No Low Beams

[AHarris]

On the way home tonight, noticed low beans suddenly don't work. Got high beams and fog lights, but no low beams. Truck has auto headlight feature and also added wiring for my snowplow which was installed last October.



Will check fuses tomorrow but something tells me that's not the problem. They started flickering then just went off.



Of course this happens on at 8:30pm on a dark, rainy foggy night... gotta luv Murphy.



Any ideas appreciated... would rather skip the trip to the stealerhip.

 

[AHarris]

Bummer--nobody knows.



Couldn't even find where the damn fuse is for the headlights.



Appt w/dealer on Tues to get fixed.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Some kind of computer/relay system controls light. Been using it since the 3rd gen came out (sorry don't know what it is called).

Have you checked wiring near the headlights?

Wiring for the plows lights?

 

[AHarris]

The dealer replaced the TIPM under warranty but that didn't solve the problem.

 

[mwilson]

Didn't you have a plow installed on that truck???



If so there will be a light control module or relay box that was added by the snow plow installer to handle the switch over to the plow mounted headlamps when the plow unit is on the truck. That may be toast... ... ... ...



We have had a lot of trouble with them on the big plow trucks. Theory is the same as the big rigs now have factory lighting systems very similar to the Dodge pick-ups.



Just a thought.



Mike.

 

[AHarris]

Didn't you have a plow installed on that truck???

If so there will be a light control module or relay box that was added by the snow plow installer to handle the switch over to the plow mounted headlamps when the plow unit is on the truck. That may be toast... ... ... ...

We have had a lot of trouble with them on the big plow trucks. Theory is the same as the big rigs now have factory lighting systems very similar to the Dodge pick-ups.

Just a thought.

Mike.

Yessiree... when I took it back to the dealer they got on the phone with Boss Snowplow Co and they figured out the problem was a $63 wiring harness for the plow. But I did get a new TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module), paid for by Chrysler, that I probably didn't need after all. Dealer's reply to that: "Oh well, it's Chrysler's money so we won't worry about it. "

Sometimes the automotive industry reminds of of the medical industry...

The TIPM is a $1,000 part. It's not a fuse box; it's a frigging computer that controls all the electrical power in the whole truck! Covered by the Powertrain Warranty until 100K. I've read some horror stories on Plowsite.com about snowplow owners having shorts in their plow and trailer warranties that fry the TIPM.

Since I bought the plow somewhere other than the dealer, I have to go to them to get the Boss harness replaced which is still under warranty since the plow is less than a year old. In the meantime, the dealer reset the computers in the truck and the headlights now work fine until I plug the plow in again, which won't be until next Fall.

And I will be very careful next winter and from now on. I wont plug in the plow, or any of my trailers, with the engine running on the truck and I will make sure there's plenty of dielectric grease on all the plow/trailer connections.

I rue the day that I would fry a TIPM after 100K!

 

[sag2]

The TIPM isn't a powertrain item, basic warranty only.

 

[AHarris]

The TIPM isn't a powertrain item, basic warranty only.

According to the Service Manager at Big Valley Ford-Chrysler-Dodge in Ewen, Michigan, it's under the Powertrain Warranty. I asked.

 

[sag2]

According to the Service Manager at Big Valley Ford-Chrysler-Dodge in Ewen, Michigan, it's under the Powertrain Warranty. I asked.

Sorry, your service manager does not know what he is talking about. Straight from DealerConnect warranty coverage.



LOP Coverage

LOP Coverage Details

LOP Number LOP Description Time(Hours) Book Carline Claim Type LOP Coverage Result

08890102 TIPM totally integrated power module / PDC power distribution center-Module 0. 3 R B W,M,F,S,T,A COVERED UNDER THE 3/36 BASIC WARRANTY

 

[DAWG-1]

AHarris, I see from your post you learned a procedure for plugging in electrical items. I have not read anything about the procedure. Could you explain what the dealer told you about the sequence to plug in such external items like trailer plugs or plows? Thanks for the help, Sam

 

[AHarris]

Sorry, your service manager does not know what he is talking about. Straight from DealerConnect warranty coverage.



LOP Coverage

LOP Coverage Details

LOP Number LOP Description Time(Hours) Book Carline Claim Type LOP Coverage Result

08890102 TIPM totally integrated power module / PDC power distribution center-Module 0. 3 R B W,M,F,S,T,A COVERED UNDER THE 3/36 BASIC WARRANTY

That wouldn't surprise me... I'll be a lot more careful in the future when plugging in trailers and plows. I wish Chrysler would just stuck with an old fashioned fuse box.

 

[AHarris]

AHarris, I see from your post you learned a procedure for plugging in electrical items. I have not read anything about the procedure. Could you explain what the dealer told you about the sequence to plug in such external items like trailer plugs or plows? Thanks for the help, Sam

I came up with this myself. Looking back, I think my problems started when I was plugging and unplugging my plow a couple weeks ago when I was storing it for the winter. It was a drizzly day and probably a drop of water was on the plug, causing a brief short and freaking the TIPM out. So fron now on, nothing gets plugged or unplugged from my truck unless the engine is turned off. Might be paranoid, but if Sag2 is right about the warranty coverage on the TIPM (and I suspect he is), I'd rather not take a chance on frying another one.