Headlight Issue (OT Fairlane)

[Ryan Robbins]

So I recently bought a 61 Ford Fairlane and am having a problem with the headlights. The headlights will randomly shut off, they come back on almost instantly though. It only seems to happen after its had a chance to get warm. This happens on both high and low beam but doesn't seem to affect the tail lights. I pulled the switch out and found one wire to be loose, put it back together and went for a test drive. Thought everything was good to go, but after about 10 minutes of driving, they shut off. They do come back on almost right away and will flicker like that for a few cycles. I stopped and checked the connections at the switch. Everything seemed solid and it didn't happen the rest of the ride home(about 10 minutes). Messed with the wires again, tried to get the one that was loose a little more solid and took it for another test drive. Stayed on for 10-15 minutes again, then off/on/off/on for a few cycles and came on solid again for the remainder of the drive home, about 5 minutes. The headlight switch does get pretty dang hot at the back. I'm thinking its in the switch, but before I attempt to find one, does anyone have any possibilities of what it may be?

Thanks in advance.

[Young Ed]

Somewhere you have bad wiring/connections. They are tripping the built in circuit breaker which is why they go on and off.

[RobertKB]

I have a '63 Fairlane and had the same problem but only when they were on high beam. Tried everything and the final solution was a new headlight switch. That was a few years ago and even then it was hard to find and expensive. Good luck with finding the problem.

[greg g]

try cycling the stomp switch a dozen time or so, sometimes the contacts in the switches get fussy from corrosion.

Edited May 31, 2011 by greg g

[kbuhagiar]

So I recently bought a 61 Ford Fairlane and am having a problem with the headlights. The headlights will randomly shut off, they come back on almost instantly though. It only seems to happen after its had a chance to get warm. <snip> Thanks in advance.

Ryan,

When I was in high school I had a 68 Cougar that exhibited the same problem. Drove me nuts. After driving a few miles with the headlights on, the lights would suddenly go off, then come on about 15 seconds later.

After much frustration and research, I learned that Ford headlight switches of that era had an internal circuit breaker that could wear out after a few years and become intermittent. There is no way of repairing or resetting the breaker.

I eventually replaced the headlight switch and my problem was solved. Not sure how easy it is to find a replacement headlight switch for a 61 Ford Fairlane, but that would be the first thing I would look at.

Good luck!

[desoto1939]

I found one on ebay here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1960-61-62-63-64-Ford-Fairlane-Comet-Headlight-Switch-/370498059132?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item564367bb7c

The cost was $50

Rich Hartung

[Ryan Robbins]

Thanks for all the replies. From the responses and the research I've found, I think its in the switch. Rockauto looks like they have one for around $20. I'll keep you all posted on how it turns out.