Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Headligh Switch

[CumminsFarmer]

Ok, have had a chronic problem every now and then in my '02. Going down the highway at night, once in awhile if you hit the dimmer switch to dim the hi-beams, it will shut the headlights off competely. Only way to get them to come back on is to hit the dimmer switch and bring the hi-beams back on. Usually then you can dim them to low-beams and everything will work. Tonight something else happened, I got off work started my rig and after a brief warmup I went to turn the lights on with the dash switch. Nothing. Gave it a second and they finally came on. Im thinking one of the two switches is bad. Any insight?

 

[robiR]

Check the head light switch. I have had nothing but problems with them. My 93 and also my 98. Sometimes they will heat up enough to melt the conector. Something I thought DC would have curred

 

[Thomas]

... I went to turn the lights on with the dash switch. Nothing. Gave it a second and they finally came on...

You didn't say that you continued to "play" with the headlight switch before they came on so I'm assuming that they came on with no further intervention. Your problem is likely with the multifunction switch:



P/N 5269377 SWITCH, Multifunction (possible new P/N 4728424)



A look at this drawing should give you some information about the headlight circuit on your 2002 Ram.



Good luck!

 

[RacinDuallie]

I went through 3 switches in my 98. I looked everywhere for a short or problem and always came back to the switch itself- Seems like the switch can't take the load. well after the 2nd one went I decided to take the running lights out of that switch and connected them to their own dedicated switch- Worked fine ever since I took them runnin lights off the factory switch. And I was gettin real good at taking the dash panel off and pulling the switch and 'playing' with the harness connected to the back of switch- I was doing that while sitting in manhattan traffic- going home to jersey!!!

Just a thought- 3rd times a charm for me.....

 

[Thomas]

Given that the chronic problem involves and is cured by manipulating the multifunction switch, the Ram 2500's typically have no ID/marker (running) lights, no mention was made of headlight switch-manipulation curing any problems, and the headlamp switch recall (Recall 819) does not apply to 2002 Rams, along with the headlamp circuitry drawing linked above, I believe the obvious suspect is the multifunction switch.



Of course the headlamp switch could also have failed but I wouldn't start there.

 

[tgee]

Is it possible you have an aftermarket trailer wiring harness that taps trucks harness at the taillights? If so, then the addition of the trailer lights are putting too much load on the light switch.