How To Test The Headlight Switch with a multimeter (Ford 4.9L, 5.0L, 5.8L)

Testing the headlight switch on your Ford pickup (SUV or van) isn't hard.

In this tutorial, I'll prove you how to find out if the headlight switch is causing a 'No Headlights' or a 'No Park Lamps' status.

Note: This tutorial covers quite a flake of Ford vehicles since the same headlight switch fits them all. To find out if this tutorial applies to your specific Ford vehicle, have a await at the 'Applies To:' box on the right column.

En Español Yous can notice this tutorial in Spanish here: Cómo Probar: El Interruptor de las Luces Delanteras (Ford) (at: autotecnico-online.com).

Headlight Switch Troubleshooting Basics

How To Test The Ford Headlight Switch

Hither's a clarification of all of the headlight pins:

Headlight Switch & Connector Pivot Out
Pin Wire Colour Description
B1 Blackness w/ Orange stripe Battery (+)
B2 Tan westward/ White stripe Battery (+)
D1 Lt Green w/ Yellow stripe Ability (+) for interior lamps
D2 Black w/ Pink stripe To all interior lamps
H Red westward/ Yellowish stripe To headlight dimmer switch
I White due west/ Lt Blue stripe To instrument panel lamps
IGN Xanthous w/ Black stripe Bombardment (+)
R Brown To exterior lamps
DN Orange w/ Black stripe To radio illumination lamps

NOTE: The colors of the wires (in a higher place) may not be the ones coming out of the headlight switch connector in your particular Ford vehicle but the circuit (pivot) descriptions will be the same.

Testing the headlight switch simply involves testing the continuity of certain circuits.

To exist a scrap more specific, you'll be using a multimeter in Ohms (Ω) and probing between to terminals (on the headlight switch itself) to see if at that place'south continuity between them.

If in that location's no continuity betwixt them, and then that circuit is bad and the headlight switch on your Ford pickup (SUV or van) has to be replaced.

Notation: You'll need to remove the headlight switch to test it.

  1. The ii pins that consummate the excursion for the headlights are:
    1. pivot B1
    2. pin H
  2. The two pins that consummate the circuit for the park lamp are:
    1. pin B2
    2. pin R

Melted Ford Headlight Switch Connector

How To Test The Headlight Switch with a multimeter (Ford 4.9L, 5.0L, 5.8L)

Melted headlight switch connectors (and headlight switches) are a very common problem on Ford vehicle'due south equipped with this blazon of headlight switch. This problem will crusade the headlights or park lamps to stop working.

At that place's a very skilful chance that this is exactly what has happened in your particular Ford vehicle.

Then, before you starting time any of the tests in this tutorial, you lot'll demand to see if this has happened in your particular instance.

If you exercise find that the headlight switch connector is melted, you'll need to supplant both the headlight switch and the connector. You lot can buy them both here:

Beginning Here: Testing The Headlight Switch

Depending on what issue you lot're having with your head lights (no headlights or no park lamps), your starting point will exist in one of two different tests.

NOTE: Before starting any of the tests below, take a await at this section: Melted Ford Headlight Switch Connector.

Alright, depending on what problem you're trying to solve, here'southward your starting guide

No Headlights

  1. The first examination involves jumpering pins B1 and H and checking that the headlights turn on.
    1. For this exam, go to: TEST one: Jumpering The Headlight Circuit.
  2. The 2nd test involves checking the continuity between pins B1 and H of the headlight switch itself.
    1. For this examination, get to: Examination 2: Testing The Continuity Of The Headlight Excursion.

No Park Lamps

  1. The first test involves jumpering pins B2 and R and checking that the park lamps plow on.
    1. For this test, become to: TEST three: Jumpering The Park Lamp Circuit.
  2. The second exam involves checking the continuity betwixt pins B2 and R of the headlight switch itself.
    1. For this test, go to: Test 4: Testing The Continuity Of The Park Lamp Circuit.