still no headlights ?? help

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stangbang302

New Member

Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 7, 2010

#1

• Mar 7, 2010

• #1

alright i have a 86 mustang notch with everything from an 88 gt. i had first swapped into a hatchback and everything worked just fine but then couldnt get a title so i got the notch swapped it all over again and my headlights wont turn on the corners work fine, im getting no power from plug, from the switch connector 2 pins get power i dont know if thats normal or not, checked all the wires from headlights to starter relay, is there a fusible link for headlights? i noticed that 2 wires getting spliced into one which goes on the starter relay, could i have a burnt out wire and not even see it? any help please

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Mar 7, 2010

#2

• Mar 7, 2010

• #2

It would have been better to keep using your old thread instead of starting a new one.

You need to be specific. What two "pins" get power and when do they get power (headlight switch off, on, in middle position)?

Did the red/yellow wire show 12V when the headlight switch is closed?

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 8, 2010

#3

• Mar 8, 2010

• #3

ya i know, i couldnt find my old one.
its the big black wires that are on the connector side by side, both have power with the key off, i found two wires that were cut off, and that red with yellow stripe your talkin about is one of them, the other by what i can tell is a light blue wire thats cut also.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Mar 8, 2010

#4

• Mar 8, 2010

• #4

If the cut wire is lt blue/red, it's part of the dimmer circuit IIRC.

If the red/yellow wire is cut, you'll want to go to the MF switch and see if it's still connected there or if someone bypassed it.

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 8, 2010

#5

• Mar 8, 2010

• #5

i cant really identify the stripe on the blue wire, i think its black or even a brown stripe, the red wire with the yellow stripe is still connected to the switch.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Mar 8, 2010

#6

• Mar 8, 2010

• #6

stangbang302 said:

i found two wires that were cut off, and that red with yellow stripe your talkin about is one of them.....

Click to expand...

stangbang302 said:

the red wire with the yellow stripe is still connected to the switch.

Click to expand...

Seems like conflicting observations here. Either R/Y is cut or it isn't.

As for the rest, if the color cannot be conveyed, it's tough for people to help.

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 8, 2010

#7

• Mar 8, 2010

• #7

alright sorry im just kind of stumped and a little confused on what to do. when i found the 2 wires cut towards the headlights so its after the connectors in the engine bay, well the 2 wires looked like it splits from the harness into its own harness. if that helps.

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 10, 2010

#8

• Mar 10, 2010

• #8

alright i switched my headlight harness with a better one, which actually made my corner lights brighter and it fixed a short a had, well still no headlights but the 2 wires i had cut on the old harness arent cut on this harness, but i have no idea what plugs into it? i dont get power to the headlight plugs still, but i do get power to that red/yellow wire on that plug, i tried another headlight switch from another car still the same thing tho. fuse is good, bulbs are good, grounds are very good, what should i do?

 

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lineumup88

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Dec 17, 2006

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hampton va

Mar 10, 2010

#9

• Mar 10, 2010

• #9

i had this problem once and it was my turn signal switch. try turning on your high beams and pushing the arm all the way forward.

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 10, 2010

#10

• Mar 10, 2010

• #10

alright ill check that out tomorrow, good thing my uncle has a couple layin around, its def worth a try.

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 11, 2010

#11

• Mar 11, 2010

• #11

alright so the short wasnt fixed, thought it was. but still every morning i come out to a dead car, completely dead, what ive done before was unplug all the fuses that i didnt need for driving, left the headlight, exterior lights, stop/hazards lights etc, and still came out to a dead car, so im guessing its within the 4 or so that i left. i dont know what i really should do tho.

 

Cobra1741

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Mar 9, 2010

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Mar 11, 2010

#12

• Mar 11, 2010

• #12

ya most likely its the dimmer switch.. samething happened to me. corner lights worked brights worked but wouldnt stay on. i think it ran $104 bucks at autozone. replaced it and everything is good to go.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Mar 11, 2010

#13

• Mar 11, 2010

• #13

Headlight power doesn't run through the dimmer switch.

You can use your DMM to measure current draw while you disconnect fusible links from the solenoid. Don't forget to disconnect the charge cable for the alternator (in case you have a bad diode) and check stuff like the glovebox light to make sure they're not staying on.

 

Cobra1741

Member

Mar 9, 2010

152

1

16

Mar 11, 2010

#14

• Mar 11, 2010

• #14

HISSIN50 said:

Headlight power doesn't run through the dimmer switch.

You can use your DMM to measure current draw while you disconnect fusible links from the solenoid. Don't forget to disconnect the charge cable for the alternator (in case you have a bad diode) and check stuff like the glovebox light to make sure they're not staying on.

Click to expand...

ya thats exactly what i thought. thats why i was confused as hell by replacing the headlight switch....if his daylight running lights come on... and he can push the hibeams on but they wont stay on when he pulls the switch back then its most likely the dimmer switch...youd be surprised...

but i guess if hes seeing wiring issues in there than a ground could be the problem..

 

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stangbang302

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Jul 13, 2007

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fort valley, ga

Mar 11, 2010

#15

• Mar 11, 2010

• #15

alright so the problem is fixed, i pulled the turn signal lever off and found that a couple pins got pulled out of the flat connector, so im pretty sure i found my short as well as fixing the headlights. thanks for the help, if i hadnt planned to pull of the turn signal lever i wouldnt have found those wires out of it. thanks everyone.