Head light problem

[SMalafy]

I just bought a 2001 and discovered I have an issue with the drivers side headlight. It would come on but not bright at all as on the passengers side and even the high beam did not change much. I thought I had a bad ground with so I made a jumper from a nearby ground. When I connected the jumper wire, both headlights came on with the switch in the off position. I had changed the multi-switch on the steering column as the high/low dimmer switch felt funky thinking that this might be the problem. Still the drivers side lamp is very weak. Are the lamps supposed to carry current all the time ? Should I be looking at my head light switch for problems there ? I also need to know which type of fuel gauge should I install on my truck. Mechanical or electrical. Thanks

 

[GAmes]

It was about 2000 that Dodge went to switched grounds for many of the electrical components. So yes, the lights get power all the time, the switch connects the ground. I suggest you get a factory service manual which contains all the wire diagrams. Genos carries them.

 

[Road Dog]

Have you tried swapping the bulbs? A bad bulb will do what you describe.
Are you talking about the gauge in the instrument cluster? The whole cluster is one unit and controlled by the ecm.

 

[DavidC]

Have you tried swapping the bulbs? A bad bulb will do what you describe.
Are you talking about the gauge in the instrument cluster? The whole cluster is one unit and controlled by the ecm.

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought the ECM sent data to the PCM then bussed to the instruments

Dave

 

[Road Dog]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought the ECM sent data to the PCM then bussed to the instruments

Dave

I thought it was the ECM but the manual says:
The microprocessor-based EMIC (ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster) hardware and software uses various inputs to control the gauges and indicators visible on the face of the cluster. Some of these inputs are hard wired, but most are in the form of electronic messages that are transmitted by other electronic modules over the Chrysler Collision Detection (CCD) data bus network.

The EMIC has a self-diagnostic mode.

• insert the key in the ignition (and leave off)
• press and hold the trip odometer button
• turn the key to ON
• wait for "CHEC" to appear in the odometer display
• release the button

The cluster will go through a diagnostic, turning on all the lamps, moving the gauges and ringing the chime. Error codes will be displayed (or not) in the odometer display.

 

[GAmes]

I'm pretty sure he was asking about a fuel pressure gauge. If that's the case, I prefer electrical. I don't want a fuel line running into the cab.

 

[fest3er]

I'm pretty sure he was asking about a fuel pressure gauge. If that's the case, I prefer electrical. I don't want a fuel line running into the cab.

Not even for those unexpected moments when you need a dab of Eau du #2 cologne when picking up a date?

 

[SMalafy]

It was about 2000 that Dodge went to switched grounds for many of the electrical components. So yes, the lights get power all the time, the switch connects the ground. I suggest you get a factory service manual which contains all the wire diagrams. Genos carries them.

Waiting for Genos UPS delivery today on the manual. Thanks for getting back at least I know the switch controls the ground.

 

[SMalafy]

Have you tried swapping the bulbs? A bad bulb will do what you describe.
Are you talking about the gauge in the instrument cluster? The whole cluster is one unit and controlled by the ecm.

Both bulbs lit up brightly when I ran a ground straight to the dim headlight, so I know it is not the bulb. I never knew there was a fuel pressure gauge in the instrument panel. I just bought the truck. Had a 95 before this one and a lot is different.

 

[Road Dog]

There's no fuel pressure gauge; just the usual fuel level gauge.

 

[GAmes]

Silly me, I presumed you had read about the injection pump failures and wanted to add a fuel pressure gauge as a preventative measure.

 

[SMalafy]

Silly me, I presumed you had read about the injection pump failures and wanted to add a fuel pressure gauge as a preventative measure.

Yes that is why I am adding the fuel pump pressure gauge although a friend told me to buy the mechanical as it is more accurate. No I do not want to buy a new fuel pump for sure.

 

[GAmes]

I feel my electric Isspro EV2 gauge is plenty accurate. In addition, I bought an extra sender and with the flip of a toggle switch I can look at my oil pressure in case my stock gauge goes to zero (Cummins oil pressure senders fail every now and then, after market ones fail quickly). In retrospect I should have just bought 2 oil pressure gauge kits for the extra parts, it wouldn't have cost very much more.