Headlights went out!

[Breadfan]

All,

Tonight on my way home, I did a right turn onto a backroad and my lights went out. I still had fog lights, but my headlights were not working.

I pulled over, and fiddled the main headlight switch and the MF switch (going from brights to no brights) and nothing worked. I turned off the car and restarted - no help.

A few minutes later, they came back on. I drove home with no further issues.

Saturday night this happened leaving a friends house. It only lasted like 30 seconds though. I *think* at that point I had accidentally hit the turn signal switch getting out of the car, so when turning it on, the left turn signal was on.

And tonight, I was using the right turn signal.

Again though, the fog lights and park lights work fine - it's the headlights that go out.

Also, hoding the brights to "momentary" and they work. But brights on or lows on does not.

Makes me think - MF switch.

Has anyone else had these symptoms? I drive home in the dark from work so I'm gonna have to get this taken care of. I figure maybe not using my signals would help and no one in N. VA would notice anyway. :)

[Bradley G]

When mine acted like that, it was the LCM

[Bluerauder]

All,

Tonight on my way home, I did a right turn onto a backroad and my lights went out. I still had fog lights, but my headlights were not working.

I pulled over, and fiddled the main headlight switch and the MF switch (going from brights to no brights) and nothing worked. I turned off the car and restarted - no help.

A few minutes later, they came back on. I drove home with no further issues.

Saturday night this happened leaving a friends house. It only lasted like 30 seconds though. I *think* at that point I had accidentally hit the turn signal switch getting out of the car, so when turning it on, the left turn signal was on.

And tonight, I was using the right turn signal.

Again though, the fog lights and park lights work fine - it's the headlights that go out.

Also, hoding the brights to "momentary" and they work. But brights on or lows on does not.

Makes me think - MF switch.

Has anyone else had these symptoms? I drive home in the dark from work so I'm gonna have to get this taken care of. I figure maybe not using my signals would help and no one in N. VA would notice anyway. :)


If this is the MF switch can I get a Ford Part # by chance?
Were your windshield wipers working at the time? I had lights that would go off and on periodically when I had the wipers set to intermittent and headlights on auto. It was traced back to wacky wiper syndrome and never reoccurred after the last wiper motor replacement.

[Breadfan]

Wipers were not on at the time, either instance.

However...within the last year I did have wacky wiper syndrome.

Wacky as it is - it stopped 6 months ago, and the wipers have worked perfectly since then. They also worked fine tonight when my headlights didn't. (I tested them, as I thought there could be a connection.)

[Breadfan]

When mine acted like that, it was the LCM

Were there any additional symptoms or simply the headlights blinking out for a few minutes? Any other accompanying symptoms?

I found the MF switch and will get one at the dealer this week if needed, I don't really wanna do the lcm...or pay for it, I'm guessing it's pricey!

[Paul]

You can replace the bad relay in the LCM. No need to replace the entire LCM unit. Simple fix with solder and inexpensive relays. There is a thread here about my doing it: go here: http://motorcitymarauders.com/forums...***.php?t=8618 (http://motorcitymarauders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8618). I followed the instructions on cv.net.

[DOOM]

Sounds like the LCM

[Breadfan]

Thank you! I will try that

[RF Overlord]

There's also a thread about it here (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50506&).

Breadfan, Phoebe had symptoms almost exactly like yours. I bought a MFS and a headlight switch just to have on hand, but it was the LCM. I swapped out the module from The Blackbird (we don't drive her in the winter) and I got a replacement relay as per the how-to and will be doing it soon.

The LCM IS pricey at the dealer...over $400, but R&R is simple and if you have any experience at all soldering on a circuit board, replacing the relay is simple, too.

[SID210SA]

I had the same issue....it was the LCM....had it fixed at the Stealership for over 800.00 bucks for parts and labor....luckily my extended warranty covered it so I only paid 250.00 out the door....

[SC Cheesehead]

There's also a thread about it here (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50506&).

Breadfan, Phoebe had symptoms almost exactly like yours. I bought a MFS and a headlight switch just to have on hand, but it was the LCM. I swapped out the module from The Blackbird (we don't drive her in the winter) and I got a replacement relay as per the how-to and will be doing it soon.

The LCM IS pricey at the dealer...over $400, but R&R is simple and if you have any experience at all soldering on a circuit board, replacing the relay is simple, too.

^^^^^ +1 ^^^^^^ to what Bob said. New relay is less than $5.00, that plus about an hour of your labor will fix the problem.

Hardest part, IMO, is getting the goofy LCM out; after that, piece of cake if you follow the instructions in Bob's linky.

Good luck, and holler if you have any questions.

[ckadiddle]

LCM, I think I posted a thread about mine somewhere too. One relay goes bad on the LCM, headlights go on and off when they feel like it.

[juno]

Some hints on the LCM rework. Buy a circuit board solder sucker at RS. Unbolt the adjustable accelerator thingy, makes life a LOT easier.
Do the direct relay mod so it won't happen again.

[2003 Merc'em]

Ok I'm new to this, what is an LCM?Thanks

[Bradley G]

light control module= headlamp switch.
They can be fixed for small parts cost!
Ok I'm new to this, what is an LCM?Thanks

[2003 Merc'em]

Yeah been reading some of the forums, It appears my headlights are going out due to it.Thanks for the quick response.

[gogettah70]

After taking off the LCM is there any way to see if it is still in good shape?

[ctrlraven]

Have a MF switch for sale.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51103

[SC Cheesehead]

After taking off the LCM is there any way to see if it is still in good shape?

It's not the LCM as such, just one of the relays in it. If your lights have been acting crazy, there's a 95%+ chance that the relay's shot and needs replacement.

It's less than an hour's job to fix, so I say just go do it.

[gogettah70]

Where can i get a new relay from?:help:

[sd8683]

Where the heck is the LCM located? My freakin lights went out lastnight!

Thanks

[SC Cheesehead]

Where can i get a new relay from?:help:

Mouser Electronics is where I got mine, less than $5.00 for the relay.


Where the heck is the LCM located? My freakin lights went out lastnight!

Thanks

Check out this link:

http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1159835&fpart=3

LCM is under the dash, above the accelerator, tight fit, but you can get it out with some wiggles.

[tmhitchens1]

I lost my headlights - not good! was reading this but can't open the page on cv.net - can anyone open it and copy paste or shoot me an email with the info?

[SC Cheesehead]

I lost my headlights - not good! was reading this but can't open the page on cv.net - can anyone open it and copy paste or shoot me an email with the info?

http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1159835&page=4#Post1159835

Why not just have fastblackmerc do a fix and relay upgrade for you? Send him a PM and get yourself hooked up.

[tmhitchens1]

Already did....my daily driver and sometimes I dont leave work til its dark out, so I gotta get it done quick!

[fastblackmerc]

Already did....my daily driver and sometimes I dont leave work til its dark out, so I gotta get it done quick!

Replied to our PM.