Lights kill radio

[Cincinnati Guy]

With my ignition in the power position and I turn on my headlights it kills my radio, but once I start my truck the radio comes back on. Cant figure this out, but its not a real concern really or is it?


I was driving the other day and my lights went dead but my running lights stayed on, I tapped on my low/high beam controller and they came back on. I got investigating and the connections were corroded green looking so I cut off the ends and replaced them. Do you think that was the problem? I would hate driving it again and they go out on me again...

 

[jperecko]

check your grounds

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

Where are all the grounds for the lights? I would think the grounds would be in with the marker lights to, and thus would kill the marker lights when the headlights went out? Ill go out and look over everything I can find for grounds.

 

[jperecko]

Cannot help with specific locations... whenever something like this happens I just go around cleaning contacts and shaking wires and that usually fixes it.

 

[Chevyboy_0]

Cannot help with specific locations... whenever something like this happens I just go around cleaning contacts and shaking wires and that usually fixes it.

+2, check all the grounds as well as the leads to th switchs just to be safe, I had a problem with my Chevelles lights and it turned out it was because the fuse block was corroded

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

Well I can assume I fixed the problem with the lights going out. I am going to go on a test drive when its not so bright outside on a bumpy road. I think it was because I had corroded connections at the high low beam switch, so I put on new ends.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

That could have definitely been the issue right there. Which reminds me that I need to pull my PCM connectors apart and grease the heck outta them as fall (and so rain) is coming a bit faster than I'd like it to...

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

Im pretty positive that was the problem I found the bumpiest road around and didnt have any issues with them going out/

 

[Agnem]

A lot of newer or high power radios have a very low tolerance for voltage drops. If they get below 12 volts, a lot of them shut down to preserve their finals. Most of them are expecting to see 13.6V nominal.

 

[Zrock]

you could have tapped into the dimmer side of the radio wire harnes by mistake if you have a aftermarket radio installed. I used to have the same problem in my bronco everytime the lights turned on the radio shut down for a second. I didnt clue in untill i dimmed down my dash lights and the radio shut down. Last time i follow someone elses hookup when putting in a new radio

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

Apparently that wasnt the problem since I just had the lights go out once again, almost in the same dang location as before. I went and bought a new dimmer switch along with a new headlight switch just in case. Hope it fixes it. Thing that bites is you can not really test it out until you drive and hope like heck the lights dont go out again.

 

[typ4]

Look for hot connections on the headlight switch, the dimmer could also be bad, very common, you had external corrosion and I bet some internal corrosion also. Whoever put a switch on the floor to activate with muddy boots was an idiot.

 

[FordGuy100]

Look for hot connections on the headlight switch, the dimmer could also be bad, very common, you had external corrosion and I bet some internal corrosion also. Whoever put a switch on the floor to activate with muddy boots was an idiot.

Agreed. Almost makes you want to swap a 92-97 steering wheel

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

Actually now you mention this the wires when I cut them back look corroded, maybe I could redo the wires.

 

[NJKen]

You really need to check the wires on the headlight switch itself. They are notorious for burning up. You should have no problem geting a new socket for the switch from any real auto parts store since it is so common. I have fixed a few in my time.
Ken