Gaspi101

My 96 gt has the tendency of giving me a very weird electrical problem. When I turn the headlights on, the radio cuts out, and so does the door chime, power windows, locks, spedometer, internal lights and outer lights. I also get the airbags off beep from below the steering column. The RPM gauge IS functional though. Here's the weird part: If I wait a while, and then put the headlight switch to on, and SMACK the top of the instrument cluster, EVERYTHING will turn itself back on again! Radio, power locks, etc. Never does the car itself not run or any other mechanical problems. I have tried tracing the wires to find a bad ground, but can find nothing! Any ideas?

Is there an electrical node or bundle of shared wires (or grounds) in common between the dash, headlights, power locks, windows, stereo, little digital clock, and airbags?

I need help! Thanks!

Acer2428

Dude, the electrical system in mustangs SUCK...

When I turn my radio UP, my headlights get BRIGHTER....wtf?

JT2000

Dude my car dies when the headlights are on. I thought it was the IAC but I changed that and it still does it.

Gaspi101

Well, the AIC would have nothing to do with the headlights--if it were the AIC your car would die whenever it was idle. If it's only the headlights that kill your car, I would say you have a bad ground for the headlights, and that kills the alternator and battery with a surge. If you leave it alone for a little while the car starts up again, right?

That's not what's happening to me. Anyone have any ideas?

Deannostang

Voltage regulator could be doing some weird stuff. Kind of like what happens to electronic equipment at home when your line voltage is fluctuating. One quick "charging system" check might bring some light to the subject. Since Ford's have separate, unitized voltage regulators, it would not break the bank just to swop it with a new one.

Gaspi101

Voltage regulator, you say? That's not a bad idea! I've never heard of such a thing, but it certainly sounds like a great place to look. Is it an individual unit I can swap? And where is it? How would I go about doing a charging systems check? I've checked the battery and alternator millions of times with a voltage meter, but I imagine you're talking about something different. Thanks, mate!