2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission High Beam Indicator / Fog Light Question

[Shelby Griggs]

On my 2001. 5, I recently noticed that the high beam indicator in the instrument cluster is very faintly illuminated anytime the factory fog lights are on and low beams are selected. I have upgraded the headlights to "sports" and am powering them with a harness from SUVlights.com. It is possible that this modification may be causing the anomaly???



This behavior "may" of been present since new, I don't know, however I just noticed it. This isn't very obvious, in fact you have to look very closely to see just the faintest glow of the high beam indicator.



The anomaly doesn't happen with parking/fog light combination only NOR with only the headlights on.



If this behavior isn't normal, what would be a likely cause? I am thinking it might be in the fog light relay.



Would some other second generation owners with factory fog lights mind checking to see if the behavior I am reporting is normal? Please report any light modifications and year of truck too. I am mostly curious, I don't see this really causing any harm.



SHG

 

[DMcLeod]

My lighting / wiring is stock. I see absolutely no illumination of the high beam indicator at any light combination selection except when high beam is selected. I used a headlight harness from Summit Racing for a time, and never noticed anything like you describe.



01 2500 QC LB 4WD ETH

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Thanks for the reply.



Just to be clear the high beam indicator is very very dim, just barely see the outline, probably about 5% of normal brightness, but definitely getting a little bit of power with the fogs on and low beam selected. When I select high beam, it is full brightness as is normal.



SHG

 

[DMcLeod]

Yep, you were clear. I tried mine in complete darkness to be sure. I thought you might be seeing some spill over light from the instrument panel or something. But I assure you my high beam indicator remains black as midnight with the fogs on and low beam selected. Not even a very very very dim glow.



Maybe others will chime in and confirm for ya. Good luck.

 

[SSolderitch]

I would pull each bulb - one at a time to see if anything changes. Hopefully you can pinpoint a bulb, wiring or load (amps). My guess is the gauge of wire is not heavy enough and it is drawing thru the high beam bulb or you may need to add additional relays...

 

[Road Dog]

When you get that faint [mystery] glow on a bulb it's almost always a ground issue -- electricity is flowing through the path of least resistance and that happens to be the high beam indicator.

 

[VicR]

I noticed the exact same thing on my truck last trip but had forgotten about it until you mentioned it. I have the stock non-sport lights and the summit harness. I'll probalby start with cleaning all of the connections this weekend and see if that does the trick. -Vic

 

[Bob Cochran]

Yep, you were clear. I tried mine in complete darkness to be sure. I thought you might be seeing some spill over light from the instrument panel or something. But I assure you my high beam indicator remains black as midnight with the fogs on and low beam selected. Not even a very very very dim glow.



Maybe others will chime in and confirm for ya. Good luck.

No light on mine either.



I agree when this happens I find it usually a ground problem. I have had a fuse blow and other lights came on so things get weird as it was a backfeed through the ground.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I guess I will try to chase this down when I get a chance.



VicR, I would appreciate an update if you easily figure this out.



SHG

 

[Shelby Griggs]

UPDATE



I discovered last night that with the fog lights on, once I go to high beam and then back to low beam, the drivers side headlight stays on high beam, in other words, the fog light circuit is somehow allowing the drivers side high beam to stay 'latched" in the high beam side. It is important to note that I no longer have stock headlights or wiring harness, using the SUVlights.com harness, my guess is the relays in this harness are somehow being energized by the fog lights and staying powered up. The SUVlights harness just plugs into the OEM light sockets and gets the power direct from the battery to power the headlights, it simply uses the OEM power to switch the relays, somehow I think those relays are staying powered in the high beam mode. With 'half" the headlights on high beam, I guess that is why I am getting a dim high beam indicator anytime the fogs are powered up, LOL.



I don't have the service manual. Could someone with a manual see how the fog light circuit works? Trying to figure out how that circuit could leave residual power on the headlight circuit?



SHG

 

[jhoughton]

I had the same thing happen on my 99. I have the wiring harness from Summit when you could still get them. I had a blown drivers headlight and had to get to work one morning. I used the fog lights and one headlight. I flashed my high beams and then back to low. Once I arrived at work I noticed that my lights were still on bright(no high beam indication on dash). If I turned the fog lights off then flashed to high and back to low and they will switch back. Only does it when the fogs are on. Works correctly once off. I think it also works correctly now that I replaced the headlight. I will have to check once I return from my current deployment.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

OK, ALL IS NORMAL!



I did a search here and found several threads such as this one https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/2nd-generation-ram-forum-no-engine-transmission-discussions/180573-summit-wiring-harness.html and this one https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ow-feedback-through-highbeams-fog-lights.html, so I did the fog light relay bypass and ALL of the problems disappeared.



SHG