2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Electrical Gremlins

[Russ Harris]

Hello Everyone, I have a 2nd Gen 2001 Ram 2500 5.9L 6-speed and I have some electrical gremlins I need help with. For starters, my headlights are very dim and my headlight switch dimmer when I turn up the dash lights my dome lights come on and stay on until I turn it way down almost off and then they shut off, and my dome lights don't turn on when I open the doors, my heater vents are stuck on defrost and wont switch to vent or floor, I bought this truck from a dealership and its a great truck and I don't want to take it back, so any help would be appreciated, as I do work on my own rigs.

 

[BigPapa]

Welcome, Russ.

Sounds like you need a headlight switch and connector and you have a vacuum leak.

Power to our headlights is run through the headlight switch with no relay, a poor design. I would suggest you remove the headlight switch and inspect it and the connector for heat damage. If there is ANY evidence of heat damage, replace them both.

“Defrost” is the default position when no vacuum is present. Since your diesel doesn’t produce vacuum like a gasser, it has a vacuum pump. It’s just forward of the Power Steering pump. The rubber “boot” that connects the main hard plastic vacuum line to the pump is notorious for dry rotting and the plastic lines get VERY brittle and will break if you look at them hard. Dorman has a boot available at any auto parts store cheap (I’ll have to search for the part number when I have more time) and the plastic lines and rubber connectors can be replaced with 5/32” nylon air tubing and pieces of vacuum hose.

 

[Russ Harris]

SCOTT: Thanks for the info, I went to a local junk yard and was able to get 3 different headlight switches and tried them all and still have the same issue, connector is in good condition. I'm wondering if the reason my dome lights are staying on is the issue with the door switches, when I open the door there is no light that comes on, so I'm wondering if they are disconnected, also did the 2001 2500 come standard with the flip up tow mirrors??? I have power to the mirror switch but the mirrors don't turn.

As for the vacuum line, the one at the pump has been replaced and I have vacuum all the way to the vacuum line that goes into the firewall, so I need to locate the line that goes into the firewall.

 

[The patriot]

Look at the TIPM.
Wifes chrysler minivan exhibits "haunted" characteristics.....TIPM connections are prolific in those vans.

 

[BigPapa]

Look at the TIPM.

'01 still had a PDC, no TIPM.