02 Lincoln LS Low Beam Headlight problem

Jimmyd said:
I thought we decided there is no headlight relay?
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I suspect that he is talking about the relevant SSP relay, but if you have only lost the low beams, then that's not the problem.

Have you removed/changed at least one of the low beam bulbs to verify that they aren't burnt out?
 
Going to try a bulb tonight. I'm just having a real hard time believing that both burned out at the same time. Do you know if a high beam light will fit in the low beam socket? That would at least spare me the expense of a new bulb.
 
I'm pretty sure they both have 10 amp fuses if remember correctly.
 
Well, checked the bulbs today when I got home. Something is really weird, there was no continuity on the bulbs so I thought I had it. I checked the high beam bulb and that one did have continuity. I thought I had it, 2 bad bulbs. So, checked the plug and was getiing no voltage. High beam had 11.75 volts. So, even though the bulbs may be bad, there is still no voltage to the plug? HELP!!!
 
I wonder if the switch (that has the turn signals and allows you to switch to high beams) has gone bad.. I just hope it isn't the most expensive
 
FASTLLS said:
I wonder if the switch (that has the turn signals and allows you to switch to high beams) has gone bad.. I just hope it isn't the most expensive
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Current for the headlights doesn't actually route through the multifunction switch on the LS. (It does on many cars, like the Ranger.) On the LS the multifunction switch just signals the FEM to activate low beams or high beams. If the high beams are always on (when the light switch is on) then it could be the multifunction switch. If it is a case of high beams and no beams (no headlights on at all with the switch on), then it isn't the multifunction switch.
 
Jimmyd said:
Well, checked the bulbs today when I got home. Something is really weird, there was no continuity on the bulbs so I thought I had it. I checked the high beam bulb and that one did have continuity. I thought I had it, 2 bad bulbs. So, checked the plug and was getiing no voltage. High beam had 11.75 volts. So, even though the bulbs may be bad, there is still no voltage to the plug? HELP!!!
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Okay, so you have a multimeter. Good.

With the key on and the headlights off, measure between ground and either each terminal of the headlight low beam bulb socket. You should get nothing on one terminal, and about 12 volts on the other. If you don't get 12V on one of the terminals, you have a broken wire somewhere (again, assuming all fuses are good).

Now, keep track of which terminal had 12 volts. Turn the lights on and measure the resistance between ground and the other terminal. (Don't trip up and measure to the 12V terminal, you'll blow the meter.) You should get some really low value, like less than five ohms. If you get a high reading, it could be the wiring but it is probably going to be the FEM.
 
OK got it. I will check the plugs when I get home tonight. Lets talk about the FEM...
Where is it located?
Any idea how hard it is to change?
Any idea how much one costs?
Can I buy a used one somewhere?
 
1. Driver's kick panel.
2. Shouldn't be hard.
3. No.
4. Probably.
 
Was reading a tech bulliton somewhere ( can't find it again) regarding the FEM module. It stated that the FEM would need to be reprogrammed or recalibrated. ( don't remember the exact wording) Does this make sense to anyone? Also, would disconnecting the battery for a while and letting the module go to sleep do any good?
 
Jimmyd said:
Was reading a tech bulliton somewhere ( can't find it again) regarding the FEM module. It stated that the FEM would need to be reprogrammed or recalibrated. ( don't remember the exact wording) Does this make sense to anyone? Also, would disconnecting the battery for a while and letting the module go to sleep do any good?
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I can't see the power reset resolving this. I think that people try that too often. That said, there's little harm in trying.

The manual does say that replacement FEMs have to be programmed. I don't know if this would apply to a used one from a car of the same year and same options as yours. I would certainly carry out the troubleshooting to be sure that it is the FEM and not the wiring before replacing it.
 
joegr,
Not sure if you saw my post from last night or not. Can you explain why I would not get continuity on the low beam bulb but would get it on the high beam bulb? I will however take your advice and check the plug again tonight as you recommended. Tomorrow I will be leaving to go out of town for a few days. Will continue next week.
Do you know of anyone who could tell me if a used FEM module will need to be re-programmed. I'm betting the Lincoln dealer won't tell me one way or the other.
 
Jimmyd said:
... Can you explain why I would not get continuity on the low beam bulb but would get it on the high beam bulb? ...
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The bulb is burnt out and/or user measurement error. I can't think of any other possibilities (unless your low beams are HIDs).

Jimmyd said:
...
Do you know of anyone who could tell me if a used FEM module will need to be re-programmed. I'm betting the Lincoln dealer won't tell me one way or the other.
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I have a good relationship with the Lincoln dealer I use and they are happy to provide whatever info they have. I don't know about yours. FEM replacement is rare, and the LS is rare, so they may not know.

I think that mainly the FEM needs to know if you have HIDs and/or DRLs (DRL is just a programmed setting in the FEM). For factory work, they also like to copy out user settings like the headlight turn off delay and such.
 
Jimmy did you ever get the figured out? I'm having similar issues with my LS.

I swapped all bulbs, checked all fuses and the wires look ok.

on my driver side the high works and on the pass side the low works, and if I swap the headlight harnesses the problem reverses.

if I turn my brights on/off fast with the one headlight on it looks like a cop car :p
 
Yes I did as a matter of fact. Both Low beam fuses were blown and I had a bad bulb.
 
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