Headlights issue

[Randy619]

I have a 96 taurus with a serious headlight issue. When I turn on the light switch, my in dashlights and parking lights will come on but my headlights will not. My Highbeams work but only if I pull the turnsignal lever toward me (like your flashing your brights) and hold it. I changed the fuses and bulbs but I am still having a problem. Can I fix it myself or should I take it to a mechanic and how much might it cost me?

[KimMG]

Check to see if you are getting power to the headlight plugs. Check to see if power is going through the switch.

[65comet]

I had the same problem in my 98' sable. It was the high/low beam switch in the turn signals. I popped off the black ignition key collar. Unscrewed the screws on the bottom of the steering column cover and removed that. The screws holding in the turn signal arm were then removed and the wires unplugged. You can now replace with a different one or attempt to rebuild that one if it isn't too far gone. Take that assembly to a table to start the dismanteling. There are springs inside it that may want to pop out, so you don't want to be somewhere that you would lose the pieces. Open the switch module, paying very close attention to where everything is so you know how it should go when reassembling. A digital camera helps here if you have one. What happened to mine was there are contacts with springs behind them that let the electricity flow for high or low beam depending on the position of the arm. When going between those two, a very hot spark sometimes occurs and melts the plastic around those springs and they no longer will press up against the contacts. I removed the contacts and was able to pull the springs out with some needlenose pliers. I then matched up the springs with a drill bit and with the drill bit held by visegrips, remmed out the holes for the springs. I then cleaned up the contacts with some emery cloth and reassembled everything. Works fine for the last year, but I almost never use my highbeams any more after seeing the damage it causes that switch.

[Randy619]

How can I check to see if power is going to the headlight plugs

[KimMG]

unplug headlights
turn on headlight switch
use test light to see if you are getting power to the plugs

My Datsun had the same problem and I had to replace the stalk switch.