ive herd of the headlight switches failing in the 87-92 cougars or more but is that a prob in the 83-86 cougars tbirds? and the same with the ignition switch?
Headlight switch:
85-86, yes (same unit as 87-88). 83-84 not sure
Ignition switch: yes. All Fords from approximately 83-94 except Probe and Ranger used the same switch. The recall only covered 88-94 models because Ford didn't want to pay for older vehicles, but the same nasty, failure-pr0ne, flammable switch was in the older cars
I changed my mulitfuction switch and that didn't fix it. My birds an 84. Just put a new switch that turns the lights on and off, and i think that's taken care of it.
It sucks really bad when you are driving really fast and your headlights turn off and then it's really dark.
Yes, the early fox cars had the ignition switch problem too. I had an '82 fox Granada, and the switch caught on fire. Luckily I was right there when it did, and put it out. :)
Autozone sells fire extenguishers. Anyway, how do they expect you to drill holes and replace the switch without giving you new bolts included with the ignition switch? And did 86 birds have the same switch? Cause i remember changing my 86 one, but when i went to change my 84's it was rivited in there. I don't remember having to drill on my 86. I actually changed it at a friends house cause it went in his driveway.
Ford switched to security torx bits on the later ones. :) I had to knock the rivets out on the '82 also. No Autozones way back when I had that car...LOL. :grinno: