Headlights (brights) go out after a while

['92Custom]

1992 Ranger Custom 4.0 - don't know if any of that makes a difference.

When driving with my brights on, after several minutes they go out. As in, no headlights. Anywhere from 3 to 15 seconds later they come back on, but only for a 2 or 3 minutes. This cycle continues, as if something is overheating. I don't know what's going on, inspected all wires and they all look good, no visible cracking or loose ends.

This is probably also significant to note - when the lights go out, switching back to low beams does NOT fix the problem instantly. The lights stay out for 3 to 15 seconds, then go back to normal if I have switched to low beams.

Driving with low beams only I never have the issue, however I have a long nighttime commute on dark/sparsely populated roads, I would feel more comfortable if I could run my brights when I need them.

Anyone else have this problem, or know how to fix it?

Thanks.

 

[Funnyman141]

To me, it sounds like something in your headlight switch is shorting out or overheating, but that is just a guess.

 

[straycat]

Did this just start to happen? Did you upgrade the headlights? Why are you driving with brights on full time? Is it dark where you go and drive all the time?
So, if you keep the headlights on low and drive everywhere at night there is no problem then, right? I would just replace a your headlamp fuses and see how that works out, Bro. If you upgraded the bulbs in the headlights I would take them out and put the stock bulbs back in and drive it with the high beams on and see if that corrects the problem.

 

['92Custom]

Did this just start to happen? Did you upgrade the headlights? Why are you driving with brights on full time? Is it dark where you go and drive all the time?
So, if you keep the headlights on low and drive everywhere at night there is no problem then, right? I would just replace a your headlamp fuses and see how that works out, Bro. If you upgraded the bulbs in the headlights I would take them out and put the stock bulbs back in and drive it with the high beams on and see if that corrects the problem.

Yes this just started to happen, but I've only had the truck since spring and have not driven much at night until now. It gets dark sooner now...

No I did not upgrade the headlights, and they seem pretty dim so I doubt they are a watt over stock. I'll check and see if there's a wattage stamped on the base.

Yes it is very dark where I drive. No street lamps and/or cities for at least half of my commute. I want to see the deer/elk/moose/bison/caribou/livestock on the road, so I use brights when there is no oncoming traffic

I will throw a new fuse in and see if that helps, but if it were a fuse wouldn't they go out and stay out?

Thanks.

 

[RatDog8o8]

There's a circuit breaker or relay that's being overloaded, most likely. Have to find a wiring diagram for your ride, and see if that's the case.....then have it checked out. The brights are overloading the light circuit, and popping the breaker/relay. When you switch back to low-beams, the overload condition goes away, and the lights work.

 

[cody93]

didn't gen1 rangers have a problem with headlight switches shorting out and catching on fire?

 

['92Custom]

There's a circuit breaker or relay that's being overloaded, most likely. Have to find a wiring diagram for your ride, and see if that's the case.....then have it checked out. The brights are overloading the light circuit, and popping the breaker/relay. When you switch back to low-beams, the overload condition goes away, and the lights work.

K I will check that out.

didn't gen1 rangers have a problem with headlight switches shorting out and catching on fire?

Is '92 still considered first gen? In any case I hope to avoid a fire, hadn't heard of such a thing.

 

[mp3deviant721]

K I will check that out.



Is '92 still considered first gen? In any case I hope to avoid a fire, hadn't heard of such a thing.

'92 is 2nd gen.

 

[srteach]

The issue is (probably) a bare wire shorting to ground. When this happens, amperage jumps enough to pop the circuit breaker/relay. When the cb/relay cools off, the circuit is closed, starting the process over.
Find the wire that is rubbing on bare metal, and insulate it. It could be in the switch in the steering column, or under the hood. That is what caused the fire issue in early rangers.

Had this happen with a Ranger and an International. Eventually, it burned the circuit breaker out.

 

[shane96ranger]

There's a circuit breaker or relay that's being overloaded, most likely. Have to find a wiring diagram for your ride, and see if that's the case.....then have it checked out. The brights are overloading the light circuit, and popping the breaker/relay. When you switch back to low-beams, the overload condition goes away, and the lights work.

I'm Shane™, and I approve of this message ↑

 

[adsm08]

Why are you driving with brights on full time? Is it dark where you go and drive all the time?

I dunno how things work down there in Flower Land, but round here, at the right time of night, I can drive 40 miles on the highway and not see another car.

I can think of a few times traveling late at night in the winter when I've gone 100 miles on one of the main arteries through PA and seen exactly 3 other cars.

 

[shane96ranger]

I dunno how things work down there in Flower Land, but round here, at the right time of night, I can drive 40 miles on the highway and not see another car.

I can think of a few times traveling late at night in the winter when I've gone 100 miles on one of the main arteries through PA and seen exactly 3 other cars.

One of his buddies has probably done this too Adsm. Which is why the question surprised me.

 

[jcd302]

I am thinking relay since it kills and then comes back after cooling down. Switch relays (box under hood) with the A/C or EEC relay and see what happens. If the EEC starts cutting out, then you know it was the relay. I forget what all is in that box. I had a bad fuel pump relay so I swapped it with the a/c one.

 

[RatDog8o8]

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