how do i check to see if my headlihgt switch is bad

my maverick will shut completely down when i turn the headlight switch on! .has anyone ever had this problem ? could it be a switch issue or electrical

 

how is your charging system?
my exciter wire came loose from my alt. and the car died even when I applied the brakes...
the lights were basically taking all the power from the battery.

 

checked the exciter wire it is tight.

 

If headlight switch is shorted & drawing enough current to kill engine, you should have a smoke show. With a battery strong enough to start engine, you could throw alternator in the creek & lights/engine still operate.

Sounds like you have a power feed common to lights & ign system that has a poor connection.

 

im a dummy when it comes to electrical. can u sorta point me to where to start checking connections,i also forgot to mention if i tap the brake it will also shut the car completely down. i can jump it at the solenoid from the battery with a screw driver to get it started but today i went to try that and it didnt work

 

the last time i did get it running i pulled the battery ground cable off and that shut the car down . does that mean anything?

 

Likely that alternator isn't charging..

Pulling a batt cable with engine running is a bad idea, no doubt held over from days of generators. Electrical surge/spike can damage internal rectifiers, not a problem with generator as they do not use rectifiers.

 

With your odd issues, first thing is to be sure battery is good & fully charged. Does it at least crank at solenoid? At that point you'll need a test light(type with bulb, NOT LED) & a voltmeter. If it starts, test voltage at battery, a good reading will be around 14v.

If you are unsure about using voltmeter, there are numerous videos on youtube. Wrong settings and meter will produce smoke(DO NOT use ohms for volt testing). Start by testing something like a common 9v battery.

If battery has been connected backwards, likely fuse link from alt that provides charge voltage is burned out. Possibly is another fuse link that provides voltage for chassis, lights etc. A open link in this circuit could cause your wierd issues.

 

i cant get maverick to start with the screw driver at the solenoid anymore . i decided to take the alternator off and let a parts house test it for me. if it does show bad i would like to replace with a 1 wire alternator,any recommendation? the one i have now is a motorcraft so it may very well be the original. i dont run speakers or radio,electric fan etc. i do have a MSD distributor and ignition box .

 

i put my battery on a charge and got it fully charged

 

If fuse link I mentioned earlier is open it isn't going to charge with a dozen new alternators. Don't just throw parts at it... troubleshoot!!!

 

i have been busy with working 12 hr shifts but i didi take my alternator to have checked to illiminate that an dit turns out good. i was checking wires around the external regulator and the wires are bridle that plugs inot the regulator and one of them broke off from the plug that goes into the regulator ,its the one that says I on the plug ,can someone tell me what that wire actually is?

 

I suggest tossing that setup and get 1 wire and eliminate all that 50 year old brittle wiring/harness and have more amperage too. You never know if you will add some other accessories down the road and you won't have to worry about not having enough power. Since your considering an upgrade, now is the time. I been running 1 wire for 10 years would never go back even if I didn't have elec. fan and AC.

 

yes im looking at a 3g one wire