Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Headlights Randomnly Shutting Off?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Headlights Randomnly Shutting Off?

    Last couple of nights the headlights in my mom's '86 CV have been shutting off. The tail lights and the parking lamps remain lit, but the headlights shut off and then come back on. They don't blink, even over potholes; they just go out for a few minutes and then go back on. My father thinks it's a bad ground. I can't find my Helm service manual, so I guess I'm gonna have to run through the harness and see what's up.



    Packman
    Tags: None
    #2
    Hi Packman

    Could be the circuit breaker in the main light switch tripping either because it's tired or it is being overloaded.

    Regards

    Dereck
    President and founder of The Turbine Wheel Appreciation Society and Little Debbie Cake Connoissuer

    Also "The Pondside Pain In Your Posterior"

    Comment

      #3
      Headlight switch is my guess.
      ~David~

      My 1987 Crown Victoria Coupe: The Brown Blob
      My 2004 Mercedes Benz E320:The Benz

      Originally posted by ootdega
      My life is a long series of "nevermind" and "I guess not."

      Originally posted by DerekTheGreat
      But, that's just coming from me, this site's biggest pessimist. Best of luck

      Originally posted by gadget73
      my car starts and it has AC. Yours doesn't start and it has no AC. Seems obvious to me.



      ​

      Comment

        #4
        +1 on the light switch. Pull it and look for burn marks on the connector. If you have brighter than stock bulbs, its definitely suspect. Add a relay harness to get the load off the light switch and you should be good.
        86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
        5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

        91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

        1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

        Originally posted by phayzer5
        I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

        Comment

          #5
          No extra load on the lights. I prefer the stock bulbs cuz you don't need anything brighter than that in NJ. Hmmmmmmmm...........it looks like I might have to do 87gtVIC's relay mod. We'll see on the weekend.



          Packman

          Comment

            #6
            If the light switch is toast now, the relays won't fix it. Pull it out and make sure the plug isn't melted first. Relays will keep it from happening again though if that is the problem.
            86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
            5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

            91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

            1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

            Originally posted by phayzer5
            I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

            Comment

              #7
              The symptoms of this problem seem to point to the headlight switch, according to the service manual. I'm going to get a new switch ($20) and also add a relay.



              Packman

              Comment

                #8
                As cheap as relays are, you should put on one per headlight, rather than one for both. You'll probably get a little more voltage that way, and possibly brighter headlights. To fuse the battery feeds, look at doing something like Pete did here:
                evolved underhood relay/fuse box - GrandMarq.NET - Panther Headquarters
                http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=3031
                This is an Archive of info for vacuum, electrical, HVAC and CFI specific info - *read only*
                Originally posted by gadget73
                There is nothing more permanent than a temporary fix.
                91 Mercury CP, Lopo 302, AOD, 3.08LSD. 3g upgrade, Moog wagon coils up front, cc819s in the back. KYB GR-2 police shocks. Energy suspension control arm bushings. Smog deleted.
                93 F-150 XLT, 302, ZF 5-spd from 1-ton, 4wd.
                Daily--07 Civic Coupe. Bone stock with 25k miles
                Wife--14 Subaru Outback. 6-speed.
                95 Subaru Legacy Wagon--red--STOLEN 1/6/13

                Comment

                  #9
                  Yup classic systems of a bad headlight switch yeah the relay harness will help for sure I made my own harness not hard just time consuming

                  1989 mercury grand marquis gs / 2014 ford focus s daily driver
                  302 lopo with ho upper/ aod with trans go shift kit
                  k code 3:55 posi rear/big brake swap tow package car

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Let me know how it turns out for you. You've seen the harness in my car so if you need I can help you out.
                    sigpic
                    1986 Grand Marquis LS 2 Door
                    Ext: Medium Shadow Blue Metallic, Int: Midnight Blue, 3.08 open, 235/70/15 Goodyear Aquatread III, Rebuilt AOD w/ Transgo Shift Kit, 3G upgrade from 95 5.0 Mustang, Walker Dual Exhaust w/ H pipe, Viper 5900ST alarm, De-smogged, Rear Civ. Sway Bar, and more.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      replace the headlight switch......the plug might be melted also

                      1986 lincoln towncar signature series. 5.0 HO with thumper performance ported e7 heads, 1.7 roller rockers, warm air intake, 65mm throttle body, 1/2" intake spacer, ported intakes, 3.73 rear with trac lock, 98-02 front brake conversion, 92-97 rear disc conversion, 1" rear swaybar, 1 3/16" front swaybar, 16" wheels and tires, loud ass stereo system, badass cb, best time to date 15.94 at 87 mph. lots of mods in the works 221.8 rwhp 278 rwt
                      2006 Lincoln Town Car Signature. Stock for now
                      1989 Ford F-250 4x4 much much more to come, sefi converted so far.
                      1986 Toyota pickup with LSC wheels and 225/60/16 tires.
                      2008 Hyundai Elantra future Revcon toad
                      1987 TriBurner and 1986 Alaska stokers keeping me warm. (and some pesky oil heat)

                      please be patient, rebuilding an empire!

                      Comment

                      Previous template Next
                      Working...
                      X