electrical gremlin!!!

[montana_hiboy]

I went to turn on my lights today and all they did was blink on and off except for the headlights, every last one of them... instrument panel, dome, turn signal, side marker, license plate, tail lights, everything but the headlights....not that these have anything to do with it but the turn signal switch, flashers and fuses are all good, could it be the light switch itself?

[FORDification]

That would be my first guess, since the light switch is the only thing that they all have in common. Try wiggling the switch and the harness connector behind it, see if anything changes

[montana_hiboy]

i tried wiggling the switch and it still does the blinking routine, however when i did turn my truck off so i could listen for anything i heard a distinct "popping" noise right at the switch everytime the lights blinked so i'm pretty confidant thats it, napa shows them online for $15.....is there any trick to get that knob off without destroying the dash? i pulled and pulled on that s.o.b. and it won't budge, i might just take a pair of vice grips and crush it then hunt another one down at the junk yard.

[fordman]

reach up under the dash. on top of the switch is a small button push down on the button and pull the light switch handle out.

[FORDification]

Just push that button in, and pull the knob/stem out. Use a large flat-tip screwdriver to unscrew the bezel retainer.

That popping noise is most likely the switch's internal circuit breaker. Either your switch is bad or you've got a condition (grounded circuit?) that's tripping the circuit breaker.

[montana_hiboy]

Just push that button in, and pull the knob/stem out. Use a large flat-tip screwdriver to unscrew the bezel retainer.

does that apply to dents too keith or is that button specific to bumps?

[rjewkes]

same button and switch give or take some wiring mods under neath.

[basketcase0302]

does that apply to dents too keith or is that button specific to bumps?

what RJ said.
And the 70's Bronco's too.
Whatever you do, don't buy a "standard" brand name of switch, (red & white packaging).
I went through those brands before and they were mostly junk.

Jeff

[Thunderfoot]

If you have a light that shorted to ground (maybe one of the tail or front park lights got water in them) then that could be your problem.
The Light Switch has a built in circuit breaker (that is what is making the clicking noise) it is self-resetting... not that it couldn't of gotten week on you, but do look for any lights that are out that might lead you to the problem.

[montana_hiboy]

thanks for the help, i never knew the headlight knob pulled out with the shaft by depressing a button, i assumed it was held to the shaft by a clip like all the other knobs and controls, you learn something new everyday, but anyways i put a new switch in and sure enough that fixed it, as a side note my wiper switch is "touchy" and you gotta kinda wiggle it to get it to work so i figured i'd replace it too since i was already behind the dash, that was until they told me it's $70 the light switch only set me back $20 so i just decided i could live with my "touchy" wiper switch for the time being

[Banjo]

Most light switches I have ever seen on old cars were that way (a button) to pull the "stalk" out. As far as your wiper switch, just fought that battle few weeks back, use allen wrench to remove knob, use screwdriver to loosen bezel, remove switch and unplug wires (or you could do that first and then undo switch from dash).
You can get a thin blade (used my pocket knife and then a small flathead to lightly separate the two halves of the stock wiper switch and squirt some electrical contact cleaner (available at any Radio shack or Lowes or ) and work the switch some and push in and pull out on switch too while working it and that'll get all the corrosion cleaned up (or some of it). Clean your wires with spray elec contact cleaner too. Maybe give them a shot of dielectric connector grease if you have and reassy into dash. Might need a new wiper knob if you're is loosened up good like mine was. Fixed all my weird wiper working/not working issues. Banjo.

[rjewkes]

also it grounds to the dash so if the bezel is allready loose that can be it too also the wires behind it can be loose.


good luck fixing it.

[montana_hiboy]

I'll give that a try banjo, right now i'm just gettin by with a book of matches wedged between the dash and the knob

[Banjo]

That was a good tip about the wiper switch grounding to dash, that could have been my problem too and was resolved when I tightened it up real good putting it all back together. Maybe you just need to tighten yours good to try it. I have pretty decent luck using a flathead screwdriver on those larger split nuts like those, getting them on and off. You could always put a peice of tape on tip of your screwdriver to keep from scratching your trim if need be. They make a special socket for those things, don't know what those special sockets are called though.
Sure wish I did, I'd like to buy a whole set in various sizes. I know some specialty shops sell one and two, but I'd love to buy a whole set. They're kinda like clutch head screwdrivers, if you've never ran across that, those are hell to find too and are used in lots of places in my 55 Chevy (sorry, don't vote me off the island). Banjo.