Headlight Flickering Problem

how to fix flickering classic car headlights
Episode 482 Autorestomod
One crossed wire can make a cars headlights unsafe. We show how we diagnosed the headlights on our F100 with an American Autowire system on board.
www.npdlink.com
Switch, Headlight, Motorcraft, Spacer Included But not Attached: 11654-6
[e-mail]
www.gasolinemedia.com
www.autorestomod.com

[@OldeCarrGuy]

K.I.S.S.-Keep it simple stupid! I catch myself looking for the worst case scenario a lot and then BOOM! It's something simple. Great info here!

[@kf4ung]

Liked this one a lot. It always seems to be something simple I have overlooked that causes me the most aggravation. Great job guys.

[@67Stang]

That was exactly the same problem I was having with my car. You are right it is often the small stuff that is the problem. In my case, it turned out to be in the wiring for the park lights. I had spliced in some original style connectors to the American Autowire harness instead of using their provided connectors. Somehow I cross connected a ground wire and power on both parking light connections when I did the splice. Not sure how I did that. Thought I was so careful. On well, guess these things happen. Doing as you said, basically unplugging stuff one thing at a time until the clicking from the switch stopped. We started with the tail lights because just like you, we had none but the brake and turn lights were working. Anyway, it is all fixed now. This video was great. I appreciate the help. Really makes being a Patreon member worth every penny. Thanks

[@AutoRestoMod]

Thanks for the show idea by the way!

[@CenobiteBeldar]

That's a gorgeous pickup. I can't help but look at it in aw. Beautiful. She looks like she enjoys working around the property.

[@j.anthony3571]

I had this issue, the alt light kept coming on and off. I put a new voltage regulator, and that was the problem. I put my old one back in and the flickering stopped. Whats up with that??? Thanks for the video! Always helpful

[@veryunknownutuber6145]

Carolina guy's working out the kinks, thank you guys, I'm from florence, but live in Florida now, have my 73 f100, and still working on it.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Got that right! And boy was our truck kinky...

[@edups1]

So I just pick me up a 75 F100 with a 460 no power steering, any ideas of going power steering, was thinking about doing an F-250 power steering swap but I heard they have leaking problems so I was thinking maybe after market stuff lmk btw I'm only 20 so go easy on me 😂

[@AutoRestoMod]

You'd want to find a power steering F100 or F250 from 1973-79. They would have all the stuff you'd need. I'm pretty sure the power steering from any V8 truck would do, but to be safe side, I would get the stuff from a 250 if possible. The replacement boxes are pretty good, I have one in my F100 and it is doing fine after four years or so.

[@edups1]

@@AutoRestoMod thank you

[@fishtacoguy]

Getting ready to watch this, as I'm troubleshooting my (just wired up) headlights on my '55 Dodge. She keeps popping the 30A fuse when I turn em on, got to be a short in the wire or something touching something...

[@fishtacoguy]

yep, first guess is a bad ground on the ole' light "ice cream buckets". That 65 year old metal ain't what she used to be...cant recall if I ran ground to each...

[@DJT_351]

You guys are awesome, helpful and entertaining. Thanks.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Thanks for watching

[@donhugnmanick4454]

“We do something while we are doing something else.” This is so true. Lol.

[@AutoRestoMod]

So...SO true.

[@jasonbastelli4531]

Added headlight relay to my 78f100. Solved flicker issue. Converted to led later.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Usually that means the switch is just tired. adding the relay also changed the ground path.

[@stevepearson7745]

Ouch. I was about ready to pull my steering wheel and replace my turn signal unit for a blinker/light switch issue. Maybe I need to step back and start with any lights not working. Maybe I just need a shop cat.

[@ksingh8762]

Definitely some interesting quirks with these old Fords!

[@jsslifelike]

I have an issue with my high beams on my Bonneville like this that I need to get sorted out. I had to use ceramic H4 extenders so I didn't have to mangle the original arness, so I'm wondering if that's part of my issue. They're working on the low beams, though.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Check grounds first. I find that most of my issues are ground related. This just proved that it CAN be something else. If it persists, you can e-mail me at: [e-mail]

[@CajunJules]

Hey y'all. I found your video while searching for a solution for my 1983 Ford NUWA Class C motorhome on an Econoline body. I have the same issue of my headlights going off and on after 5-7 mins or so of using them. I'm no mechanic but I guess Ill try to locate the source of the short. Hopefully I'll find it and not have to bring it to a shop, because I'm tapped out on repair bills lately. This old motorhome would go off like a roman candle if a short caused a fire. 🥺 Wish me luck!

[@AutoRestoMod]

I'd check the switch, they are available. And I would also do a relay conversion to the headlights. Halogens draw a a lot of amps sometimes. We show how to build your own: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rl7OhmCgfL6tfpI

[@jeromesanders7799]

Great diagram to show how to troubleshoot

[@rallycatgarageharvey1135]

Great info on your video Jeff .Cam's drawing was good also .Glad to see everyone's favorite star Shop Cat getting some well deserved air time. Shop Cat should be in the credits too lol

[@AutoRestoMod]

Right on! I'll add her on the next videos! Cam should give himself some slack, it looked about as good as I can do.

[@portlandon]

In a lot of the 50s through 79 Fords the dimmer switch on the floors create all sorts of chaos.

[@AutoRestoMod]

True! Ours was brand new so we weren't to worried about that.

[@karltite128]

I experienced "smoke in the cockpit" but in my car. Couldn't imagine this in a plane. Heading to work, taking a left, when my shoddy stereo install (radio laying on hump) slid to right and before I could yell damnit the interior was filled with a thick white, acrid smoke. Couldn't see but some how got stopped in center divider. Had to sacrifice coffee to put out carpet, then on to work. Nope, not in plane. Thanks for tips, Got some 70 Ford Falcon flickering to fix. 🇺🇲🍺

[@AutoRestoMod]

I've done similar things lol. Glad you got the issues worked out.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

That has to be the most laid-back cat ever! Oh...cool vid too

[@AutoRestoMod]

That she is...until the bowl is empty. Then I generally find a dead squirrel in the shop with it's head chewed off.

[@danielmcqueen1024]

Always good info! And love the steering wheel which does Not look like my 72' F-250 wheel, which is Huge! and the truck has factory power steering... what's the model # of your wheel?? Thought about putting a smaller Grant wheel but want to keep the Ford look :)

[@DragPakMerc]

Steering wheel is the rim-blow type that was an option (with minor variations) on most Ford & Mercury cars '69 - '74. My favorite retrofit wheel for Ford pickups is the three-spoke unit available in Pintos and Mustang IIs. (They were carried over to the early Foxbody Mustangs, but without any provision for a horn button.) They used to be commonplace, but they're somewhat tough to find these days.

[@danielmcqueen1024]

@@DragPakMerc Does NPD carry this wheel?? Jeff's video only showed the steering wheel fer a few seconds... But it caught my eye :) My 72' has the biggest wheel, like a Mack Truck, and being a big dude it sucks!

[@DragPakMerc]

@@danielmcqueen1024 Yes. Not cheap though. www.npdlink.com/product/steering-wheel-kit-deluxe-3-spoke/175784/200876 Money wise, you're better off finding an original and refurbishing it. It's a time-consuming process, but not especially difficult. Jeff has a couple of videos up showing how its done.

[@danielmcqueen1024]

@@DragPakMerc I knew it looked like a Fairlane or Torino steering wheel! And Dang it is expensive at $833 Bucks! Thanks for the info and I'm going to start looking for a backyard 69' Ford for parts! I do have a 71' LTD wheel but doesn't look as cool as Jeff's! in New Mexico and southern Colorado is loaded with old Fords... But keep that a secret :)

[@AutoRestoMod]

NPD does carry it but only has the center pad for Mustang. Auto Krafters carries the Torino one I used. This wheel is not a direct fit. The column cone is 1965 Falcon, yes, even all the way up to 1972, so it will not sit down into the column like it should. That is one reason I haven't covered it on the show. A more direct fit would be the '65-'66 Ford Deluxe wheel with the Fairlane center.

[@davidbarnett68]

My 1968 f100 does the same thing with the factory harness. Same issue?

[@AutoRestoMod]

More likely a ground. Check as Cam showed, you will likely find the problem.

[@christophervictim]

Good work, guys. more wiring videos please.

[@AutoRestoMod]

We will!

[@clevelandmaker386]

good information there...its always the little stuff that bites you in the......end.....if you know what I mean! mostly where I'm from it's Chevs trying to stuff a big sound system into a factory car and using the factory wiring!.....seesh but anyway....great video love and starliners

[@georgejones7358]

That was very helpful. Thank you.

[@jimmywilson1388]

That’s a nice truck. It isn’t much different from mine. Mine is a 72 Ranger XLT, I believe it’s that same goldish brown color. It’s hard to say for sure they had a couple of colors that were real similar. I think the color of mine is Sequoyah Brown metallic… I’ll have to check the paint code when I get it home from NC tomorrow. Thanks for the video.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Sequoyah Brown is correct for mine. Thanks for the kind words.

[@jimmywilson1388]

@@AutoRestoMod Thank you!

[@DragPakMerc]

Thanks for the useful info.

[@waynep343]

So is the missing bulb is the license plate lamp housing

[@AutoRestoMod]

yep. It pooched it out when I installed them. No metal accept the tabs so those 194s are tempted to pop out.

[@merc-ni7hy]

all i can say is...what a dam nice truck..yuk on the colors though ..i had a 72 f100 4x4 ..and it was loyal for 14 years

[@AutoRestoMod]

The colors are what made it cheap when I bought it LOL. Originally I was going to paint the yellow white. Now I like the weirdness.

[@stephenhotzjustdriveit]

I can relate to the switch. Had one try and burn down my 72 f100 that was only 2 months old.

[@AutoRestoMod]

So much fun smelling that casing burn...

[@Paulie1232]

I had to change the light switch on a 61 comet I owned, what a pain in the butt to say the least....

[@AutoRestoMod]

Fuses too...

[@MrFugion]

simple fix flickering - install capasitor inside lights ~ 6800uF, 25V One lamp

[@olblu8746]

That's a beauty!

[@AutoRestoMod]

Thanks!

[@MalakAlMaut6860]

Good vid

[@RealWorldGarage]

I remember when I first started as a mechanic many many moons ago, I troubleshot a truck with no tail lamps or brake lamps for an hour, only to find out it was the bulbs blown. 🤷‍♂️

[@AutoRestoMod]

Yep. I had a Mustang like that. Buddy said the taillights don't work. Went over and popped the taillight off. No bulbs at all.

[@nicolascreech6367]

I didnt watch this video. Thought, “I dont have this issue.” Then this evening someone flashed their lights at me. Pull in at the grocery store and my headlights are flashing on the vehicle in front of me. So, here I am.... watching this video.... 1974 Ford E200 recently purchased a few months ago.....

[@AutoRestoMod]

Sorry. I knew you didn't watch....really needed you to put me over my quotas...🤣🤣🤣

[@Zach-k2p]

Bad headlight switch caught fire and burnt my all original 35k miles 1991 Ford F-350 4x4 I inherited from my grandfather to the ground one morning on the way to work. Saddest day of my life

[@AutoRestoMod]

Sorry to hear that. Hate to hear that for you.

[@AmericaFirstLastGlimmerOfLight]

👍🏼