'96 Taurus Wagon High Beams & Backup Lights

Hi, folks.

My headlights, in the regular "on" position, seem to be underpowered.
The "high beam" position seems to be about what regular strength of
headlights should be. Also, high beams operate only in the temporary (pull
lever toward you) position, while they do not come on at all in the position
where they're supposed to stay on.

Also noticed that backup-lights are inoperative. I don't know if this
happened at the same time as the headlight problem.

Is there a single fuse / switch / electrical item that could be responsible
for both these problems?

Rumor has it that replacing the Multifunction Switch may cure the high beam problem. Been trying to Google a fuse location for backup lights si I can check it out...no luck there.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

ZW

Your right with the switch,but if you have a DRL ( Daytime Running Light ) car I would bet it is the module. The drl mod goes bad and so does the multi switch. Call your local DORF dealer's service dept and get them to tell you if you hothod has DRL. Give them the VIN and they can break it down.

Right and left low beams each have their own fuse in the instrument panel fuse box. Left low beam is fuse #3, right is fuse #4. But first the headlight switch has to get power from the headlamp fuse in the engine compartment and then route it to the MF switch. That same engine compart headlight fuse bypasses the headlight switch to provide power to the MF switch for the high beams. (so you can flash your high beams without first flipping the headlight switch) Since you have high beams, that engine compart fuse is probably good. The MF switch provides power to fuse #30 in instrument panel fuse box for the high beams. Again, you seem to have high beams so that fuse is probably good. My guess, since the High Beams Always On function doesn't work, and since the low beams don't work, you proably have a problem with the MF switch. Turn on the headlight switch and check the red/yellow wire coming into the MF switch. If you have 12 volts, then check the the red/black wire (which sends power to fuses 3 & 4) and the light green/black wire (which sends power to fuse #30 for the high beams).

And for the backup lights, I'd suggest you first check the bulbs. You may have lost one first and not noticed it until the second bulb went out and you had no backup lighting.

-Rod

Thanks for the fast replies.

Forgot to mention...headlights come on once the vehicle is in "drive"...would that automatically qualify this vehicle as DRL? (I'm in Canada...not sure if that makes a difference.)

Checked both backup light bulbs today...they both appear to be OK. I also feel like an idiot for not previously checking the manual for backup light fuse location. Found it in the manual...too late tonight to do the detective work there.

ZW

Yep, you've got DRL.

-Rod