Well I will be driving down the road at night and the headlights go out. All the other lights stay on and work just the headlights. I have to turn on the brights and hold it to see. When ever they come back on I hear a click. Any ideas? Im thinking the headlight switch. And this for the crown vic
My headlights turn off when ever they feel like it
- Thread starter DreamerGT
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Many headlight switches have a circuit breaker either in the switch or on it. Could have it somewhere else behind the dash too. The click your hearing is the breaker opening up due to an overload or closing after it cools off.
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The breaker may be tripping but the switch may also be bad.Sometimes the switch can be cleaned and they will work again.You can try cleaning it,if that doesnt work,you may need a switch.
Interesting - is the headlight switch on one of your Fords?
I just helped a friend fix his Ford pickup headlights. They'd switch off randomly. It turned out the breaker in the switch body (a little metal strip) had de-tensioned itself. Plus the switch contacts were filthy. A quick trip to NAPA and it was replaced for under $20.
Although, since (like Chris said) you are hearing a click, you ought to really make sure you don't have a short or other fault in your headlight circuit first.
I just helped a friend fix his Ford pickup headlights. They'd switch off randomly. It turned out the breaker in the switch body (a little metal strip) had de-tensioned itself. Plus the switch contacts were filthy. A quick trip to NAPA and it was replaced for under $20.
Although, since (like Chris said) you are hearing a click, you ought to really make sure you don't have a short or other fault in your headlight circuit first.
The click you hear is the relay in the lighting control module closing. Every light in your car is controlled by that module, so if only the headlights are turning off, it is probably something loose or corroded or simply worn out in the dash mounted switch.
Are you using the automatic headlamps? If so, it's possible the light sensor is doing something funky. Try manually turning on the headlights to see if they ever randomly turn off again.
Are you using the automatic headlamps? If so, it's possible the light sensor is doing something funky. Try manually turning on the headlights to see if they ever randomly turn off again.
That year crown vic has the lighting module that's full of relays that fail.
If you get the module apart (the module itself is like $250) you'll see the mini relay on there. IIRC the fix is to solder a few inches of wire to where the relay is going to used to be and stick a regular 30 amp relay on the other end of those wires.
crownvic.net has your fix on its forums.
If you get the module apart (the module itself is like $250) you'll see the mini relay on there. IIRC the fix is to solder a few inches of wire to where the relay is going to used to be and stick a regular 30 amp relay on the other end of those wires.
crownvic.net has your fix on its forums.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
crownvic.net has your fix on its forums.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This!
Another vote for the light control module being flaky. Also, since you have a PI VIC, double check to make sure that any leftover cop light wires are properly removed. Many times they just cut the wires and leave exposed live end circuits exposed that can ground out and cause weird lighting issues.
crownvic.net has your fix on its forums.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This!
Another vote for the light control module being flaky. Also, since you have a PI VIC, double check to make sure that any leftover cop light wires are properly removed. Many times they just cut the wires and leave exposed live end circuits exposed that can ground out and cause weird lighting issues.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
That year crown vic has the lighting module that's full of relays that fail.
I totally forgot about that possibility. My experience is all with the previous generation CV.
That year crown vic has the lighting module that's full of relays that fail.
I totally forgot about that possibility. My experience is all with the previous generation CV.
Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Another vote for the light control module being flaky. Also, since you have a PI VIC, double check to make sure that any leftover cop light wires are properly removed. Many times they just cut the wires and leave exposed live end circuits exposed that can ground out and cause weird lighting issues.
That, and sometimes the PI Vics, when the police accessories were installed, wreaked havoc with the module as it is, let alone it failing on its own. If I recall correctly, some departments and Ford were having arguments over the module and what was causing it to fail.
Another vote for the light control module being flaky. Also, since you have a PI VIC, double check to make sure that any leftover cop light wires are properly removed. Many times they just cut the wires and leave exposed live end circuits exposed that can ground out and cause weird lighting issues.
That, and sometimes the PI Vics, when the police accessories were installed, wreaked havoc with the module as it is, let alone it failing on its own. If I recall correctly, some departments and Ford were having arguments over the module and what was causing it to fail.
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