headlight problem, sooooo close to fix HELP!!!

[sickrick111]

hey guys I hope you can help me, I have a 97 ford explorer control trac,xlt with 196,000 running strong, I bought it for $700 about a week ago, did alot of work to it (balljoints, rack+pinion,brakes,gastank,etc.) and I am on my last thing I need to fix the headlights, so here it is, The high beams work, when you pull the lever (not when you push it down) the running lights work the only thing that doesn;t work is the low beams, heres what diagnostics I have done so far,all fuses are good, theres Power to the distribution box (for headlights) there is NO power going into either right or left headlight fuse on side panel and there is now power going into one of the connectors of the switches, (guessing its the low beam) so whats next what should I check now?

I am an automotive student on my 3rd year, went to my teacher and hes an asshole with no time on his hands, and my truck will Not be going into a mechanic shop.

[way2old]

Check the multifunction/turn signal switch.

[sickrick111]

ok, ill pull it out tonight and check the ohm readings on the switch I hope its the problem

[sickrick111]

I checked the switch, its fine, im ill give it couple more days of looking then im running another wire.

[sickrick111]

I ran strait wire from bat. to switch to low beams, works fine only costed 10 bucks material, I have a toggle switch next tothe actual headlight switch, works for me

[Xplorer01]

a 97 for $700? why so cheap? was in an accident maybe?

[B33p3r]

If multifunction switch was good, check your headlight switch. Power in? Power out?

[sickrick111]

head light switch eas no power in or out, and My explorer was a steal at 700 because of all the work it needed, which I just completed and I bought it 3 months ago, (All balljoints, rack and pinion,tierods,gastank, etc,.

[B33p3r]

SickRick, I'm looking at the schematics for a 98 explorer xlt. My guess is they aren't too different. If you have power to distribution box and the fuse is good, from there it leaves distribution box into a splice. the splice splits in 2. the one splice goes to the multifunction switch. Specifically the Flash To Pass function(you said that works). the other half of the splice goes to the headlight switch whick you informed me has no power to it. That tells me between the splice and the headlight switch the wire is broken. A test would be to jump 12 volts to the + side of the headlight switch and verify that it works. If it does, then start tracing the B+ wire from the fuse. If it doesn't work, you may have the wrong fuse.
I realized you may not have the same options as my truck with respect to headlights. But after looking at all 3 options: no autolamps, with autolamps, and daytime running lights, the above still holds true. If you have power to "power distribution fuse" for headlights, but nothing at the headlight switch(not the multifuntion switch), then you have a break in a wire between fuse and switch. Jump the suspected wire to prove it. get back to me with your findings.