into an LX, plug in the fog lamp wire, and have power at the fog rail pigtails. Everything else will work as it should.

turn signal switches are different though. There’s an 87-89 switch and a 90-93 switch. I believe the difference is due to the change in column, but I haven’t looked for wiring differences

what year is this car?
Click to expand...
its an 89. Have to look at the turn signal switch better. It looked original but I might be wrong
 

ndfox92

Member
Mar 14, 2019
35
12
18
Brooklyn, NY
Apr 20, 2021
#10
  • Apr 20, 2021
  • #10
i had this happen before. 1. get a pin out of the headlight connector harness on the bezel you bought. make sure all pins are where they should be and inserted all the way, they have a tendency to pop out sometimes. if that doesnt fix it.... look at the wiring on the column, either one of the pins on the connector for the turn signal lever isnt inserted and pushed in all the way, or it fell out the connector or...it fell out and was pinned back in wrong.( if this has been going on a while since youve owned it)
 
Reactions: 90sickfox and nards444

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
5,816
213
Apr 20, 2021
#11
  • Apr 20, 2021
  • #11
I've rub into the same issue. Every time it was the wiring at the multifunction switch or the ignition switch. Those wires pop out all the time. Also, look for burned connectors. They aren't hard to de-pin to replace the connectors.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Apr 21, 2021
#12
  • Apr 21, 2021
  • #12
Here’s the wiring pinout for the headlight/fog light switch and the dimmer

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Apr 21, 2021
#13
  • Apr 21, 2021
  • #13
And here’s the multifunction switch

 
Reactions: General karthief and nards444
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Electrical problem with headlights
  • jeremykrell308
  • Oct 22, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
247
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 3, 2025
General karthief
2
Electrical mayhem
  • 2000ElectricGreen
  • Mar 13, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
203
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Mar 24, 2026
2000ElectricGreen
2
M
Need help!
  • Masonevans726
  • Dec 17, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
209
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Dec 17, 2025
Masonevans726
M
A
Resolved Electrical Help Please
  • Alabama
  • Jan 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
241
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 22, 2026
AeroCoupe
1
Electrical 1985 mustang gt Led conversion trouble
  • 1985fox
  • Jan 5, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
526
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 15, 2026
1985fox
1
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?