2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Headlights wont shutoff?

[BarryG]

Ok drove back from the far side of the state yesterday in a decent snowstorm. First noticed that my highbeam indicator would not go off it would dim but not go off when switching between high and low beams. Then it seemed to start working correctly. Then realized my headlights would not turn off. Light switch off = lights on. Had to pull the fuses. I was too cold and tired to mess it with it further last night.

I realize the switch is a common problem on the older ones and maybe even my 01 but I would think a bad switch would keep the lights from coming on not keep them on.

Any ideas on where to start?

TIA

 

[dresslered]

On my 2001, I had the multi-function switch melt and hold the high-beams on. I don't have the wiring diagrams at work, but not sure if this would hold if the light switch was turned off? Perhaps the high beam relay is stuck on?

 

[dresslered]

Barry,

Glancing at the wiring diagrams, your headlight switch provides the needed ground to turn on your headlights (constant 12V distributed to them). This means that you have a short circuit somewhere between the headlights and headlight switch (Note: the multi-function switch lies within this range but unless it is shorting to ground, this might not be the problem). You need to specify whether you have the Quad headlamps (sport) or regular ones. We can then narrow it down to the wires that are shorted.

 

[BarryG]

Dresslered:

It is the non sport version (1 lamp per side, single bulb) Wont shutoff with the switch ended up pulling the fuse for each bulb. The high beam indicator seemed to be working in the end, well at least it was off, so I should not say it was working but it was off. Still havent messed with it as it is too darn cold for me to be outside messing with this in the dark. Maybe this weekend. The switch did seem hot. I have read a hundred times on here that the switch can feel hot normally and I have checked it before and I never considered it hot maybe warm but definitely not hot. It was definitely warmer and certainly getting close to what I would call hot when I felt it the other day when this was occurring.



I suppose this is a good time for this too happen (so I can have it figured out by the time I make the switch) as I have been seriously considering doing the sport light conversion. Saw on another thread that you just ordered some lights. Would love to hear what you think about the ones you ordered when you get them and where you got them.

 

[dresslered]

Barry, as far as my sport light conversion, I did that long time ago. I've been very happy with it compared to the original lights (although, they'll never be a set of German glass Hella's ).



As far as your problem goes, you have a constant 12V being fed (via the fuses you pulled) to the lights through an 18Ga violet for the left headlamp and violet/red for the right headlamp. Do you have factory fog lights? I'm also unclear which lights are stuck on. The high beams use a common red/orange wire which REALLY could get shorted to ground in the multi-function switch. I got my replacement multi-function switch from Napa (P/N DL6142) for about $80 and I could tell that the contacts were beefed up. The low-beam common wire is violet/white, and this too could get shorted at the mult-function switch. If either of these two mentioned wires get shorted somwhere, your corresponding lights will remain on. One more thing, the low-beam (Violet/White) gets joined in the Jont Connector No. 1 in the PDC. Good luck.



One more thought. If you can disconnect the multi-function switch at C134 (this is the connection at the multi-function switch) you should be able to tell if your short is in the multi-function switch or the wiring.

 

[BarryG]

Dresslered:

Not sure why I thought it was you posting in that other thread that is going currently. In any case glad to hear your conversion is working well.



My problem- thanks for the info. I do have fog lights however they got ripped off several months ago by a slow deer, or maybe one that thought he was fast but not fast enough. The lights and mounts were literaly ripped right off the bumper. (It is not a stock bumper, I retrofitted the stock lamps and brackets onto my DOR bumper). I have the wires disconnected (unplugged) at the plug underneath the front crossmember. As far as which lights are on I am not sure. When I got home I was wiped out and just wanted to get out of the truck and into the house it had been a rough and long ride. It was still light when I got home and my wife from inside the house told me my lights were still on I checked the switch, started the truck a couple times and played with the light switch (I do not recall playing with the multifunction switch once I got home, but the highbeam indicator was off) all to no avail so I just opened the hood and pulled the fuses.



If I can get home before dark this week I will play with it otherwise it will have to wait until the weekend. Again thanks for the info and help.

 

[BarryG]

Well tore into the mutifunction switch this weekend. First why in the heck do you need tamper proof torx screws to hold the switch on? Are they seriously worried about unauthorized servicing of the switch. And it is not like you cant get the tools for them. I just ran over to Napa and grabbed one. The covers were held on with regular torx screws go figure.



In any case it checked out fine so I moved on to the headlight switch it appeared to be fine as well so I start thinking about tracing wires in the harness to the light sockets. I am looking at the pass side headlight socket to start as that looks to be easiest place with access to start. What did I find but my Bright Box. I had totally forgotten about that thing as it had quit working so long ago. At least the function of keeping both the highs and lowbeams on together. By the way that thing was a pos did not last long at all. So I decide to unhook it and take it out of the equation. What do you know it was the equation. As soon as I disonnected the ground wire for it lights went off. So I removed the rest of it and put everything back together problem solved.



Dresslered thanks for the advice, appreciate it.