Headlight problems

[Mike75]

Okay, I'm taking the day off work since my headlights started cutting out while driving in the dark in the pouring rain in busy Los Angeles traffic. Here are the symptoms and what I've checked.

- lights flicker off and on at no steady rate
- only headlights flicker - not the tail lights, nor front parking lights
- I have checked all fuses under the hood, and under the dash panel
- lights flicker in unison (right and left go off and on at the same time)
- both high and low beams affected
- problem persists even when car is sitting perfectly still
- car had driven approximately 30 miles at +/- 50mph before this started
- the voltage meter on my instrument cluster stays constant (no fluctuating)
- if I turn the lights off for awhile, then turn them on again, it takes awhile for them to start flickering, but it gets dramatically worse the longer I keep them on

Sound like it could be a relay? Or the alternator/battery? I want to rule out the alt/bat since it seems that I would have fluctuations in other lights/electrical components if this were the case...but I'm not sure. I really need some help here.

Thanks in advance!

[philrogers]

Replace the headlight switch. I had the same problem with my Ranchero recently.

[Mike75]

Awesome. Thanks dude.

[flewthecoupe]

Once again, check with Ford to see if this is covered under a recall and if it is see if the recall has been done. If it is and has not and you simply replace the headlight switch with one from Joe Schmo's parts house it will happen again.

[Mike75]

heeheehee

Thanks guys.

http://www.alldata.com/TSB/19/93190711.html

Damn good call. You both just saved me some cash, which seems to be in seriously short supply around here.