Phantom Headlights!! WTF???

[PimpRanger]

I have a 2000 ranger 2wd xtend cab 3.0 auto. Two nights in a row now, my headlights only both turn off at the same time. 2-3 seconds later they go on. 2-3 seconds later they go off!!! This keeps happening until I shut the truck for 5-10 mins and it seems to be ok. I do not have HIDs, only cheap bulbs, but this couldn't possibly be the culprit. Any help is appreciated.

 

[baxtej44]

I have a 2000 ranger 2wd xtend cab 3.0 auto. Two nights in a row now, my headlights only both turn off at the same time. 2-3 seconds later they go on. 2-3 seconds later they go off!!! This keeps happening until I shut the truck for 5-10 mins and it seems to be ok. I do not have HIDs, only cheap bulbs, but this couldn't possibly be the culprit. Any help is appreciated.

sounds like a grounding issue possibly, like you're driving and the ground wire gets bumped around and becomes ungrounded so they turn off.


check fuses, and scan around for your ground wires. if any insulation is missing, replace them. if it's corroded, replace them. if it's brittle, replace them. if you ever plan on doing any HID's or any sort of upgrade, or even if you just feel like it, replace them with higher gauge.


good luck

 

[srteach]

If the timing is steady, check the main headlight circuit breaker (usually an auto reset breaker). You can trace to the breaker by listening for the "click" as it cycles on and off. And as said previously, this is usually caused by grounding issues. It also usually also burns up the circuit breaker.

 

[Nater]

Mine are also having the same type of issue, but usually happend when I turn my high beams on....Turn the high beams on and the headlights go off, but as soon as I turn them off, the headlights still stay off. Very random though.

 

[Nater]

Bumping this cause it did it to me again last night on my way home....the headlights just turned off....Park lights remained lit. I tried to turn off all lights, and turn them back on a couple of times, but the headlights still remained off....so I turned my aux lights on so I could see, and all of the sudden the headlights came back on....

 

[Mudhound]

A few years ago, the C/V and Mercs. were having issues like this, and it ended up being the headlight switch was overheating due to being faulty. New switch solved the trouble.

 

[TomJenks]

Have you checked your relays for the headlights? On a couple Ford Escapes I've worked on, for some reason the relays had worked themselves loose. Just needed pushed back down. Probably not it, but it would be a simple check.

 

[Nater]

It is weird...since installing the HIDs, I have not experienced it any more...

 

[bstang]

It`s your head light switch over heating,get a new one and your lights will be good.Had the same problem with a 1991 Ranger.

 

[MountainMike]

Here's one, is your parking brake foot pedal loose? Mine doesn't go up all the way and the lights stay off unless it is fully released. I see you're in Canada like me which means you DRL's are ran through that circuit. Check the switch for the P-brake up there and next time you release your parking brake pull up on the pedal, hold it up, then let go of the release lever and tell us how the lights behave.