89 headlights won't work

[x182dan]

Tonight my headlights were working fine for about 15-20mins, then all of a sudden my high beams wont work if I push the lever forward it wouldn't work at all the headlights wouldn't go on at all at high beam. If I pulled the lever towards me the high beams would work fine. Then I was playing with the lever trying to see if something was loose with the lever and now my normal headlights won't work at all if I just put the lights to the on position nothing will go on at all. I had to drive home holding the high beam level forward so I had some lights. So right now that is how I stand now my car has no headlights except when I hold the lever forward. The fog light, light on the dash board so I assume that the fog lights didn't work either, any ideas? I think its possibly something with the highbeam switch

 

[qiksho]

Had same problem with my 89 a few years ago. Exact same symptoms....Turned out that my Multi-Function Switch went bad and it actually fried a bunch of the wires going up to the MFS. So I would pull the shroud around your column off and do a visual inspection first. I bought a new one from Ford at that time and it was around 100 if I recall correctly.

I have heard you can get ones aftermarket for around half that....I would do a search on the MFS for more info...

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

I second that idea on the bad MFS. Sounds like the EXACT same symptoms that happened to me. Popped the new one in, everything is a ok. Just FYI , the MFS's on the 89's are 89 specific. I learned that the hard way too

 

[x182dan]

whatsthe mfs is it the switch with wipers on it? for highbeams?

 

[TimboSHO]

Yes, the MFS is the swicth that controls high beams, wipers and blinkers. I had a small metal piece inside my MFS fall out (the piece that makes it cancel after you take a corner) and short out the MFS to the headlight switch. I had to replace both and got them both from a junkyard for under $25. Then I had to run a new wire between them (Orange with a black tracer IIRC).

To remove the headlight switch, you have to take the main dash piece off (don't forget to remove the plastic switch and nut on the headlight switch first). But check the multifunction switch for signs of a short (burnt wires) or possibly just a cut wire, corrosioin or bad connection first since it's easier to remove the steering wheel shroud. Good luck!

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

A little tip for any '89 SHO owner that uses their fog lamps often.

The fog lamps utilize power that runs thru the MFS. Extended use of the fog lamps (especially with higher output bulbs) and headlamps creates a lot of heat in the MFS, leading to failure.

My simple fix was this:

http://www.superhighoutput.com/mods_view.php?id=4

Simple fix, that supplies a dedicated circuit to the fog lamps. This removes a the load of the fog lamps from the head lamp circuit, as well as allows the use of the fog lamps with the high beams.

Just be sure to shut them off when you shut the car off, as the cicuit I wired into stays hot all the time. I could have wired it cifferently, but I chose to not cut with the factory harness.

 

[x182dan]

when my headlights are on my foglights are always on also, btw which is the multifunction switch

 

[x182dan]

turns out it was the mfs I hope there isn't a short somewhere because one of the connectors that connects to the mfs was a little melted

 

[qiksho]

turns out it was the mfs I hope there isn't a short somewhere because one of the connectors that connects to the mfs was a little melted

I got a harness out of a junkard taurus and spliced it in. I had two wires that were totally fried and the plastic connector was melted and burnt. So I saved all the original wires that looked ok and spliced in two (IIRC) wires and put them into the connector I got from the donor taurus. That coupled with a new MFS took care of my problems. Worked fine for atleast a year, which is when I sold the car....

 

[TimboSHO]

turns out it was the mfs I hope there isn't a short somewhere because one of the connectors that connects to the mfs was a little melted

If it's anything like mine, the short was inside the MFS, so replacing the switch should take care of it. You may want to replace that fried wire as well...

 

[x182dan]

If it's anything like mine, the short was inside the MFS, so replacing the switch should take care of it. You may want to replace that fried wire as well...

yes I already did it so far the headlights work fine, but the connector itself is a little melted not any wires as far as I can tell if it turns into a problem I will just splice it in