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308 headlights problem

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by coachi, Apr 18, 2004.

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  1. coachi

    coachi Formula 3

    May 1, 2002
    2,108
    SC USA
    #1 coachi, Apr 18, 2004
    for no apparent reason, when the battery is connected, my headlights come on by themselves when the car is parked..and stay on and drain the battery..sometimes I noticed the headlights pop up and then down...it is comic actually...what is going on here?

    This is a recent problem I have owned the car since 1990 and idiosyncracies like these make me want to sell it to the highest bidder
     
  2. enjoythemusic

    enjoythemusic F1 World Champ

    Apr 20, 2002
    10,676
    Worldwide
    Full Name:
    Steven
    #2 enjoythemusic, Apr 18, 2004
    (Humor) Your headlights have what many of us refer to as "being possessed". It is when Satan (or Ford, your pick) comes down and possesses the car ;-)

    Sounds to be like bad connector or fuse box connection. i have a SNEAKING suspicion it COULD be the connection on the steering wheel. Have you tried swapping the relays in the fuse box and see if the symptom changes? i realize you said "headlights" as in plural, but MAYBE you have a bad connection and this might help????????

    Just some educated guesses.
     
  3. gamester

    gamester Rookie

    Nov 27, 2003
    17
    Twin Falls, Idaho
    Full Name:
    Erik Jonsson
    #3 gamester, Apr 18, 2004
    I suspect temperature changes are causing the relay to activate them, replace your headlight relay.
     
  4. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,097
    Savannah
    #4 thecarreaper, Apr 18, 2004
    i would think headlight switch/relay also. may be corrosion in the circuit allowing the flow to continue when the battery is connected , but the lights are off. would be fun to put a meter on it and see what the readings are.
     
  5. Doc

    Doc Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2001
    886
    Latham, New York
    Full Name:
    Bill Van Dyne
    #5 Doc, Apr 18, 2004
    Sometimes a bad ground can cause ridiculous headlight symptoms also. Another possibility might be the switch at the end of the stalk itself. Sometimes the plastic on the inside breaks and the 2 wires can come unconnected as well.
     
  6. Michael Collins

    Michael Collins Formula Junior

    Apr 6, 2004
    272
    Shanghai/Melbourne
    #6 Michael Collins, Apr 18, 2004
    On my 84 308 the left light comes up then down then up again when switched on, like the car is winking at the traffic, its quite cute really.

    But the problem you have may be in the light master switch on the steering column as these tend to wear out over the years. The bad news is the parts are not available anymore. but if it is that problem then Verell does repair these switches.

    Regards

    Michael Collins
     

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