2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission HELP!!! NO lights

[RPMDodge]

I was leaving work and turned on my lights, I have no dash lights no clearance lights and no tail lights. :--) The headlights,turn signals, lights work. I checked all the fuses and all but ammuation fuse work. What the heck is wrong . Is the light switch bad? Hope anyone can help me..... Thank you Rick

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

When mine did that it was a fuse in the engine compartment where the relays are.

 

[RPMDodge]

Thank you Tim..... I checked all of them also. I noticed when i turn my headlight switch on my fog light goes on without pulling the switch on. When i pull the switch out for the fog lights, the little light goes out and the fog lights come on ? Maybe a relay is bad? This is weird... .

 

[GOlsen]

Did you do any wiring recently? I know I had the same problem when I installed a new aftermarket head unit. The guy I got my truck from butchered up the wiring pretty bad back there. I relied on wire "color coding" (probably not the best idea). I saw a black wire and assumed it was a ground. Well, it wasn't. It took me a while to figure it out. I still don't really know what that wire is for. I just taped it up and haven't had any problems. It kept blowing the fuse for the marker lights. It didn't break in the "arc" part of the fuse, it was somewhere you couldn't see it. I tested it with a mulitmeter and found out that it was bad. Might give that a shot?

 

[Woodenhead]

When mine did that it was the light switch. I know it was a very common problem around my model year but I'm not sure if they had it corrected by '01. If it's not a fuse like described above and it is the switch you have a couple of options. One is to simply replace the switch (that's what I did) and wait for it to cook again. The other option is to replace the switch and wire in a relay to take some load off the switch so it won't fail again. Do a search for headlight switch and you'll find plenty of info. It's not to difficult to change the switch out, took me less than 1/2 hr in my '96 but I'm not sure about your '01.



Mike

 

[DBazley]

Ditto that. The headlights went out on mine - while in Texas pulling a trailer - turns out the headlight switch ($ 130 Mopar part) melts when asked to handle too many amps, which of course and extra 19 trailer lights helps do.



Got the new switch, (it includes a new plug as your harness plug MAY be melted, too) and then used insulated terminals to attach back the wires - carefully. I reasoned that heat buildup in the large plastic plug was partly the problem, so using the individual terminals would allow better air circulation than a new plug.



Time will tell. Also I changed most of the trailer lights to LED's which are brighter & draw way less amps.



I bet this is your problem - pretty easy to change, too.



Best to you



David B.

 

[RPMDodge]

Thanks you all!!!!!!!!!! It was the headlight switch. Got it from autozone for 60 bucks. I was thinking it was that,and when i saw all your replies. I went and got one. Pluged it in and got lights Oo. unbelievable!!!!!!. This is the best website in THE world thank you guys so much..... Rick.

 

[McLaughlin]

You might want to look at getting a wiring harness replacement. Summit used to have one for about $50 which was pretty much a plug in install. It takes most of the load off the headlight switch and since it provides a more direct path from the battery to the lights they were brighter also. Do a forum search and you should be able to find a better description and part numbers.