Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Headlight Switch Overheating (Read 7127 times) previous topic - next topic

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #15 –
Quote
Hey now!!!
why would anyone over at farking nut hole nato be any smarter than us on these cars,,,,,,,,,,,, i hate dumb ass suggestions like that. I see it more often than i like.

Scott....watch it please. Didn't we collectively determine user installation errors as the cause of that fire? If you have problems with the article you're entitled to that opinion, but remember that we have lots of NATO members here also, and the majority of people seem to have had zero problems using that NATO 3G installation article. I suggest that we cut back on the NATO slamming here and continue on with the problem at hand...which should be resolved with a new headlamp switch. Santana's suggestions are also very valid.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #16 –
Guys let me say I am sorry since I didn't mean to cause such a ruckus with my suggestion and should have just let it go. Again I am sorry for the troble I caused.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #17 –
It's not your fault ...in fact you were simply trying to help out a fellow board member. There's nothing for which you should be apologizing. Other sites and boards have ideas that can be different from what we know and are used to using. It takes a big step to admit that. The information is out there for mjk289 to use, if he chooses to do so, and you provided your personal input. That's excellent for a new member! We appreciate your experience here.
 

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #18 –
sorry everyone, i think i was misunderstood,

anyway, cant really understand why im getting slammed, other than politics.  Sure there are nato guys here, ill bet many board members come here as well.  just figured i would point out we aint so dumb around there either.


Its like saying we cant do anything on our own or make an attempt to.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #19 –
Uh-OH......Someone said politics..........IBTL?
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #20 –
Speaking only for myself, I have linked to NATO info from here, in the past. Not because I thought NATO info it was better, but because I knew where it was over there (quick to find the link) and did not know where similar info was here. By the same token, I have, at NATO, linked to info here or at Coolcats, when I knew where it was and felt it was "better" or more concise than NATO info. My desire is to answer a question quickly with the best info that I am aware of. I don't claim to know the location of all sources of infomation.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #21 –
Quote from: EricCoolCats;183187
Scott....watch it please. Didn't we collectively determine user installation errors as the cause of that fire? If you have problems with the article you're entitled to that opinion, but remember that we have lots of NATO members here also, and the majority of people seem to have had zero problems using that NATO 3G installation article. I suggest that we cut back on the NATO slamming here and continue on with the problem at hand...which should be resolved with a new headlamp switch. Santana's suggestions are also very valid.


i know this guy is long gone but i am back home now and not in a rush like i was earlier this week.  Eric,, what are you talking about?  This whole fire thing is confussing me cause i dont know where i mentioned fire, nor anything about a 3g.  I wasnt slamming nato either, just making a dingy little comment saying we can handle wiring.    Im not sure why you associated me with slamming  nato about a 3g install, you got the wrong guy cause i didnt slam them on this 

Someone else mentioned something about a fire , not me.  I just made one little comment and someone elses words became my responsiblity somehow. 

you got the wrong guy as far as some sort of tech article.  I never saw a fire, never saw proof of any fire and for that matter, never implied there was one.

This guy is talking about a lamp switch getting hot, Personally i dont see how a relay can fix that when the internal contacts of the actual switch are still going to be the same size ampacity reguardless if you install a relay or not.

thats the problem with message boards and me,,,, i dont bother using smilies enough i guess so that the human part is mixed into my messages.  This is the only message board im on and i dont really care to move one to another either.
yours truely,, confussed.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Birdman;183126
Instead of [COLOR="Red"]just[/COLOR] bitching about Nato, lets help the guy.

If you are running higher wattage than stock bulbs, best case, you melt something. Worst case, you set something on fire.  If the switch is getting warm, try a used good one. If it still gets warm, add the relays to the system.  The relays will lower the draw on the switch, and provide direct power to the lights from the battery.  Win Win.  If you plan on or already are running high wattage bulbs, upgrade the wiring to the connectors also.


who ed about nato? ,,,,[COLOR="Red"]just[/COLOR] that is.  Ive never been on that board so i dono what your talking about.  Im a good person but sure as h3ll aint not tax free door mat unless i have it coming.

so you've said a lot, and it sounds like your a good salesman.  Show us you know what your selling.  Proof's in the pudding and i am interested. as well cause it sounds like your calling out for new wiring , primary and secondary fusing (which you never mentioned nor how) and a different switch.  Im sure you could use the old switch but nothings done about the under engineered contacts.

At the time, I didnt have access to information on how i could help him , i do try to help alot and i dont generally bs around on here. I did have a good lead on his problem if he had come back with an answer to my question but as many do, they ask a question and never come back with answers.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #23 –
The 'burning car' in question is NOT the one in this thread. It seems to have been a reference to DMC24guy's Turbo Coupe burning down after his botched 3G alternator install. That was alluded to in this thread (at least the NATO article). Again, I think we pretty much figured out that his install wasn't up to par and was likely the cause of the fire. It's not a personal slam against anyone. But please remember that, despite any personal views, we do have a community that is open to the world and your comments may be misconstrued easily. Just FYI, the NATO comments in this thread have already upset quite a few people and has possibly damaged relations with them. I'm not very bloody happy about that.

This thread is getting seriously off subject. We're trying to help someone who has a possibly serious problem with the headlamp switch. It's not that difficult to keep on track here.

Headlight switch

Reply #24 –
Quote from: stuntmannick;182993
Just replace the switch.  Had this problem on my '86 TC.  The headlights would cut out at random after they had been on for more than 10 mins.  New switch solved that. 

If you're cheap, you can pull the switch apart, clean the copper electrodes and re grease (using dielectric grease).


Thanks everyone.  I have sylvania silverstar headlights that I think are stock wattage.  I had fog lights but I disconnected them.  I don't think I have the Autolamp option (jcassity).  I've cleaned and di-electric greased my switch but you can tell the contacts are bad.  I've had this problem for a while and I did replace the switch  with a used one off eBay, but it still overheats. 

I just found out the switch is discontinued from Ford. E7SB-11654-AA.  The parts stores like Pepboys and Advance can't get it and none of the local dealers have it.  The dealer did a search and there is one in Illinois.

As I was pulling out of the dealer I heard two guys on their break commenting about the 88 being there favorite cougar.  My car is not in the best shape, but people always ask me about it.

thanks again guys.

Just ordered from DirectFordparts.com

Reply #25 –
I just ordered a new one online for 70 bucks.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #26 –
The contacts in the light switch are rated lower than they should be. They have been known to overheat and cause a failure or do the lights on and off problem. You use the light switch to power the relay so that it draws less than an amp thru the light switch. Of course you supply a fused power supply to the infeed for the relay that goes out the out feed to the lights. I did not mean for my answer before to sound like you couldn't handle a wiring problem here.

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #27 –
here is a decent drawing that may get you started on how to tackle the problem.  You mentioned you installed a bone yard switch and it did the same thing.  Based on that, its likely that both switches are in just as bad of shape. ,,,, but,,, its also just as likely that the wiring may have taken a beating as well.

i would follow the schematic and put a meter on each end of the various wires to get a resistance measurement.  YOu could jot down the resistance numbers and find out if any wires read above 1ohm.  I just noticed a "resistance wire" in the diagram i never knew about but its probably acting like a current shunt,,dono,,, just glanced at it but its interesting no one has looked into that part of the circuit in te past to find out if this wire could cause heating issues if it opens.

So,,, anyway,,, just for your viewing pleasure and to assist in what ever angle you decide to go, the below drawing will probably be helpful.

As for having auto lamps,, it would be obvious,,.  Do you have a sensor mounted on your rear view mirror?

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #28 –
Quote from: EricCoolCats;183462

This thread is getting seriously off subject. We're trying to help someone who has a possibly serious problem with the headlamp switch. It's not that difficult to keep on track here.



honestly, I feel bad the nato guys are upset.  I was up in BC Canada when i logged on that day and to tell you the truth,, i was a little under the influence,,, it was a bad attempt of a play on names or just goofing off but trying to make a point to.  I failed all the way around but hey,, we all make mistakes. If the nato folks are that upset and sensitive,, ill keep it in mind and make sure to understand how British cigaretteile things can become with one fail swoop of "submit reply".

Headlight Switch Overheating

Reply #29 –
If you choose to trigger relays with the existing lighting circuits, it would be best to do it with a new or known good switch.  My car did the lights off move on me several times before I changed the switch and the used one I picked up is working fine.  The high beams stay off unless I really need them now though.

I don't know if anyone is upset, I just couldn't see why anyone would say anything negative about the NATO site.  I've never had any trouble over there.