Flicking high beams - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

XRBURNS · 10-26-2002, 07:02

Guys,

I have a EL XR6 and when I have my high beams on they sometimes start flashing really fast and sometimes even turn off.. there is also a ticking sound coming from near the battery when this happens..

Is this a fuse problem?? any ideas??

AUForte · 10-26-2002, 07:28

I would think that the ticking sound would be the high beam relay, as to why the relay trigger is intermittent, I don't know but hope this eliminates a few possibilities

TopGhia · 10-26-2002, 13:27

Most intermittent faults like this are caused by a faulty earth somewhere in the circuit. Give the relay contacts a bit of a clean up as well. Let us know what happens.

Cheers

10-26-2002, 17:11

If there isn't enough voltage/current the relay will have problems staying closed and will keep clicking open and closed(causing your lights to flash).

You should just change your high beam relay first, and if you don't get any solutions from that you should look into a power supply problem(alternator stuffed?)

TopGhia · 10-26-2002, 22:14

I should have asked if this happens when driving or parked.

Although if you can hear the ticking sound, you must be parked, or it is a very loud tick! Donuts is probably right in that case, how's the state of charge of the battery?

<b>No-Load Test
Voltage Percent Charge</b>

12.60V to 12.72V 100%
12.45V 75%
12.30V 50%
12.15V 25%

Check the battery before replacing relay (cost less)

cheers

XRBURNS · 10-27-2002, 01:04

Guys,

Thanks for all the input..

it happens when driving... you can only hear the noise when you open the hood with the car running.... and it happens very rarely.. also the battery is brand new and runs at the correct voltage.

Where is the high beam relay??

Is it expensive to replace?

lsd0 · 10-27-2002, 04:04

All you need is a new headlight circuit breaker, about $10 from ford dealers.

10-27-2002, 06:11

Last time i had that prob was on an XD wagon, the only reason i mention is because my fault was the actual wiring. Everything got hot and often if left off for a while, prob would go away, but not always. Even though you've got a newer ride, it might pay to check it anyway.

TopGhia · 10-27-2002, 14:15

The headlight relay is under a plastic cover beside the battery. There is 4 in there, the HL one is the 3rd from the front. Clean the contacts up first, could be just a bit of corrosion on the terminals. Use some contact cleaner (plastic friendly stuff) and when clean, smear a bit of dielectric grease on them, that should stop future corrosion.

There is a similar post down the page a bit about headlights, read that too.

Bit scary if they go off when your'e driving though.

cheers