2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission headlight switch

[badgolfer]

my headlights will go off and then back on . this only happens now and then. I had the recall heavy duty switch installed . Could this be going bad ? Anyone have this problem . 1997 ram 3500 .







1997 dodge ram 3500 4x2 dually

 

[RMcKinney]

Could be the wire terminal

my headlights will go off and then back on . this only happens now and then. I had the recall heavy duty switch installed . Could this be going bad ? Anyone have this problem . 1997 ram 3500 .







1997 dodge ram 3500 4x2 dually

When I installed the NAPA replacement i had one wire almost broke into .

If I wiggled that wire lights would come on. Since the change nothing but great.

RMcKinney 1995 2500 270000

 

[JMcCoy]

My headlight switch did the same thing until I replaced it. It just started to do it again a couple of weeks ago. I may try Napa next time. I am also going to do the sport headlight and SUV wire harness to relieve some of the current going throught the switch.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

If you have flickering change the switch soon, otherwise you'll have the same thing that happened to my '96 where it overheated and not only ruined the switch but melted the connector too. It was a job rewiring that.

 

[harrisonm3]

Suvlights.com's site has been down for the last couple of days.

 

[GAmes]

It is easy to wire relays to take the load off the switch. I also have mine set up so that the low beams stay on when the high beams are selected. I have a link somewhere on how to do the hi/lo fix without the relays. If I can find my handmade diagram for the relays I'll post it tomorrow.

 

[ESwartzer]

Watch out for fire

I'm with Vaughn about being quick to take care of the problem. I also had a complete meltdown of the switch and wiring and it nearly caused a fire, I had to drive home without any headlights for more miles than I should admit to. If you catch it early then its only a plug in deal not a whole rewire like I had to do whic is a PITA!

 

[mwilson]

Just another vote to get at that switch right now.



I caught the '97 just in time, not much damage when I changed it. It had been flickering the high beams for about two days before I dove into it.



Mike.

 

[GAmes]

Here is the article to just wire the headlights so that the low beams stay on with the high beams. When I did mine I used a relay, rather than having the parking lights feed for the low beam.



Ram headlight switching modifications



Later on I wired relays into both sides and added a diode to activate the low beams. If you are happy with just one, high or low beam, omit the diode.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Similar to GAmes, but I didn't install the bridge diode which allows the LB relay to be pulled in even whan the LB switching lead goes dead. Instead i interlocked the relays (i went quad light) to "step-up" the LB bulb from one filament to the other when the HB bulb lights. Did this in stereo from each battery, with separate circuit breakers so each light could function despite a failure in the other.

 

[badgolfer]

Thanks for all the good info on the switch problem. Looks like I'm off to NAPA for a new switch. Again Thanks.







Badgolfer,

1997 dodge 3500 Ram dually 4x2

 

[Bunyan]

my headlights will go off and then back on . this only happens now and then. I had the recall heavy duty switch installed . Could this be going bad ? Anyone have this problem . 1997 ram 3500 .







1997 dodge ram 3500 4x2 dually

look at the replies i made to (headlight switch) by Garyd

 

[WilsonF]

Just a splice

It is easy to wire relays to take the load off the switch. I also have mine set up so that the low beams stay on when the high beams are selected. I have a link somewhere on how to do the hi/lo fix without the relays. If I can find my handmade diagram for the relays I'll post it tomorrow.

Years ago, on my 96, I found instructions online how to do this with just a 3M splice under the steering wheel. A couple of laptop changes since then and I have lost the bookmark. Maybe some serous searching could find it.



Floyd