Archived HELP!! no lowbeams...leaving for vacation tomorrow

[cSypniewski]

Hi guys. I have no lowbeams. Highbeams and fogs and running lights all work. just no lows. Bulbs are fine. another important peice of information is that I have a curtis plow installed. so the wiring is slightly different although the problem seems to be on the truck end itself, not the plow end.



I swapped switches with another dodge and lows still did not work. So i beleive it is wherever the power is coming from and going to the headlight switch.



my truck is an 04 3500. are there really no fuses, relays, or fusable links for the lowbeams!?

 

[Diesel Dually]

Each headlight has its own power feed for each beam. With the addition of the plow wiring and associated relays I would start by hooking up the plow electrical system and see if you have low beams on the plow. If you do then the wiring in your truck is probably fine and the headlight relays or their associated connections that were added are most likely at fault.

Good Luck.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Which switch did you change the headlight on-off switch or the multi-function switch on the steering column? I had the same problem as you on my 01 and got a new hi-lo, directional multi-function switch from auto-zone that was made by the same exact people that made the OEM, infact it even had the Chrysler star on it.

 

[Missouri Mule]

If the dimmer switch (multi-function switch) fails the head light beam should defaults to brights.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

My truck is Canadian so it has daytime running lights but from my exhaustive searches here on the TDR both the DRL and non-DRL headlights tend to act the same when the switch fails, that is the low beams go out and the high beams work if you hold the switch back. With DRL's they will be on just like normal, with an american truck nothing will be on when the light switch is turned on. When you say your high beams work, do you have to hold the switch back for them to come on? Or do they stay on by themselves? If they stay on by themselves I am going to bet that the plow light circuit is messing you up, if you have to hold the switch I'll guess it's the multifunction switch unless they have changed things since the second gen trucks.

 

[cSypniewski]

I swapped out the dimmer switch not the multi function switch. I guess I should run to auto zone after work and just buy a new multi function switch that is in the steering column.



I brought it pack to the plow installer. He said he put everything back to stock and they still didnt work. I dont want the dealer to charge me an arm and a leg for time and not be able to find the problem. I need to get this figured out ASAP



I have also checked the wires going into the switch in the steering column all looks goods. anything else I can check? going to autozone to buy a switch after work.



The highbeams work as they normally would... . i pull back they stay on until i pull it back again

 

[Missouri Mule]

Does your truck have both dimmer and multi-function switch or just multi-function switch?

In the 96 manual it shows that the multi-switch controls headlamp beam selction. I don't think they would change it.

 

[McLaughlin]

If you get this before you leave, you might try repositioning your steering column if you have tilt steering. The dim lights go out if I have the wheel tilted all the way down.

 

[JFulton]

I have the same problem, I have no low beam on the driver side, do have it on passenger side. High beams work as normal, I have a western minute mount plow and when I hook the lights into the vehicle lights the low beams work as they should. I tried multifunction switch, no change. Is there some kind of headlight relays somewhere?

 

[Diesel Dually]

If you are sure you didn't just burn out the low beam filiment in the bulb I would check the voltage and ground at the headlight. If you don't have the voltage and the ground looks good (assuming the plow relay is switching voltage and not ground) I would find the relays that were added for the plow system and check them. The installers usually mount them on the fender well but the could be most anywhere, you may need to talk with the place that installed the plow.

 

[Stranger]

Try the DRL module. Had the same problem on a van at work.

 

[Prairie Dog]

The DRLs are controlled by the computer (not a seperate module anymore).

I take it the "Lamp out" indicator in your instrument panel is not lit?



Scotty

 

[cSypniewski]

actually yes it is lit up. constantly. funny thing is i hooked up my plow yesterday to make sure it was in good working order and low and behold... my low beams came on. unhook it they still work. now this morning theyre off again.



Curtis the plow mfg says... . it has nothing to do with it. apparently it does.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Have you checked if you have power/ground going to headlight bulb connector? Just so you can narrow it down to a bad power/gound wire/connection.

 

[cSypniewski]

I dont have power to it.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Well at least you know that it has something to do with the plow set up (wiring, connections maybe a relay).

 

[cSypniewski]

nope, Nothing to do with the plow. Dealer just called... . its the FCM... front control module. 300 something bucks later and tomorrow i will have lowbeams again.