just purchased a 1997 xlt 4wd with 4.6 engine with automatic trans. the first problem that I was faced with is no high beam most of the times and no high beam indicator in the dash. checked the bulb for the high beam indicator and it was good. can anyone help with problem.

 

By your description, I take it the fuse is not the issue ( most of the times )

Is this when pushing forward on the MFS, or when you use the FTP ( Flash to Pass ) function by pulling back.

Try tilting the steering wheel all the way 1 direction or the other, and see if they work. Some times the connector in the steering wheel column pulls apart from the slack in the harness getting pulled tight. If you want to remove the anti submarine panel ( knee panel ) and the steering wheel column cover ( 3 screws on the bottom ) and take a look at the connector, you might find it pulled apart a bit. The pins might be discolored from arcing.

Seen several threads where the locking tab was broken, and the member had to zip tie the connector back together and zip tie the harness to keep the slack in the column ( so it would not try to pull back apart again )

Test with the MFS in FTP mode and the try the tilt to see if it works. If the connector gets pulled apart, the high beams might not work ( which is also the same circuit for the high beam indicator lamp in the cluster ).



If the connector is together good, it could be a dirty / faulty MFS switch itself. Remove and test with this chart

 

thanks for help I just tried the tilt thing but no luck with that ,so I will pull the kick panel and see if the connector has seperated. if no seperation what else might someone for else look for.

 

Remove the MFS, and test the switch itself.

 

check the high beam fuse slot and make sure the metal contacts in the slot are not pushed apart too far, and arent making contact with the fuse.