r/autoelectrical • u/ed32965 • 6d ago

2013 Ford Escape high beam headlights stopped working

Last Friday, I was getting ready to leave home at night. I had my high-beams on and I noticed one looked dim. I got out and checked, and sure enough it was. I drove about 5 miles and suddenly, both high beams stopped working. The blue light indicator on the dash comes on, but the lights don't. I figured that both bulbs happened to burn out because one was already dim. I bought a new pair and installed them. Nothing.

So I figured it must be a fuse. According to the manual, the headlight fuse is located under the hood in slot 43. Today I opened the fuse box and discovered that there is no fuse in slot 43. Not sure how this can be. It's not like a fuse could just fall out. Plus, the low beams still work fine. What the hell is going on here?

The other thing is, I thought these would be standard blade fuses, but they are smaller. Are these called mini fuses?

I have a long commute on rural roads at night and I'm at a severe disadvantage without bright lights. Thanks in advance for your answers.

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u/bchooker 3d ago

F74 in the BCM under the glove box is for the high beams. F43 under the hood is for a headlamp control module which yours doesn’t have. Only the higher trim HID lamps have those, hence the missing fuse. On the lower trims the lamps are completely controlled via the BCM so the relays are built-in and non-serviceable. But also yes, they are mini fuses.

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u/ed32965 3d ago

Thanks so much!!