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1998 Mercury Sable Headlights won't turn off

Tiny
HMICHAELR
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 MERCURY SABLE
Electrical problem
1998 Mercury Sable 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 124K miles

The headlights in this auto turned themselves on this afternoon while the car was parked in the drive. I tried repeatedly to turn them off but the switch now has no affect on the lights in any position. I finally turned them off by disconnecting the battery cables. The car's dome light gave me fits a couple years ago. It would occasionally stay on after a door was closed and refuse to go out. I "solved" that problem by removing the dome light bulb and have lived without one since then. This car has 124,000 miles but is otherwise in wonderful condition and is a pleasure to drive. What do you suppose is causing these strange electrical anomalies?
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Thursday, June 4th, 2009 AT 8:20 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok on the dome light problem that is one of the door pin (adjar) switches that is inside the door at the latch I will include a pic of this switch for you. The headlights sounds like it may be the GEM module. This module controls all the lighting. If you have a digital multi meter we can test this module to make sure it is bad.

Door adjar switch


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/249564_429287_1.jpg

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Friday, June 5th, 2009 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
HMICHAELR
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  • 4 POSTS
No, I don't have a multimeter. Is it possible that the problem is in the DRL module and not the GEM module (if they are two different things)? If so, can we eliminate that possibility without a multimeter?
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Friday, June 5th, 2009 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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It could be the DL module or the Gem module but without a meter to do some testing it is just a guess nothing more. It don't have to be a high dollar meter either. It can be a 20 dollar one as long as it is a digital one. If you have a friend that can loan you one that works too. Let me know what you want to do.
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Saturday, June 6th, 2009 AT 8:49 AM
Tiny
HMICHAELR
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Racefan, I think I have solved the problem. Please advise if you feel I have done anything which could be unsafe. I removed the 15 Amp fuse for the DRLs in the Power Distribution Panel under the hood (#15). All exterior lights appear to operate normally now with the light swith and turn indicator switch. The daytime running lights are a feature I can live without. Do you know of a reason I should not drive this car with that fuse removed?
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Sunday, June 7th, 2009 AT 3:02 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
No I see now reason not to drive the car. It sounds like the drl module is causing the problems with the fuse gone the module no longer has control. I you want your drl back then just buy a module from a salvage or wrecking yard. As for the dome lights the switch that I showed you before is what will fix that I recomend replacing all of them as they are not very expensive and it is hard to tell which door is causing that problem. Anyway thanks and have a great day.
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Monday, June 8th, 2009 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
PBLECHAR
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
There has been talk about the DRL. Where is it located?
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Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
HMICHAELR
  • MEMBER
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Thanks a lot, racefan. You have helped me solve this problem.

One last question: Who is your Cup driver?
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Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 AT 1:42 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
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You are quite welcome. If there is anything else just ask. Go Carl Edwards.
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Thursday, June 11th, 2009 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
SUPERWRENCH
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I had the same problem with my daughters car only it was random. Finally found it was caused by a bad connection at the fuse next to the horn fuse. The fuse was good but it had started to melt the plastic. The headlights would not always shut off and the dash lights would work some of the time. Her remote CD player would not work either. Repaired the connection replace the fuse and all is well. Hope this helps.
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Thursday, June 11th, 2009 AT 7:07 PM

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