Electrical gremlin

[btoscano]

Hey all,



I have had a few wierd issues lately... may be related... and its always at night when using headlights.



1. Sometimes the dash lights go out. I think my tail lights go out when this happens. One time I beat on the dash and they came back on. Latey I've found removing the fuse box under the dash helps... so I think its a bad connection



2. For the first time yesterday... when I when to use the horn, my dash lights went out for 2 seconds and came back on... the horn did not sound. I tried this about 3-4 times... then about 5 minutes later, the horn was working fine & no problems with the dash lights.



Any ideas???

 

[tugboatphil]

If you had a 350, I'd say it was your light switch. I go through about one a year, and that sounds like what happens right before it craps out. Do you have cab clearance lights or anything else running through your light switch? If so, check there. My wire ends show heat marks and the switch has cracked before.

 

[Philip]

Head light switch and the wiring plug most likely. It is a common problem with our trucks.



A aftermarket headlight switch normal lasts around 1 year. A Dodge replacement lasted me about 3 years.



Dodge has a repair plug if yours is burnt.

 

[mysteryman]

you most likely cooked your headlight switch wire harness plug.....

You might want to read a post of mine a few week ago on trailer lights titled

" All First Genners Need To Read This !" ... .

It will answer your questions on this subject

Hey all,



I have had a few wierd issues lately... may be related... and its always at night when using headlights.



1. Sometimes the dash lights go out. I think my tail lights go out when this happens. One time I beat on the dash and they came back on. Latey I've found removing the fuse box under the dash helps... so I think its a bad connection



2. For the first time yesterday... when I when to use the horn, my dash lights went out for 2 seconds and came back on... the horn did not sound. I tried this about 3-4 times... then about 5 minutes later, the horn was working fine & no problems with the dash lights.



Any ideas???

 

[btoscano]

OK... but why would wiggling the fuse box usually solve the problem??? A friend suggested maybe a bad fuse or connection in the fuse box?



I will definitely check the switch harness but I don't understand why wiggling the fuse box seems to help. . and does the horn issue seem related to the switch too??



Brian

 

[tugboatphil]

Brian,



I just had a problem with my dash lights. I replaced my switch, as it was about that time anyway, but my dash problem ended up being a "broken" fuse. Look at the picture at the end of this thread



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151244



Looking at it in the fuse block, it appeared ok. Pull them and take a look.

 

[btoscano]

WELL... ... I checked the fuses and the horn fuse was melted on one side. It appears the fuse holder contacts were weak on that side probably making excessive heat when I hold the horn for a minute at a time behind trucks that aren't supposed to be in the left lane climing 6% grades.