Cargo Light

[Big-D]

Anybody know of a way to "rewire" the headlight switch so that the cargo light will turn on before the inside lights do? I can't see very well to back up with the dome lights on. Is this possible or is the contacts made inside the switch. Thanks! Dave

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[illflem]

You didn't say what year you have so I can't say what color the wires are. Just find which wires,under the dash, goes to the dome and which to the cargo light then trade them.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

[Big-D]

IllFlem... '99 QC. Maybe I should get one of those service manuals so I can become a smart fella.

 

[illflem]

Big-D,yeah it's good idea to have a service manual even if your truck's under warranty. You can read up on any work the dealer might do and see how much they're BSing you. You almost have to have one for wiring diagrams,the electrical portion of the manual is almost half of a close to 1000 page book,probably more on a 24 valve.

Can't help you with the wires I just have a '95 manual. I do know that it is much easier to find the right wires to switch when you know the colors. You will be able to trade them down low under the dash without removing the switch,which is way up in there. I think the reason that Dodge wired it so the dome light comes on before the cargo light is so you don't drive with the cargo light on. I hear you though,the cargo light is worthless, when the dome is on,for backing up. So worthless in fact that I'll bet most of the folks here don't even remember it's there.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

[John]

illflem, I was going to use your suggestion to switch on a pair of backup lights that I want to add (use the cargo light as a trigger for the backup light relay). However, after playing with the light switch I discovered I would have the interior lights on while trying to backup... not preferable to me. Would switching the cargo and interior light wires on the light switch let the cargo light, light up WITHOUT having the interior lights on (assuming you have the doors closed)? If so, it's a done deal.

I have a '98. 5 (i. e. , positive switched headlight system)... '99+ Rams have negative switched headlight systems.

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John Treibel
'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4 Sport, Glasstite Vision II, 285 BFG A/Ts on M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares & tow hooks, NW Custom s/s-rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover & trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Reese Titan V hitch, SPA gauges (3), Dynamat, '00 Sport grille and headlights/PIAA Super White bulbs, PIAA Dual Sport 900 aux. lights, BD exh. brake and TorqLoc, Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass, Optima Yellow Tops, DD3s/DD Boost Module, Aeroquip AQP braided s/s fuel hoses, Banks High-Ram intake manifold and 14 cm2 turbine housing w/Big Head wastegate actuator, ATS 3-piece exh. man. , Banks 4" dia. s/s exh. sys. , BD V10/Cummins hybrid TC & mod. trans. frt. pump, BD VB & PressureLoc, Air Bulldog induction hood (with NACA ducts), plus MANY other trick modifications

Recycle Bin: Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit (due to flow restriction), Bosch 275s & VA CPC (upgraded to DD3s... WOW! what a difference!), '00 Dodge/Cummins valve cover (going back to my OE '98. 5 valve cover... tricked out though), VDO Vision gauges (upgraded to $PA gauges. . three of 'em... where's that when you need it? LOL)

 

[Banshe]

Big-D
I was reading a thread about someone who had moved a couple wires on their headlight switch to get the cargo light one before the interior lights. I'm pretty sure it was a thread about installing "cab" or "clearance" lights. Good Luck

Banshe Bill

 

[illflem]

Yup,just cut two 20ga wires then splice them back together reversed. I would do it right by the connection block near the rear of the fuse block,much easier than trying to get at the switch. You will need a wireing diagram for your year to get the right color wires. On my '95 they are the yellow (to dome) Pink w/ dark blue tracer(to cargo)

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 12-24-2000). ]

 

[Cooker]

Does switching the wires around affect the function of the door pin switch? Does the dome light still come on when the door is opened or would the cargo light come on?

 

[Big-D]

Thanks Fuzzy. I'll stick my test light into those two colored wires and activate the switch just too make sure. Cutting is easy.
Any thoughts about the dome lights when the door is opened after the wires are switched? Don't need to have the cargo light come on each time I open the door.

 

[Fuzz]

Originally posted by Big-D:

Any thoughts about the dome lights when the door is opened after the wires are switched? on .

Big D,
I don't know for sure. I'm guessing that it will work normal except for Dome light and cargo light from headlight switch. I have J&J
lighted running boards. They have one white light on each side by front door. I tapped into a pink wire from headligh switch so these lights work with door opening(same as dome and map lights)they also work the same when using the remote to lock or unlock. They do not come on when I turn on dome lights with dimmer switch. So my reasoning is that if we switch the Y and PK/DB wires it will only affect the switching from the dimmer control. I was gonna switch mine today but a little chilly and family showed up. See about tomorrow. Will let you know.
Wish Evan Beck would get in on this thread. . he could tell us for sure.

 

[illflem]

I would think if you switch wires in-between the light switch and connection block you won't have a problem with both coming on or the cargo light comeing on with an open door. The manual shows the switch as being double pole so you won't get any cross over there.

Big-D,the switched part of the light circuit is the ground,if you use a test probe you need to clip on to a hot wire.

 

[Fuzz]

Just went out and looked at shop manual for
my Y2K. Looks like the wires are same as on the '95.
Dome and Map lights(if got 'em)--Yellow
Cargo light--Pink/dark blue.

 

[John]

illflem (or anyone else), do you know the answer to the question I asked in my last post?

Q.
[Would switching the cargo and interior light wires on the light switch let the cargo light, light up WITHOUT (ALSO) having the interior lights on (assuming you have the doors closed)?]

 

[illflem]

John,as long as you make the wire trade anywhere in-between the dash switch and the door switch it will only light up the cargo light on the first click. One more click of the switch though will make both dome and cargo come on. Easier way to explain is as you twist the dash switch it first closes the dome circuit,next click closes both the dome and cargo circuit. By trading the wires the cargo light will come on by itself. You won't be able to turn the dome light on without the the cargo light coming on first and staying on. The dome light will come on as it always has,by itself, when the door is open. You will still be able to turn on the lights at the overhead console seperately with the two switches there. Now are we totally confused?

 

[Big-D]

Don't think I am confused, but then again I'm never really sure about too many things... Will try switching the wires for it can't hurt anything. Can always go back to the factory setup. Thanks IllFlem.

 

[John]

Thanks illflem. #ad

 

[GTX]

Thanks Big D for asking and Thanks illflem for the answer.

 

[TOM'STRUCK]

Originally posted by John:
illflem, I was going to use your suggestion to switch on a pair of backup lights that I want to add (use the cargo light as a trigger for the backup light relay). However, after playing with the light switch I discovered I would have the interior lights on while trying to backup... not preferable to me.


Hey John. I have and extra set of lights on my truck and I just wired them to the same wires that work the reverse lights that way they are only on when in revers and no switchs needed.

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1996 3500 4x4 extended cab daul wheel cummins 12 valve, 1999 3500 4x4 quard door extended cummins 24 valve both 5 speed and plow trucks even thow the 1999 is my baby and the 1996 is my beater.

 

[John]

Hey Tom, thanks for the idea although, this doesn't address illflem's proposal to use the OE light switch (cargo light position) to manually activate the backup lights. I would like to be able to manually activate the backup lights IN ADDITION to having them automatically activated by engaging reverse. #ad

 

[GTX]

Switched the two wires behind the dash switch last night(PK/DB+Y). Rotate the dimmer switch up and the cargo lite comes on then the dome lite. Notice the the dome lite was NOT on with the door open, cargo lite is on. Shut the door and after the timer goes off the cargo lite goes out, open door, no dome lite but cargo lite is on. Seems like the circuit thru the headlite switch still needs to be intact for the dome lite to work when the door is opened.

Has anybody gotten this to work?

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99 2500 QC Auto 4X4
Amsoil Dealer