Ford Repair: varialbe lights 1994 towncar, daytime running light, fuel pump relay

Question
1994 Lincoln TownCar. 171,000 miles. Excellent condition. Good runner. You got'a buy a 15
year old car they don't get any better than this one. My daughter bout it about 2 months
ago. . .  

I've been chasing reliability issue some - similar to the "hard starting"
issues related in the recent forum topic here on the same subject.

Replaced the Idle Air Control Valve, then the  Ignition relay, and finally the the Fuel
Pump Relay. The fuel pump relay was the culprit.

After resolving the hard starting problem (Ok it was just random prioritization) I've
noticed that when the car is started the head-lights cycle bright and dim slightly 'bout
once a second? This goes away in a minute or two. Any ideas? BTW my success in finding
the fuel pump relay to be the bad actor does not in any way indicate that my strong suit
is electrical. Quite the contrary.

I assume it has to do with the drain from cranking the engine.  Beyond that the problem
get real grey real fast. . .

Voltage regulator? Alternator? Belts are tight - no squealing.
Computer? Man, I hope not.  (And she has not yet bought the test unit I told her would
facilitate this work. What Work? What?

BTW - if I may hijack my own thread - can I tell by crawling around under the car whether
or not this has the original untouched tranny? 1171k is a lot of miles. Couldn't talk her
out of it. SIGH. . .  

Comments. Suggestions. Prioritize possibilities?

Pete Peterson
COGITO ERGO ZOOM


Answer
hello there, thats great that you where able to find that problem on your own.
And with these headlight problems you are having.  Under the hood, i dont rember where located. but there will be this box, usualy surrounded by a sheild, loacted maby near one of the strut towers. this is called a DRL module, (daytime running light), when they burn out they will cause a flickering of the lights. BUT i have also seen the switch in the dashboard fail and cause a flickering.  Because you are saying MILES i am going to assume you are from the united states, so this vehicle may not even be equiped with a DRL module. because there is no law in the states that state you need DRL's installed. IN canada the vehicle has to be built with it. but there are some cars in the staes still built with them so check that first.
Good luck
Chris P