96 ranger no headlights

[fordfamily]

parking lights and tail lights come on but no headlights or brights. a previous owner hardwired the brights on bc of this issue but that caused other problems so i am trying to get them going properly. the wiring appears intact and the multimeter shows them getting power and good continuity on the ground. i looked at all the fuses and they look fine to me and i replaced the switch which didn't help. not sure where to go next. please help!

 

[Curious Hound]

the wiring appears intact and the multimeter shows them getting power and good continuity on the ground

Where are you making this measurement? If they are truly getting power and the ground is good, then the only thing left is bad bulbs.

 

[fordfamily]

that's what i thought so i bought new bulbs and still nothing! i took the reading right at the harness where the bulb plugs in. when the headlight switch is on and the car is on but not running it shows 10volts, which should be good right? i'm not great with the multimeter so could be missing something but i double checked a couple times so it isn't just a misread. please let me know if you have any ideas, even just of what to test next because i am at a loss. thanks

 

[Curious Hound]

If engine is running, voltage should be around 13.5 - 13.8 volts. 10 volts should still light a normal headlight bulb, but it would be dim. You could have dirty or corroded lamp socks or a bad connection in the plug. What is the voltage at the battery terminals with engine running?

 

[fordfamily]

I didn't have a chance to look at it yesterday but I just checked and it's getting good voltage when the engine is running, like 13.9

 

[fordfamily]

i noticed something interesting about the continuity of the ground but i don't know what it means. when the car is off it reads around .6ohms which is good, but when when the car is running it jumps to 12 and then when i turn the switch for the lights it jumps even higher! i think this might be where my problem lies but i am not sure what to do about it or what it indicates exactly.

 

[Curious Hound]

Resistance readings are not normally taken on live circuits. It would be better to measure voltage drops. It actually sounds like you have a loose or dirty ground connection somewhere.

 

[RonD]

In 1996 your head light power runs from fuse 11 to head light switch then runs thru the Multi-Function switch(turn signal stalk) then out to fuses 4 and 8 and then to left and right headlights

Engine bay fuse box(fuse 11)--------main light switch-----multi-function------fuse 4(cab)--------left head light

Cab Fuse 8 is right headlight both low beams

Try moving the turn signal stalk forward and back to see if high beams work, cab fuse 33, but main power for both high and low beams still comes from fuse 11 in engine bay

10volt on a 12volt system is the same as 0 volts because it means the LOW draw of a volt meter is not reading full voltage(12.5v) so any higher draw, like a headlight, will cause a drop to 0volts

 

[fordfamily]

SOLVED: it was the multifunctions switch