Just finished replacing both a shot alternator and battery in my '90 Talon, I hooked the power back up to the battery, started the car and carried on troubleshooting my idle surge (yeah, she's a real gem..).
Gave up for the day and left, only coming home to see that my tail lights and front running lights were on, along with the corner markers (rear) and my gauge cluster. Ignition was turned off, no key in it, and all of my switches were off.
Not wanting to go gremlin hunting at 4am, i unhooked the battery and left it until morning.
After playing with the controls for a while I found out that:
- all those lights are stuck on anytime the battery is connected
- my headlights will flip up, but dont turn on. (lowbeams)
- Only the left Highbeam works, and the switch contact was getting bad.
(Beams wouldnt stay on unless i held them in contact just slightly).
- my fog lights work fine
- i dont believe the brake lights are functioning (yet to check)
- turn signals are also working front and rear.
After finding this all out, i decided to disconnect the steering wheel harnesses to the light controls and call it a day (this turned the running lights off)
With the lights being off now, I assumed I could leave the battery connected. Wrong. Came out to the shop today to find a nice dead battery..
I put it on charge and ripped the headlight/wiper controls out of my parts car. Once it had some juice, I reconnected the battery (running lights come back on WITH THE HARNESSES UNDONE NOW). I tried connecting the new controls, no change. Disconnected all four steering column harnesses including the ignition barrel, lights still on. WTF.
(I'll note that my illumination light ring around the ignition is also out now.)
The new switches functioned the exact same way that the original ones did (other than the highbeam switch that now works properly) but fixed nothing.
Removing the Anti-Theft relay did nothing either. Unhooking it was a suggestion i received earlier from a mechanic i know..
I'm now at the point of wanting to just pull the Running Light board out, but that still leaves the headlight issue. It also doesn't seem like it will fix the situation all.
Gave up for the day and left, only coming home to see that my tail lights and front running lights were on, along with the corner markers (rear) and my gauge cluster. Ignition was turned off, no key in it, and all of my switches were off.
Not wanting to go gremlin hunting at 4am, i unhooked the battery and left it until morning.
After playing with the controls for a while I found out that:
- all those lights are stuck on anytime the battery is connected
- my headlights will flip up, but dont turn on. (lowbeams)
- Only the left Highbeam works, and the switch contact was getting bad.
(Beams wouldnt stay on unless i held them in contact just slightly).
- my fog lights work fine
- i dont believe the brake lights are functioning (yet to check)
- turn signals are also working front and rear.
After finding this all out, i decided to disconnect the steering wheel harnesses to the light controls and call it a day (this turned the running lights off)
With the lights being off now, I assumed I could leave the battery connected. Wrong. Came out to the shop today to find a nice dead battery..
I put it on charge and ripped the headlight/wiper controls out of my parts car. Once it had some juice, I reconnected the battery (running lights come back on WITH THE HARNESSES UNDONE NOW). I tried connecting the new controls, no change. Disconnected all four steering column harnesses including the ignition barrel, lights still on. WTF.
(I'll note that my illumination light ring around the ignition is also out now.)
The new switches functioned the exact same way that the original ones did (other than the highbeam switch that now works properly) but fixed nothing.
Removing the Anti-Theft relay did nothing either. Unhooking it was a suggestion i received earlier from a mechanic i know..
I'm now at the point of wanting to just pull the Running Light board out, but that still leaves the headlight issue. It also doesn't seem like it will fix the situation all.
