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2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles


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mpasetta
User

Oct 19, 2014, 6:14 PM

Post #1 of 21 (2475 views)
2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Hi,

I love my car but have a problem that I've been unable to fix and would love some advice.

Inconsistently but after about 10-30 of driving my headlights go out and every dash light starts to flash at a rate of about 10x per second. It seems like a short circuit to me. During the short a buzzer is also going on/off. Since this happens alot I have tried everything to see what affects it. The only thing that stops the 'short' is to pull the high beam level towards the drive. While doing this all dash lights return to normal and the buzzer stops. The headlights do not come back on nor do the high beams. No position of the actual lighting switch makes any difference. To fix the problem I nave to turn the lights off for a minute and turn them back on. After doing this one to three times they come back on. Not ideal for nighttime driving.

I took the car to the local ford dealer who said I needed a new lighting control module for $600 part + $130 labor after the $140 diagnostic charge. I had my lighting control module repaired for $45 from my airbags company. I put the repaired unit in and it still does the same thing. A neighbor has almost the exact same car as mine and let me try his part. It did the exact same thing so it does not appear to be the LCM.

It acts like a short but the dealer says that unless I do the repair thru them for close to $1000 they can't help. I told them that I've tried 2 more LCMs and that the problem continues.

I'm looking for any suggestions. I'm pretty handy on repairs but not with cars.

Thank you,
Marty


Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Oct 19, 2014, 6:28 PM

Post #2 of 21 (2464 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Ford is supposed to have issued an Extended warranty provision on this concern .
It extends the warranty on the LCM to 15 years or 250k mikes
Its not a recall, they repair if the concern is present

I would contact the dealer and/ or Ford Customer service and inquire about it before paying.


(This post was edited by Double J on Oct 19, 2014, 6:36 PM)


mpasetta
User

Oct 19, 2014, 6:31 PM

Post #3 of 21 (2462 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Thank you. They looked up my vin and said my car with this exact same issue was not included. i argued and tried to have them include it but was refused,


Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Oct 19, 2014, 6:35 PM

Post #4 of 21 (2456 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Then Contact Ford Motor Company directly,customer service and complain.
Doesn't hurt to try,most they can tell you is no...
But since it is a known concern they may make a concession....may pay for part of it, who knows
I worked for GM for years and you'd be surprised how much Goodwill they do when a customer complains
Squeaky wheel gets the oil


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 19, 2014, 6:43 PM

Post #5 of 21 (2448 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

?! This is a total WILD ARSE GUESS as to why. #1 - I don't think anyone has really targeted anything yet so think small and simple.


My WAG is that head lamp bulbs and or sockets both or either inside or where wires go into sockets are drawing too much current under certain higher temp times triggering either relay not found in a parts look up that you are hearing.


I'd check the head light bulbs, remove, clean and proper lube as necessary both inside socket and back side where wires go in.


Don't tough glass globe with hands on those, use paper or dry clean gloves on them. WD-40, wiggle wires and connections as seen fit and even dialectic grease on contacts only and just a tad this might go away.


If you can feel for the buzzing relay just toss that one as I think it's stressed out now from this,


T



mpasetta
User

Oct 19, 2014, 6:48 PM

Post #6 of 21 (2445 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Thank you! I tried with Ford. I argued and argued. The guy and later his supervisor understood that it appears to be my exact problem but since my vin was not included that was that. I filed a complaint on a consumer site.

But now that I've tried a total of 3 LCMs and the problem persists I don't think this is the problem.


mpasetta
User

Oct 19, 2014, 6:50 PM

Post #7 of 21 (2442 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Thank you Tom. I'll try that tomorrow.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 19, 2014, 11:21 PM

Post #8 of 21 (2425 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Sorry you had little luck with Ford directly as Double J suggested to do. I still dunno on this one and YOU seem to have tried and ruled out some costly problems. I just noted with these old eyes that it took some time to happen and seems to work again if shut off so was thinking heat from the dang bulbs had something to do with it or the draw as most are quite the electrical hog on wiring and connections.


No joke and a total other vehicle same stupid but not thing - lights would go out and buzz I'll never know under the dash as for some stupid reason I went out to check for power at the sockets and just touching them lights came back on so it was on my mind.


Different style but found the contact at bulb on socket back side was the issue and bought a new pigtail for it but a silly tiny finish nail tightened it enough it's been fixed with that and grease for about 5 years now and carry wire to fix just to get home if happens away.


Different all together except it used relays and spade connections right where issue was.


For yours just keep at Ford over it unless you do catch that touching some connection WHILE it does that changes it instantly it might be something silly.


Double J seemed to know something of this problem on that car - I didn't so stick with his suggestions as I was wild guessing,


T



mpasetta
User

Oct 20, 2014, 1:40 PM

Post #9 of 21 (2405 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

I think you might be on to the solution....

I drove the car for 30 mins today. Lights failed and I reached under to find where the buzzing was coming from and found one fuse that was burning hot. Fuse 12 Which is listed as LCM - main lighten switch. It's listed as a 18A CB (circuit breaker?) it looks funny. I'll run to pep boys later and see if they have a replacement.

I have not had a chance to check all the wiring for noticeable problems but will later today.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 20, 2014, 1:56 PM

Post #10 of 21 (2404 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

That could also mean that you have a shorted LCM



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



mpasetta
User

Oct 20, 2014, 2:07 PM

Post #11 of 21 (2402 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

I have 3 LCMS now so I can try another.

Fuse 12 which is red hot... says its an 18A CB and is silver. Does that mean circuit breaker? Can one replace these like a fuse?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 20, 2014, 3:03 PM

Post #12 of 21 (2398 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Yes, that would mean circuit breaker but I have never seen an 18A breaker.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 20, 2014, 3:54 PM

Post #13 of 21 (2390 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Same - never have seen the 18A CB (circuit breaker) but still shouldn't be hot or would do it's thing and reset but could also harm it. Cause not usually the breaker but an overload but not out of the question. Check that it's the correct amp breaker frequently listed in owner's manual but didn't find one in a parts look up as said. If altered to that I'd un-alter it to OE style,


T



mpasetta
User

Oct 20, 2014, 6:54 PM

Post #14 of 21 (2378 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Awesome, thank you both.

The manual calls for an 18a CB and the silver thing came out like a fuse. It is stamped 20amps. When I say it was red hot , I'm surprised it didn't catch fire... I'm going to go to the auto parts store tomorrow and see if they have the 18a version that the owner's manual calls for. If not, I'll get another 20a and see if the new one heats like the old one.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 20, 2014, 10:26 PM

Post #15 of 21 (2367 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Really do NOT suggest over fusing or in this cas AMPS of a CB even just 2A - no! Let it blow and save wires or more serious problems up to fire.


Are headlamps OE on this that you know of? Have aftermarket lights been added to same circuit taking more juice than circuit designed for?


Pay attention to this as getting that hot is NOT normal and quite seriously if it really calls for 18A stick with that only. It just never caught my attention for that exact size/amp rating so far,


T



mpasetta
User

Oct 21, 2014, 10:45 AM

Post #16 of 21 (2352 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Thank you Tom.

I won't. Dealership say that they have the 18a cb so I'm going to drive out there today and get it. Who knows maybe the fact that it is over by 2a now is the problem.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 21, 2014, 11:08 AM

Post #17 of 21 (2348 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Whacked AMP # IMO but so be it. Most all are electro-magnetic pulled to touch points inside when powered and a bi-metal spring want them OFF or OPEN but if warm to hot will spring against force to be off and cool to reset is the basic idea.


What worries me is it's so quick to buzz as you said the points may not make correct contact and against intuition low amps thru a lousy contact makes more heat than a good one so I don't trust it anymore.


Said this was a wild arse guess to begin with. If new one get too warm to touch it may not buzz but problem is still at large. You've tested known culprits so would move on beyond that to bulbs and sockets first and trace back for a fault.
Good luck. Hope it's something that silly. The ever loving worst nightmares that confused everyone around me in biz frequently ended up being the easy and dumbest thing in the system,


T



mpasetta
User

Oct 21, 2014, 8:34 PM

Post #18 of 21 (2333 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

I ordered the exact correct part from Ford today. I'll have it friday. the 20a that is in there now you could fry an egg on after 20 mins.... Wiring / connections to head lights all look good. Sunday I can put a meter on them to check volts / amps.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 22, 2014, 12:17 AM

Post #19 of 21 (2326 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

Still plenty of IDK why but hope if new relay doesn't get too hot to touch it's over right there. If not it's drawing too much power beyond it.


Was checking just because I do sometimes. The headlights (halogen) do draw normally about 1/2 of the rating of that relay/breaker leaving room for whatever else is powered on same like running lights perhaps - not certain if same or not.


As already said that buzzing it's just resetting way too quickly IMO if that hot so new one should at least be some good information if not the total fix. Good luck and hope it is,


T



mpasetta
User

Oct 30, 2014, 9:51 AM

Post #20 of 21 (2263 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

replacing the cb fuse seems to have fixed the problem. Thank you all for your help!!!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 30, 2014, 10:14 AM

Post #21 of 21 (2257 views)
Re: 2000 mercury grand marquis Headlight puzzle V8 92,000 miles Sign In

If you've passed the time when it usually would act up more than a couple times I'd call that a fix. Why may never be known. If just curious later when this proves itself try taking the old one apart for any clues which may show nothing.


Finger's crossed this is done with and too bad such hassle if so,


T







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