head lights flicker on my 89

August 22nd, 2008, 04:14 PM	#1
White 89 Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 314	head lights flicker on my 89 it has happened a couple times already. My headlights turn on and off on their own. I don't know what it could be. Any thoughts. Could it be the headlight switch. __________________ 1989 mustang GT 5.0

August 22nd, 2008, 11:08 PM	#2
saldoggs Regular 1993 mustang lx convertib Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: staten island nyc Posts: 137	check to make sure you have a good connection were the head lights plug into the body harness look to see in there is any corrosion

August 22nd, 2008, 11:18 PM	#3
93HatchsBFF Regular 2001 Sexystang 14.8@94.3MPH Join Date: May 2008 Location: Obamastan, AZ Posts: 305	the flicker when there on? or just like randomly turn them on? __________________ Dynamax side exhaust,K&N FilterOMG, Eibach Prokit, BBK UDP

August 22nd, 2008, 11:25 PM	#4
Modified88Dreamer Enthusiast Nowhere to be found Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Moving back home to Florida Posts: 630	Does this happen when your fog lamps are on? __________________ Well, guys its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun for me the past 3 months. Money has been tight and need to cancel my cable service to save what I can. I hope to chat with ya'll in 6-7 months from now. Bye!

August 23rd, 2008, 12:22 AM

dr.gonzo

Enthusiast

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: kc mo

Posts: 803

Originally Posted by Modified88Dreamer

Does this happen when your fog lamps are on?

+1

its a common problem for the foxes. Try driving with your fog lights off for a while and see if it happens again. If it still flickers with fog lights off could be your alt/short?

__________________
FREE LUNCH, FINAL
WISDOM, TOTAL COVERAGE... WHY NOT?

August 23rd, 2008, 12:24 AM

Modified88Dreamer

Enthusiast

Nowhere to be found

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Moving back home to Florida

Posts: 630

Originally Posted by dr.gonzo

+1

its a common problem for the foxes. Try driving with your fog lights off for a while and see if it happens again. If it still flickers with fog lights off could be your alt/short?

A common problem that can be fixed

^ HEADLAMPS-FLASH WHEN FOG LAMPS ARE ON

^ WIRING-HEADLAMP CIRCUIT-INADEQUATE GAUGE WIRE AND TERMINALS
Article No. 89-17-11FORD: 1983-89 ESCORT 1983-87 EXP 1987-89 MUSTANG

LINCOLN-MERCURY: 1983-87 LYNX

ISSUE: The headlamps may flicker on and off when the fog lamps are used for an extended period. This may be caused by overheating of the headlamp circuit # 15.

ACTION: Install new wiring, terminals, headlamp and dimmer switches. Refer to the following procedure for service details. Refer to the following application charts for correct parts usage.

Remove the headlamp switch. Refer to the appropriate Car Shop Manual, Section 32-02 for service details.

Inspect the switch and connector terminals of circuit # 15 for any heat damage such as discolored terminals or distorted connectors.

Perform normal diagnostic procedure if no heat damage is found.

Proceed as follows if heat damage is found:

Remove the terminals and wire (Circuit # 15, red/yellow) from both the headlamp and dimmer switch connectors.

Cut the wire as near as possible to the wire harness tape wrap and throw it away.

CAUTION: IF THE CONNECTORS ARE DISTORTED AROUND THE TERMINAL AREA, THEY MUST ALSO BE REPLACED.

Crimp new terminals to the correct length of 12 gauge wire and install them in the connectors.

Overlay the new wire along the existing wire harness and tape wrap it.

Install new headlamp and dimmer/ multifunction switches. Refer to the appropriate Car Shop Manual, Section 32-42 for Mustang and Section 32-40 for Escort/Lynx/EXP for dimmer switch removal and installation details.

__________________
Well, guys its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun for me the past 3 months. Money has been tight and need to cancel my cable service to save what I can. I hope to chat with ya'll in 6-7 months from now. Bye!

August 23rd, 2008, 12:29 AM	#7
dr.gonzo Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: kc mo Posts: 803	I did have a page that fixed the problem and allowed you to drive with just the fog lights on __________________ FREE LUNCH, FINAL WISDOM, TOTAL COVERAGE... WHY NOT?

August 23rd, 2008, 12:31 AM	#8
Modified88Dreamer Enthusiast Nowhere to be found Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Moving back home to Florida Posts: 630	That was gonna be something I was curious about. Usually its just an additional wire tapped into another, but I don't know which or how it works with a relay. I have the wiring diagram __________________ Well, guys its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun for me the past 3 months. Money has been tight and need to cancel my cable service to save what I can. I hope to chat with ya'll in 6-7 months from now. Bye!

August 23rd, 2008, 12:39 AM	#9
dr.gonzo Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: kc mo Posts: 803	found it Mustang GT Fog Light Fix had to dig deep for that one lol __________________ FREE LUNCH, FINAL WISDOM, TOTAL COVERAGE... WHY NOT?

August 23rd, 2008, 12:42 AM	#10
Modified88Dreamer Enthusiast Nowhere to be found Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Moving back home to Florida Posts: 630	Awesome site Gonzo! Added that to favorites. Rep! __________________ Well, guys its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun for me the past 3 months. Money has been tight and need to cancel my cable service to save what I can. I hope to chat with ya'll in 6-7 months from now. Bye!

August 23rd, 2008, 06:08 AM	#11
1989Gt. Regular 1989 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 386	yeah connection one open spot could screw them all up bro

August 23rd, 2008, 09:06 AM	#12
Darrell Feb 08 ROTM 1990 Mustang LX 9.36@143 mph Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Posts: 7,287	Like others have mentioned, its the headlight switch. Common problem, easy fix. Hopefully your harness isn't melted to all beat hell. __________________ Racing in memory of Dave Bandt 11/19/69 - 3/23/08 "he's traded his wheels for wings" Professor of Natural Aspiration Thanks to: Artie at Trick Flow, Dave at Team Z Motorsports, Brian at Total Engine Airflow and Harold at Furo Racecraft

August 23rd, 2008, 09:11 AM

#13

trueblue01

Enthusiast

1989 Mustang LX

10.98@126.7 NA

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: N.E. Ohio

Posts: 633

Originally Posted by Darrell

Like others have mentioned, its the headlight switch. Common problem, easy fix. Hopefully your harness isn't melted to all beat hell.

+1 If you go to a salvage yard and find more than one good switch and harness end, snag them. Most of the ones I've found over the years have been so so.

__________________

Never fast enough.

August 23rd, 2008, 03:18 PM	#14
92hatchback Regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: macomb Posts: 79	yea i just fixed this problem with a new headlight switch and the harness right behind it... but now for some reason my dash lights wont go on when i turn the headlights on..

August 23rd, 2008, 04:11 PM	#15
Modified88Dreamer Enthusiast Nowhere to be found Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Moving back home to Florida Posts: 630	Is your dimmer switch turned all the way to the right? I think thats the direction you want it to go to light up the dash __________________ Well, guys its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun for me the past 3 months. Money has been tight and need to cancel my cable service to save what I can. I hope to chat with ya'll in 6-7 months from now. Bye!

August 23rd, 2008, 05:11 PM	#16
92hatchback Regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: macomb Posts: 79	lol yea its all the way to the right... i think i have a short somewhere behind the dash

August 25th, 2008, 12:18 PM	#17
White 89 Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 314	yes it flickers when I have my fog lights on for a while. __________________ 1989 mustang GT 5.0

August 25th, 2008, 01:02 PM

#18

Darrell

Feb 08 ROTM

1990 Mustang LX

9.36@143 mph

Join Date: Jan 2006

Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Posts: 7,287

Originally Posted by White 89

yes it flickers when I have my fog lights on for a while.

Like previously mentioned, its the headlight switch.

__________________
Racing in memory of Dave Bandt 11/19/69 - 3/23/08
"he's traded his wheels for wings"

Professor of Natural Aspiration

Thanks to: Artie at Trick Flow, Dave at Team Z Motorsports, Brian at Total Engine Airflow and Harold at Furo Racecraft

August 25th, 2008, 01:48 PM	#19
White 89 Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 314	i just have to indepentally wire the fog lights and problem solved RIGHT? __________________ 1989 mustang GT 5.0

August 25th, 2008, 03:43 PM	#20
nolife Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,141	Yes unless your headlight switch is already damaged beyond that point. The headlight switch connections deveolp high resistance connections (or bad connections) over time and it starts to burn up because of the high current running through it. If you catch this early enough, the switch might still be able to handle just the headlights. Even after wiring the foglights seperately, I'd still cleaning the switch contacts with some rubbing alcohol and something a little rough like a small screwdriver that you can get in there should help it last a little longer. I've seen the various diagrams for fixing this. The easiest way IMHO is to cut the power line in the engine compartment that runs to the fog lights as it passes in front of the battery behind the drivers headlight. Place the relay there and power the fog lights from a new fused wire through the relay straight from the battery or the + post on the starting solenoid. All work is outside and easy to get to and you don't have to touch anything in the dash. You are still using the existing fog light wiring to turn on and off the fog lights through the headlight switch and the fog light switch but the power for the fog lights is coming from your new fused wire. __________________ 1991 GT - Original owner, all stock 1988 GT - The project car Last edited by nolife : August 25th, 2008 at 03:54 PM.

Threads Similar to: head lights flicker on my 89
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Head lights head lights whats the difference?	1911A1	96-98	16	February 12th, 2008 11:40 AM
smoked tail lights and head lights	02MiNeRaLgRaYGT	99-04	3	August 29th, 2007 03:24 PM
Fog lights... Run Them all the time? Same as head lights?	1911A1	94-95	10	July 25th, 2007 01:38 PM
Head lights?	Onemanzu	Electronics	2	March 31st, 2007 08:11 AM
head lights	therapist	99-04	30	January 23rd, 2007 12:52 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:35 AM.
Contact Us - Modded Mustangs - Top
Modded Mustangs is ©2005-2008, All Rights Reserved, And is Not Affiliated with Ford Motor Company. Forum is powered by vBulletin ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Ent. Ltd. & SEO by vBSEO 3.1.0 ©2007, Crawlability, Inc.