05 3500 no interior/dash lights

[Travis798]

I just changed the radio out in my 05, and last night noticed that I do not have any interior or dash lights. Al fuses look good, headlights, tail lights, blinkers, hazards are all working fine.

Thinking back, the problem may have originated before the radio, because a while back I was moving my truck (I haven't driven it much lately) and noticed that I had no lights in the center section where my climate control is. I can't remember if I had dash lights then or not, but I know I had interior lights.

I was using the interior lights while installing the radio. I didn't mess with any of the factory wiring, simply wiring the radio to a harness that plugs into the factory harness. I've tried unplugging the radio harness to see if the lights came back, but no go.

I'm kind of stumped as to what it could be. The only thing that changed since having interior lights and not having them, is running my cable for satellite radio under the dash, but I'm fairly certain I did not disturb any wiring, but it is possible I guess, so if there is something under the dash that could cause this that I could check, I'd gladly jump on it.

Anyone have any ideas? I did pull the IOD or whatever fuse that is in the fuse holder for gauge cluster, it was good. All gauges work. I'm not sure about speedo since I haven't driven it but everything else is good to go.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Check and see if you have brake lights. They used to tie the interior lights to the brake light circuit so you would know if the interior light went out you had no brake lights. bg

 

[Travis798]

Brake lights are good. I should mention that my ABS light was on as well, so I took my smarty and checked for codes. No codes shown but I went ahead and cleared them and ABS light went off.

 

[Travis798]

Well I feel like a genius. I checked all fuses with a multimeter checking for continuity and apparently I was cold and ran through them fast because on another check I found my fuse labeled illum was blown. So the one fuse I really should have double checked, I either skipped or went across so fast that the multi meter was still beeping from the previous fuse and I heard the beep and went on. Everything seems to be fine back to normal now, including me being an idiot.

 

[TWebster]

This'll make you feel better

Well I feel like a genius. I checked all fuses with a multimeter checking for continuity and apparently I was cold and ran through them fast because on another check I found my fuse labeled illum was blown. So the one fuse I really should have double checked, I either skipped or went across so fast that the multi meter was still beeping from the previous fuse and I heard the beep and went on. Everything seems to be fine back to normal now, including me being an idiot.

A buddy of mine that I work with was driving an early 2000's chevy 3/4 ton duramax he used for towing a fifth wheel plus it was a daily driver. He tells me he can't get his dash lights to work. So, we go home with that on a Friday, he comes back to work on Monday, says he got his dash lights fixed. So I start pressing him for info, and to alleviate your thoughts on this, he is a well trained mechanic. Well, he him haws around and I finally get the story out of him. He went home Friday night, starts looking around at the truck, can't figure it out. Starts tearing into the dash------to the point its nearly all over his garage floor, he says it suddenly dawns on him, plugs a few components back in, turns on the ignition to power, turns the dimmer switch up, and viola! he has lights-----rolled over laughed my *** off. :--) I still poke him about occasionally.

 

[fkovalski]

Sometimes it is the simplest of fixes.

Years ago while working a a Chevy dealer, I got a job ticket for the weirdest of electrical problems. This was in the early 80's when cars were a little more simple than today. At first I thought the service writer was playing a joke on me, but sure enough the symptoms were all present- I was able to confirm the customer's complaints.

I forget the actual wording on the ticket, but just imaging the symptoms of the top filament in an 1157 bulb coming apart and dropping down to touch the other filament just below it creating a "hot" short circuit.

When you step on the brakes it turned on the other circuit, when you turned on the lights it fired up the opposite items.
2 new tail light bulbs solved the problem.

No one is an idiot if one learns from the experience... glad to hear it was a simple fix.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I tore apart a motorcycle once when it wouldn't start. After a few hours (I was an aircraft electrician), I came to the problem: the kill switch was on. It's always the simple things, operator trouble. Sometimes we would sign off on a pilot right-up as replacing the stick actuator (pilot).
DBF

 

[rashwor]

Maybe you can help me. My wife has a 2005 Durango. The interior lights will not come on under any conditions (roller switch in on position or with opening doors). Over head map lights for driver and passenger also do not come on under any conditions. At the same time this happened, the 4 wheel drive and service 4 wheel drive light in the dash came on. Now when you open the a door, you get the various 4 wheel lights in the dash on, but no other in cab lighting. The rest of the dash lights and gauges light and work fine (dim, etc). I have talked to several people about this and they want you to spend money hunting, but no resolution.

On a side note, I have a Honda 4 wheeler. It has a 3-way kill switch that is only allows it to run with the switch in the middle position. I always leave it in the middle run position. I go out one day and it will not crank. Turns over a little weak, but wont fire for nothing. I figure the battery is bad. I get a new battery and install it. Turns over a little better, but still won't start.... I have a now 9 year old son... guess where he left the kill switch??? Told my dad the story of his grandson and his response was "he is your son!" Wonder what dad was trying to tell me?:-laf