Electrical problem
2001 Lincoln Town Car V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 75,754 miles
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On a 2001 lincoln towncar when i turn my wipers on they make 5 to 10 passes and then my headlights come on with the light switch in the off position. During day time they will go off in aprox 30 seconds after you turn the wipers off at night time they will not go off until the car is shut off.This happens everytime the wipers are used. After 3 hours and $255.00 at my local lincoln dealer they could not find or tell me the problem. Any input would be helpful

My opinion, and I don't know why it wasn't found by the dealer, the light green/black wire to the high beam circuit, runs into the multifunction switch. I would guess this multi switch needs to be replaced...

merlin2021 wrote:

My opinion, and I don't know why it wasn't found by the dealer, the light green/black wire to the high beam circuit, runs into the multifunction switch. I would guess this multi switch needs to be replaced...

The dealer didn't find the problem because the were not guessing. Guessing it is a multifunction switch is no better than what the car dealers conclusion. At least the dealer was honest and stated they did not know. They could have lied and said it was something off the wall and charged the guy a boat load of money.

I see that those that donate $$$ get answered first or faster. If the answer is only a guess then what is the point of donating?

I would say they didn't find it because the wrong tech looked at it, If a problem is present at the dealer, it should be tracable...

Also if Lincoln has the car, and can't find it, over the internet, all that can be done is to tell you how the two are connected, the rest IS up to the owner.

Hey guy's thanks for the replies.I went back to the dealer who tested my car to get a printout from my visit that they didnt give me when i was there.The service advisor who was barley talking to me about my car jus told me that they had not found the problem and more testing needs to be done so i said stop for now.The printout states that they pulled the multifunction and headlight switchs and tested ok.Then say's a pinpoint test shows autolamps are shorted to power the headlights stay on and more testing needed.Is three hours a fare labor time for the work they did?

If they actually started to trace the short, and found the circuit thats bad, 3 hours isnt unreasonable for electrical troubleshooting.

Well guess i should have read my owners manual.
After browsing thru my manual i read that when ignition is on and you turn on wipers the outside lights illuminate (come on) and go off 30 seconds after you turn your wipers off.Now you would think a lincoln dealership with lincoln (certifide mechanics ?)and service advisors would have known this from the start.
Guess They parked my car in the back and started the clock and after 3hrs figured that would be a good bill for no work preformed.
FYI 2carpros...On a 2001 lincoln towncar the outside lights do come on when wipers are used.

Must be new since 98! I own a 98 and this does not happen...How much did the dealership know it alls charge you?

If your question is how much did they the dealership charge me? It was $255.00 for 3 hrs of trouble shooting for a problem that really is not a problem because it is a feature of the car.
You can bet i will be there first thing on monday with manual and printout from service department stating that they couldnt find the problem without more hours of trouble shooting to find my "short in the circuit"
have a nice day.....