No Headlights, Radio or Dash Lights

[yeller]

Hello.

I've had an intermittent problem with my headlights cutting out, along with my stereo and dashboard lights. When this happens, my air bag light will flash a certain number of times (it's been different).

This time, the airbag light is flashing 3 times, pause, 3 times, pause, etc.
And the lights, dash and stereo are out, and are not coming back on at all.

I have seen the http://www.veryuseful.com/ info, but don't really know what to do with it, or know whether or not it's relevent.

I drive a '90 5.0.

ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you!

Ian

 

[tjm73]

I had a simila problem, but in only effected my dash/radio lights. The reostat (sp?) was bad. Changed it out and viola fixed. Your problem might be differnet because the symptoms are different though.

 

[ss93cobra]

Sounds more like the headlamp switch itself to me

 

[diablostang]

I have the same prob, it's the headlight connector wires... I'll get around to changing them sometime, lol

 

[mguindon10]

Remove your headlight switch and see if the connecter is melted or all deformed. My connecter was deformed because of the whole fog light mess (fog lights draw too much on the small wire so it heats up and melts your connector), which i fixed by rewiring the fog lights with a different relay.

But my problem was the connector.

 

[yeller]

Nope, no melting back there.
I bought a headlamp switch and multifunction switch from the junkyard and replaced both of them, but to no avail.

 

[88_GT_5_oh]

i had a similar problem.......turned out to be a bad dimmer switch........ i can't remember wheter my headlights stopped working though, i know all the lights in the interior stopped working though

 

[HISSIN50]

have you checked the fuses? there is an ISO fuse (13, IIRC). also a lighting circuit fuse.

do you have a dimmer on your stereo (or is it aftermarket and lights up all the time)?

sometimes the dimmer wire will not be taped up, and when it bounces around, it can ground out and blow fuses, etc.

also, sometimes dimmers get a flat spot - have you run it up and down (bright to dim, dim to bright, etc) to see if it comes to life?

all i can think of.

BTW, Mguindon has a good point if you have fog lights. the stock wiring has NO relay. you add one. there are write ups on it, and one of Tom's schematics, IIRC, shows how the schematic looks after the rewire.
the stock headlight switch has an overload breaker on it - just FYI.

good luck.

 

[yeller]

Nope, no fog lights.
I've fiddled with the dash dimmer, and have an aftermarket stereo that always lights up.
I've checked the fuses. (Are there more than just in the panel below the steering column?)

I appreciate the help. This is driving me nuts. I'm going to have to take the car off the road if I can't fix it. I'm a poor student.

 

[HISSIN50]

ok. nope. only the fuses in the box.

is it still not working? if so, i would get a DMM and probe the headlight switch ISO wire (see Tom's diagrams again). then go to the dimmer and check it. you will find a spot where you lose juice and should find it.

i cant offer anymore help unless ya come on over and i help ya out.

good luck.

 

[yeller]

Well, I'm in toronto, Canada. I assume that it would be quick a hike for me to get there.

 

[HISSIN50]

Well, I'm in toronto, Canada. I assume that it would be quick a hike for me to get there.

i think so. it would be a long flight even.

good luck.

 

[yeller]

ttt