Archived cant drive tonight

[wrichards]

My headlights are not working, fuses are good, changed bulb still not working truck is 1995 with 70 k on clock. Where do i start.

 

[mwilson]

My headlights are not working, fuses are good, changed bulb still not working truck is 1995 with 70 k on clock. Where do i start.

With it being a '95 truck I would start with the headlight switch, it is probably smoked. Pull it out and have a look.



Mike.

 

[RustyJC]

With it being a '95 truck I would start with the headlight switch, it is probably smoked. Pull it out and have a look.

Especially if you have the factory foglights. If I recall from my 1996, there was a TSB to put these on a relay to prevent the overtaxed headlight switch from burning out.



Rusty

 

[Bill Stockard]

Especially if you have the factory foglights. If I recall from my 1996, there was a TSB to put these on a relay to prevent the overtaxed headlight switch from burning out.

Rusty

As I recall, my '97 3500 dually had a recall that installed relays on the headlight switch. As I remeember, that recall only involved dual rear wheel trucks because of the required added identification lights on the light circuit.

Bill

 

[RustyJC]

As I recall, my '97 3500 dually had a recall that installed relays on the headlight switch. As I remeember, that recall only involved dual rear wheel trucks because of the required added identification lights on the light circuit.

That could be, Bill. That was a LONG time ago. My 96 dually had both - the foglights and the marker lights, so all I remembered was the foglights. At any rate, it wasn't unusual for the headlight switches and wiring harness attaching plugs to melt down back then, if I recall correctly.



Rusty

 

[mwilson]

The 3/4 tons didn't have the overlay harness but did come with a new plug and 8" of wiring so you could change out the used part... .....



I had to do the '97 the first spring that I had it. My old '95 did the same thing.



I did smarten up on the '97 and popped all the good wire ends out of the melted plug and snapped them into the new plug. Then I only had to do 2 splices instead of all of them.



Mike.

 

[GAmes]

The first problem I had with headlights was the multifunction switch. I found that if I went from bright to dim several times the headlights would start working.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

I would look at the light switch and connector first.
IIRC there was an issue due to excess current drawn by clearance and tail lights when towing a trailer. The entire lighting load (truck and trailer) passed through the headlight switch and toasted the connectors and switch. Replaced a few switches and repaired a lot of wire connectors because of that.