I left my lights on the other night while catching a few winks at daybreak while on an overnight journey. I drained the battery after only 2 or 3 hours and had to get a jumpstart. When I got home and wanted to go out to the store for some snacks the next night, no headlights. Before I go tracing current, does anyone have any strong suggestions about where to look? I pulled one headlight bulb and it looked ok, but I bought another one to use as a checker and spare. I can't imagine both of them going bad at the same time. It could be my headlight switch, but it was replaced about a year ago and was working fine. P.S. I have all other lights except headlights. Is there a specific fuse or relay for the headlights?

Thanks in advance?
P.S.S. 1987 f350 floor dimmer

Tony

 

Ford Headlights Don't have a relay system.
There are known to go bad.
They have a circuit breaker built in to them.
Headlight switches are cheap and easy to replace.


[font color=red]Dennis

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Quick check is to disconnect the headlight connector, at the light, and check for voltage with switch on and also check for the ground. If you have both voltage and ground the bulb is bad.
Hey since you bought a spare bulb just plug it in and see if it works
Another problem spot that will cause no lights is the dimmer switch. I have seen them stick between hi and lo causing no lights.

Sparky

 

This morning I pulled a light socket and checked for continuity. No juice at the light socket. I next went to the floor mounted dimmer switch. I wiggled around at it and pulled one screw. Seeing some corossion on the screw, I pulled the light switch on and Walla, headlights. The corrosion ended up being in the connection between the dimmer switch and the wire's (block connector) So I got a new dimmer switch right away as I saw one of the terminals had been eaten away pretty bad. I think this will solve my problem. The switch is grounded through the wires and not throught the floor, so I think what was happening is that corrosion had built up in the ground wire connnection, thus allowing no ground to either high or low beam.
We all need an easy fix now and then, don't we.

Thanks for the ideas.
Tony

 

Actually the dimmer switch isnt grounded at all :-X23
The ground wires go from one pin of each of the headlight sockets to a ground stud. The dimmer switch has 12 volts in from the headlight switch on one wire and then two wires for power out to the headlights, one for hi and one for lo. The switch just rotates as you push it selecting hi or lo.
So dont go grounding the dimmer switch

Sparky

 

Ya, ok Sparky :-) It was probably the common 12v power wire that was corroded away that caused the problem. Thanks for the clarification.
Tony