1998 Ford Explorer lights turn off.

[tylerarmstrong]

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. I have a problem with the headlights. They turn off for no reason at all. So I took the dash apart to see if I can find anything wrong. I found that one of the wiring harnesses was starting to melt around two wires they are both red. So I replaced it and a few months later it is doing it again. I traced it back and I could not find the problem. I also replaced the headlighs with aftermarked 100 watt lights, and put an alarm on it. Does any of these have to do anything with the problem?

[exploded99]

Originally Posted by tylerarmstrong

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport. I have a problem with the headlights. They turn off for no reason at all. So I took the dash apart to see if I can find anything wrong. I found that one of the wiring harnesses was starting to melt around two wires they are both red. So I replaced it and a few months later it is doing it again. I traced it back and I could not find the problem. I also replaced the headlighs with aftermarked 100 watt lights, and put an alarm on it. Does any of these have to do anything with the problem?

Standard bulbs are 50 or 60 watts. So you have just about doubled the current going thru the circuit. I'd wager that is causing your wires to melt- they are not made to handle that much current. Your alarm is not on your headlight circuit, no issue there.

There are relays on your headlight circuit that trip when the current draw gets too high. They will reset after things cool down a bit. Fix your wires, go back to standard wattage bulbs, and your problem should go away.