Flashing headlamps

[Reinovator]

A couple of days ago I was on a 125 mile trip not far but it was in the rain after about 80 miles the headlamps started flashing, I have a feeling I ****** a few people off.
I could also hear a relay behind the glove box 'clicking'.
I assumed it was the driving lights from the moisture causing a feed back, so I turned off the driving lights this helped a little, I think.
Then I made a 30 minute stop and no head lights, the high beams would come on if I held the passing switch 'turn the high low switch' towards the steering wheel. After a while the head lights came back on when relaxing my hold. This only worked for about 30 miles and the lights started flashing again so I held the switch again. and again it worked for a while after relaxing.
But the auto head lamps do not work any more now.
I know at one time ford had a thermal switch or breaker built in to the head lamp switch could this be it?.
I have 4 guess's on this
1- the head lamp switch.
2- the auto switch
3- the turn head lamp switch combo.
4- the nut behind the wheel
Help please I'm baffled all these are related and yes I could just start replacing components but we are looking at about $300.00
Were do I start?
Thanks

 

[sperold]

Start by waiting for everything to dry out.
Every now and again, (when serioulsy raining), when I turn on my turn signals for a left turn, I get no green arrow on my instrument cluster.... but my headlight and turn signal light alternate back and forth. Only on the left side though.
It is probably a bad socket ground, and when the power can't find the usual ground, it hunts around and gets another one.
Take every socket out and ground it manually to the battery with another wire, you will probably find one that lights the bulb a bit brighter, that is the one that is pooched.

 

[shocar]

A few years ago, I had an alternator that was going out on a 94 atx. What I noticed was the climate control would start to acting up ( lights flickering ) and I heard the noise you heard that clicking behind the dash. I barely made it home on battery power. I would have someone check it to make sure it's charging properly. The rain might not be the cause. If you do need to replace it , I would either have the one you have rebuilt ( if it's a ford alternator or replace it with a Ford alternator). I went the cheap route to begin with and had to put a new alternator in again, 8 months later.

 

[Reinovator]

Thanks I'll check the alt tomorrow. I have two used Motor-craft alts I'll take in Monday to bench test.
If I can remember, after taking down the Christmas lights the tree, fixing breakfast, lunch, and fixing the heater in the shop. Dang I sound like my wife!?

Oh and by the way Happy new year to all. May your assets stabilize and your worth increases, along with your pay in 2011.

 

[Reinovator]

By the way my SHO(my wifes) is a 89, sorry I got interrupted three times while try to post the original.

And I will check the grounds.

 

[sperold]

Mine is an 89 as well. Seems to run in the family.

 

[Reinovator]

This is going to take some time.
I went out to my shop today and my faucet froze. the pipes didn't brake just the faucet
Interesting how I can have a flat concrete floor and have a 1 1/2 thick 10ft x 10ft layer of ice on my floor and tapering to nothing but dry floor. it looks almost sculpted.
I will stay in touch.

 

[Reinovator]

here's where the pipe broke and some of the ice after some thawing

fun fun fun I hope this isn't a view of things to come this year
yes its a restaurant dish washer and sink make due with what you can get when people can't pay.