Ford Mustang & Light: 14 Questions Answered (For Newbies)

The Ford Mustang is a muscle car popular among young and old drivers, thanks to its breathtaking performance and iconic styling.

It comes with a state-of-the-art lighting system to enhance night driving.

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about the Ford Mustang lights.

Which Light Bulbs Sizes and Types Do Ford Mustang Use?

Here is a rundown of the Ford Mustang’s light bulbs:

Headlight

The Mustangs of 1999 to 2004 use bulb number 9007 for both high beam and low beams.

From 2005 to 2007, the Mustang headlight bulb high beam and low beam use bulb H13.

From 2008 to 2012, headlight bulb high beam and low beam (with halogen headlights) use H13. In the same years, headlight bulb high beam and low beam (with HID headlights) use D3R.

From 2010 to 2017, the Mustang headlight bulb high beam and low beam use bulb D3S.

For models from 2018 to 2020, the headlight bulb high beam and low beam use LED lights.

Taillight

Mustangs made between 1999 and 2004 use tail light bulb 3157R. From the 2005 to 2009 Mustang, the taillight bulb number is 4057R.

Starting from 2010 to 2020, the Mustang taillight bulb use LED.

Fog Lights

The Mustang model years 1999 to 2004 models use fog light bulb front is 899. Models from 2005 to 2009 use H11/H16 bulb for the front fog lights.

Mustang 2010 to 2015’s fog light bulb front (Base) is H11/H16 LED.

Mustangs from 2016 to 2017’s fog light bulb front are LED lights.

Center Mount Light

Mustang 1999 to 2004 models’ center high mount stop light bulb is 906. From 2005 to 2009, center high mount stop light of the Mustang uses Bulb 921.

The Mustang 2010 to 2020 models’ center high mount stop light bulb is LED.

Brake Light

The 1999 to 2004 Mustang brake light bulb is 3157R. From 2005 to 2009, the brake light bulb is 4057R.

The Mustang of 2010 to 2020 use LED for the brake lights.

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How to Turn Off Daytime Running Lights on a Ford Mustang?

The Mustang Day time running light cannot be turned off manually. To turn off the daytime running lights, contact your dealer to turn it off.

Ford Mustang Light indicator Symbols Explained

The Mustang has several indicator lights with different meaning. Here are some of the indicator lights and their meaning:

• Cruise Control Indicator: This yellow light with a driving car image pops up when you activate the cruise control system.
• Door Ajar: The indicator sign is a car with the door open. The red light will appear when the door is open or wasn’t shut properly.
• Service Engine Soon: This indicator is a notification of malfunction with the engine emissions system and it shows the Mustang requires servicing.
• Battery Indicator Symbol: This light pops up when the battery is faulty or not charging. Turn off all electrical components you are not using to prevent the vehicle from losing power. Contact your dealer to check out your Mustang.
• Engine Coolant Temperature: When your engine coolant is running high, this light will pop on. You should pull over to safety and let the engine cool off. It might also be due to a faulty engine coolant temperature sensor. 
• Engine Oil: This light shows a low oil level or a malfunction with the oil sensor. Pull over and check your oil level. If your oil is low, top it up. If the oil is at an appropriate level, and the light continues to stay on, contact your dealer or mechanic.
• Low Tire Pressure Warning: The yellow exclamation mark pops up when the tire pressure monitoring system detects low tire pressure.

Make sure to also read our article about the Ford Mustang in snow and winter driving. 

How Do You Adjust the Light on a Ford Mustang?

Here are simple steps to adjust the light on your Mustang.

• Move your Mustang as close as possible to a plain wall without touching it and turn off all surrounding lights. Leave the garage or warehouse as dark as possible.
• Turn your headlights on.
• Make a horizontal tap line across each of the light beam on the wall. Make a vertical tape line across each of the light beam forming like a plus “+” sign on the wall.
• Reverse your Mustang up to 25 feet.
• Open the hood and locate the headlight adjuster.
• On the 1987 to 1993, it’s by the headlight inside the hood.
• For 94′ to 98′ Mustang, remove the radiator cover to have access to the headlight adjuster.
• For these models, use your headlight adjusting wrench to adjust the light beam until the beam lands where the tape line intercepts.
• From 1999 upwards Mustang, all you need is a Philip head screwdriver to adjust the headlight with the adjuster screw on the headlight inside the hood. Adjust the headlights till the beam lands where the tape intercepts.
• Close the hood and test the adjusted headlights.

Does Ford Mustang Have Automatic Headlamps?

The sixth generation Mustang has automatic headlamps.

Older generations might not have automatic headlights at all or the feature might be available as optional equipment.

How Do I Turn Off the Lights on a Ford Mustang?

To turn off the light on the Mustang, look to the left of your steering wheel.

Beside the instrument dash, you’ll come across the multi-position headlamp switch.

On the switch, there are four indicators, let’s start from the left end to the right end of the switch.

You will see the ‘Off’ light sign, ‘Park’ light sign, ‘On’ light sign, and the ‘Auto’ light sign.

To turn off the headlamps, all you need to do is move the switch to the left end.

If you don’t want to worry about switching the lights on and off, you can turn the switch to auto.

Please also read our article about how long the Ford Mustang lasts. 

How Do I Turn Off the Ford Mustang Trunk Light?

The trunk light of the Mustang goes off automatically when the trunk is closed. If this does not occur, all you need to do is to:

• Open the trunk and check if there is any object in the lock.
• Check if the lock clips properly to hit the sensor.

If all this is in place and the light does not go off, it is likely that the lock sensor of the truck light is faulty. Call an expert to check it out.

How Does the Auto Light Sensitivity Work?

For the sixth generation Mustang, the auto light sensitivity will automatically turn on light when natural light decreases and the surroundings get dark.

What Can Cause the Drive Light to Blink?

There are different reasons for the drive light to blink in your Mustang. The most common reason is a problem in the transmission control system.

A malfunction in the transmission control system will make the drive light blink. You will need to have a Ford mechanic read the codes and determine exactly what is wrong.

Can I Use Headlight Covers on a Ford Mustang?

You can use headlight covers on a Mustang. Headlight covers are stylish and can serve as a protective film.

However, they can reduce the brightness of the headlights, which is why some states prohibit their use.

The Dome/Interior Light Isn’t Working

The first step is to check the bulb, then the dimmer switch.

If these are in order, the next thing is to check for a faulty fuse. If the fuse is faulty, replace it and test the dome light.

Also read our article about 11 Ford Mustang facts and statistics you should know. 

Ford Mustang Light Sensors Explained

The Mustang’s light sensors adjust the brightness of the dash/navigation lights based on the amount of daylight. The sensor is usually mounted on the dash.

Do Ford Mustang Have LED Lights?

Mustangs have LED lights.

Starting from 2010, the taillight, center mount light and the brake light use LED lights.

In 2018, Ford changed the headlights to LED lights.

The Lights Come on But the Car Won’t Start

When the light comes on that shows the battery is charged. If your battery is charged but your starter is still silent and the vehicle won’t even click, it could be a bad ignition switch.

If the warning lights on your dashboard won’t light up and your battery is clean and the connections are fine, you likely have a broken ignition switch.

The problem might also be due to a very weak battery.

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