2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Headlight Switch (again)

[BPellman]

Happy New Year To ALL



Well, for the second time my D@#$ switch went south. Only this time, as luck would have it, it was the most inopertune time. Like 7:30 P. M. about half way between Tok, Alaska and the border and twenty below zero.

To make a long story short- I pulled the switch out. Burned to a crisp! So, I clipped all nine wires and replaced the housing (Black plastic) with direct connection blade connectors. Worked like a champ from there to Anchorage.

Guess my question would be, leave it as is (any issues with heat)

or replace harness?

Daughter living in Haines, AK. says there was a recall on 98. 5's due to faulty switch. They had their's replaced in Whitehorse, YT. Was / is this a U. S recall or just Canada?



TIA

Bill

 

[DBentley]

I did the same thing with spade push on crimps almost 2 years ago and also did the relay kit from summit racing after 3 headlite switches cooked. Now the headlights are brighter and It should be fixed for good.

 

[Signal73]

Yeah get the Summitt harness, It takes the amperage load out of the switch and puts it on relays you mount in the Engine compartment. Basically all the switch will be responsible for is the current to run your parking lights. Not to mention the side benifet of brighter headlights.

 

[Davidson]

Bill,there is a TSB 819 that calls for a switch replacement and a relay. My son had his replaced in his '95.

 

[Thomas]

U. S Recall #819 applies to 1994-1997 Ram 3500's built prior to 22 OCT 1996. You can look at it at the world famous Dave Fritz site: http://dodgeram. info/tsb/recalls/819.htm