Headlights, Where is waldo (the fuse)

[CBZGT50]

I have a 93 Cobra and I cannot find the fuse for the headlights. My headlights (only the headlights) are going on and off like a fuse is not contacting. I can turn on my brights, but the headlight low beams will flicker when on brights. Then a few minutes later, the lights will work fine.

It just so happens that the only time my headlights go off is near the flightline on the AF base I work on. .......HMMMMMMM?

I found the main fuse block, but there is no headlight fuse in there. My 95 had a bunch of relays under the hood. Is there anything like that on a fox.

Need help fast.


Cheers,

Chris

 

[HISSIN50]

Chris, headlamps share a fuse with other lighting so if the headlights alone are the issue, the headlight switch itself might be on the outs or the headlight switch to MF switch feed wire is starting to go.
The headlight switch has an internal thermoswitch (like your hairdryer) to try to avoid overheating. That is why the beams will go off for a bit and then come back to life on cars with factory fogs wired the way the factory did it (with the fogs being fed from the headlight circuit).

FWIW, the low beams should be out when you are on highs. The only way to activate both is to use the flash-to-pass function on the MF switch stalk. I will also note that if the headlight switch to MF switch wire burns or becomes disconnected, flash-to-pass will work even though lows and highs dont work.

Foxes have a junction of fusible links off the solenoid rather than the nice underhood fuse box that your SN had.
I would start at the headlight switch and/or the MF switch (both ends deserve checking of the wiring terminals, though the MF side is more likely to contain the issue).

Good luck Chris.

 

[CBZGT50]

Chris, headlamps share a fuse with other lighting so if the headlights alone are the issue, the headlight switch itself might be on the outs or the headlight switch to MF switch feed wire is starting to go.
The headlight switch has an internal thermoswitch (like your hairdryer) to try to avoid overheating. That is why the beams will go off for a bit and then come back to life on cars with factory fogs wired the way the factory did it (with the fogs being fed from the headlight circuit).

FWIW, the low beams should be out when you are on highs. The only way to activate both is to use the flash-to-pass function on the MF switch stalk. I will also note that if the headlight switch to MF switch wire burns or becomes disconnected, flash-to-pass will work even though lows and highs dont work.

Foxes have a junction of fusible links off the solenoid rather than the nice underhood fuse box that your SN had.
I would start at the headlight switch and/or the MF switch (both ends deserve checking of the wiring terminals, though the MF side is more likely to contain the issue).

Good luck Chris.

Hissin 50,

I think you said everything right. Sounds like you have some experience with foxes and the switches. This is my first v8 fox and my 6th Mustang. I was considering the switch but I did not know that there is a hidden agenda with the switch.

If I put on the flash-to-pass the high beams stay on steady and the lowbeams flicker. Then 2 minutes later, the lights stay on. My problem is I drive about ten minutes at night to work and that is the only time I drive at night. I haven't set a base line on the switch since I drive so little to work.

I just hate to throw good money at good parts (is that how it goes). I will try changing the switch first since what you say makes complete sense. Much obliged.


Chris

 

[jrichker]

If you find the wiring and switch(es) are overheating here's the fix...

SEE http://www.corral.net/tech/maintenance/foglights.html to fix the problem. The stock wiring isn't up to the job and is overheating. The headlight switch & turn/multifunction switch are affected by Ford's wiring problem. Sometimes it overheats so badly that the plastic shells of the wiring connectors start to melt.

Some help on thr turn signal/multifunction switch.
The Multifunction switches from 87-89 will fit any 87-89 year Mustang, but don't work properly in a 90 or later model. The 90-93 multifunction switches will work in any 90-93 model Mustang but don't work properly in any of the earlier models.

 

[WhiteFizzo]

funny thing

Chris,
I work for the Navy and when the radars are radiating on base, all the guages in my friends Excursion will peg out in right in front of our building. Also, one of the big Ford dealers here has a problem when the Jets are flying low to approach for landing. It seems that the headlights in the 2005 Focus will dimly light when the planes pass overhead. If the problem is just happening at the flight line of your base, then I wouldnt worry about it.

Ike

 

[HISSIN50]

Chris, you should do a few mins of probing with your meter before buying parts (unless you want spare parts to have on hand, which is not always a bad thing). The meter can save some money though.

FWIW, I have been there and done that. I ended up rewiring the headlights and fogs on relays, and now that I have a 3G alt, the headlights are a LOT brighter than they originally were. My original issue was that the red/yel (IIRC) power wire from the headlight switch to MF switch backed out so I had no low or high beam lighting (this is the same wire you will see all burned in some threads. BMorrisJ has posted pics of his before, for instance).


Good luck bud.