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Headlights cut out on a Ford truck

T

T-Nason

Member
Headlights cut out in my 1976 Ford f900. Anyone have any tips of what it could be? My switch seems to test out ok. All other lights function perfectly. Just the headlights are out.
 
I believe there is a breaker in the switch. I have seen them on occasion. That is one possibility.

A dimmer switch would be the most likely culprit. headlight switch turns on current to the lights, but the dimmer selects whether to send it to low or high beams.

Another thought is grounds. Headlights draw more current than parking/turn/marker lights, so a corroded ground can make the lights go out even if the smaller lights still seem to work.
 
The lights went out about a month ago and then came back. Yesterday they cut out and wont come back. I dont know if that helps?
 
Back in the day, Ford put a circuit breaker in the headlight switch. I had an early Mustang in which the headlights went dark along a long stretch of road. I thought I went blind! And, then,- in a moment, daylight returned when the cb re-connected.
 
If your dimmer switch is mounted on the floor, that would be the first place I would look. After that, the headlight switch. There is also a possibility if a rotted out wire in the bulkhead connector that goes from inside the cab to under the hood. I have seen that before.

But, check the easy stuff first. You might get lucky!
 
I checked the switch on the dash and it turned out ok, I plugged it into the neighbors truck and it worked! Lol. I have power at the battery, solenoid, but not the common rail on the firewall.
 
I had a 73 f600 that the headlights would go out for a few seconds, then come back on. A new light switch fixed the problem.
 

Headlight switch is feed direct battery voltage the circuit breaker for the headlights is internal to the switch all the outer lights are fused separate.

I vote Headlight switch...
 
I have seen my dads ford pickup when the lights went out back when i was 16. It turned out to be the terminal loose and dirty on the soleinoid on the fender that feeds the lights.
 
That may or may not be true. 45 year old truck is bound to have loose or weak connections and then the switch is doing just what it is supposed to do . The INTERNAL circuit breaker is opening and when the load or heat goes away it resets. Like the others said go to checking dimmer switch and connections.
 
Guy I worked for back in the day had a 67 F-750 Headlights did the same thing. Neighbor had a Louisville grain truck. Headlights did the same thing.
 
My uncles was a broken wire between the frame and hood. Opening and closing the hood after that many years cracked the wires. A couple new pieces about 3 foot long fixed it. Might want to check there. Cheap fix. If it's in that convoluted tubing, take it out ad feel for a weak spot. Or test before and after where it bends.
 
I second what Shaun stated. If it's a bad connection or broken wire, it can drive you nuts until you follow the wires and find the issue.
 
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