Headlights flickering. WTF?

Here's the scoop:

1960 Ford F100
Headlights stay on if I'm not driving but after about 20 minutes of rolling down the road, they flicker off and on. I've checked the wiring. Nothing is loose. Checked the switch. Everything seems in order.

Help a brotha out

 

It sounds like the circuit is getting to hot and loosing connection. I had the same problem with my car and the relay was going out. I replaced the relay and all was well.

 

I'm going to act stupid for a second. Any idea where the relay is? I'm no electrician guru.

 

most headlight switches have their own circuit breakers. just a simple bi-metallic tab and two contact points.. it might be getting hot and turning them on and off itself.

 

Check the dimmer switch. When they start to go out they will do this.

 

Yeah, their is a big*** breaker on the backside of the switch. I re-soldered all of the loose wires when I first got the truck.

I'm thinking it is the dimmer switch because when I turn it to dim the dash lights, it just turns them off. There is no "DIMming".

 

triple check all grounds ..to engine ..to frame ....to dash

something is loose... even unsupported wiring near the headlite

 

Id check the grounds man, Had that happen to me and it was just a bad ground.

 

Dimmer switch, Headlight switch.

 

Cool. I'll check all of the grounds and switches and everything again tomorrow. Thanks guys

 

If your running Halogon bulbs and p***ing power through a 60's style light switch instead of a Relay, your probably smoking the switch. Sounds Switch related to me. A bad ground will generally make a light go dim but seldom flash off and on, that's a bad contact flashing lights or a Circuit breaker tripping off and on.
The Wizzard

 

The dimmer switch is for high/low beam.
If your dash lights won't dim, that's the headlight switch.

 

same thing i was thinking some time the plastic or Phenolic melts or wears away and starts doing this
it has happened to me in the past

 

Your headlight switch's circuit breaker is "PLUM WORE OUT"!

You could replace the switch and/or do this.

http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/WiringHeadlightRelays.htm

You should do the relay install and get brighter lights to boot as the voltage drop from all that wiring to and from the dash will make them dim. Often by doing this you won't even need to replace the switch as it is only operating the relay's after.

 

my old pontiac did that and turned out to be the dimmer switch

 

I have a '60 F100 too, and I had the same problem. I replaced the headlight switch and it cleared right up. The circuit breaker is inside the switch.