lighting problem. please help

[the evil 1]

hey guys, i have an 03 mach 1 and i am having the worst problem with my lights interior and exterior. i was driving last night after getting gas, and all of a sudden all my dash lights and parking lights went out. but the headlights stayed on. this is a weird problem cause if i put the switch in the parking light position i get no lights at all. if i pull it a tad bit beyond the parking light position ill get the dash lights and parking lights, but no headlights. but if i put it in the headlight light position i dont get any dash lights or tail lights, just headlights. So far i have checked all fuses and relays. all are good. and i have replaced the headlight switch with 2 new ones and it does the same thing. any ideas?

[ToplessPony94]

I've heard a lot of stories, but this one takes it. Call GhostBusters???

[the evil 1]

thats what im saying. what the hell. leave it up to me to have this problem

[ToplessPony94]

Just a thought... Can you test the connector? If you can get a pin out, you can try applying 12v to each of the pins for the various lights and see what happens. I'm grasping at straws here, but maybe the connector is somehow getting stressed a bit and losing connection when you work the switch? Try twisting things around a bit when you have 12v on a pin and see if things flicker.

[the evil 1]

i will try that when i get home, but i did check last nite if the switch was getting power and it is.

[pony98]

Oh man this can get pretty frustrating. Just an idea. Have you checked your grounds? Battery connections could be a suspect. I know you mentioned the situation with the lighting. Nothing to do with ignition problems right? Check the ground on the swtich for the light. Might take time but see if there are any wires frayed or grounded. Yes I know this is very frustrating but try to keep it simple. It sucks when it comes to electrical because we can't hear or see it.

[JR@Dez]

sure does sound like a grounding problem to me also.

[SmokinStang]

sure does sound like a grounding problem to me also.

I second that....

QUESTION - Have you made any electrical changes recently to the Mach 1" Stereo, fuel system, poking around anywhere where-as you may have disrupted/loosened a ground wire?
Grounds would on a "Mess" type of network.....and require ALL ground locations (and there are many, many scattered about the vehicle - engine bay, under dash, in the trunk, etc.....) to be secure. Also they should be all metal -to- metal contact, no painted surfaces -to- metal stuff

[pony98]

I get heartburn thinking of a grounding problem. Ive been late nights on roofs diagnosing roof top units and all it takes is one strand of a chaffed wire on a controller to start the f bombs from flying. Smokin, you made a good point on asking if he has changed anything like stereo, fuel, or lighting that may have moved a wire or connection a hair the wrong way to effect the connection. NOW MY QUESTION, IS EVIL 1 WITH THE O3 MACH1 MENTIONED THAT WHEN HE SWITCHES THE LIGHT KNOB FROM PARK TO HEADLIGHT POSITION THE LIGHTING IS AFFECTED. NOW I HAVE A 98 GT STANDARD. DO THE MACH'S COME IN AUTOMATIC? DO THE MACHS HAVE "DAY TIME" RUNNING LIGHTS? IF IT IS AN AUTOMATIC, THERE IS A DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT SYNCRO ON THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY I BELIEVE. IM SHOOTING FOR THE STARS BECAUSE "I" "WE" CANT SEE IT IN PERSON. By reading he has replaced the light knob assembly on the dash and the problem still exists, tested the pins like Topless mentioned, The wiring from the light switch should be traced now. Just make sure you enjoy the holiday first before you stress your self out Evil 1, LOL. You will find it.

[Cobraman1024]

A grounding issue seems about right, possibly near the drivers kick panel below your dash. I'd start there. The reason why is because it seems that your car can't handle the electrical load of everything turned on at once since lighting does create quite a current draw.

My first thought was that since you already replaced the headlight switch twice, what about the combination switch that controls the windshield wipers, bright headlights and all of that? Have you tested that the hazard lights, brights and turn signals still function properly?
I konw your headlights work fine, but I had an issue where the headlights wouldn't come on at all in a '95 v6 Mustang and after some searching through schematics, found that the 12v source for a lot of the lighting goes through the combination switch on the steering column.