Lamp out problems

[AMcCormick]

getting the lamp out ding sound on off. Just smeared dialectic grease on all the aft light connections, all the bulbs looked ok. The front right turn signal works but is in turbo speed while the aft right signal does not work. Any ideas? I searched this last night to find the most common solution was the grease.

 

[jelag]

The grease prevents the problem from coming back... you might need to first clean the connections real well first... We've had problems with our trucks and finally took them apart, cleaned the connections on the sockets, and bulbs, installed the grease... .

We've also had problems with the FCM (front control module) that when its on the fritz will allow all kinds of things to happen... turn signals, head lamps, washers, etc... .

In our case on our 08 5500, you turn on the head lights and one head light will work, when you flip to high beam the other head light works, and the washers don't work... or start by them selves... turn signals run at different speeds, front and rear... . It was taken to the dealer for the 3rd or 4th time this week... . when we got it there it wasn't working... the tech saw it... . he moved the truck from the lot to the shop and low and behold every thing works fine... it sat over night and didn't work in the cold morning (20 *F. ) and once it was moved inside it worked fine again. .

He's again trying to blame the wiring on the box (custom bed) as the fault... but can't explain why it won't work when its cold and works fine warm... if the box was wired wrong it would be bad all the time... . since this is the 3rd or 4th repair under warranty... actually its out of warranty... (50K miles) but they know its not right and are willing to try and find the problem because of the track record of it not working... .

This truck also has to scale at commercial weigh stations and if the lights don't work at a random inspection we can be ticketed and fined... and of course the parts are not on the shelf...

 

[rbattelle]

Usually "turbo speed" is caused by an actual lamp out condition. Did you replace that right rear signal lamp? If not, that would be a good first step.

jelag - what a nightmare. I really don't like the new "Totally Integrated Power Module"... too hard to diagnose.

Ryan

 

[jelag]

rbattelle... .

Got the truck back yesterday... . (Friday) they didn't change a thing... . every time they got the truck in the bay it functioned fine... but they saw it malfunction in the lot... .

Its out of warranty but they are fixing it free because of prior problems... they want it back when its malfunctioning again... and will work on it free. .

In-op lights at a set of scales during a spot check is a red tag (out of service)... as soon as summer gets here, the days get longer we don't run the lights as often, and less chance of getting caught... . don't have a clue at this moment what we're going to do. .

 

[AMcCormick]

Going to replace the rear bulbs and clean the front connections then grease. Driving home today no "lamp out".

 

[JRMora]

If you still have problems, you need to find out which bulb isn't lighting (most likely one of your rear brake lights or turn signal lights) and replace the lamp holder. They are about $12 at your local dealer. Once I replaced my left rear lamp holder, everything was fine again. This is a common problem in third gen rams. Apparently they are inside the holder cauing intermittnet lamp out failures.



Juan

 

[Wayne M.]

I know GM used a similar lamp holder in the 90's that were problematic.

 

[Tejasdge]

The lamp holders are a problem, but the plastic based lamps accelerate the process. The lamps start to have poor contact and get hot, thus melting the plastic under the contact wires. I have replaced some that were level with the plastic base. NAPA is one place that carries a glass based lamp. Use the dielectric grease and check the socket contacts for burning and flash marks. This is an oldie, but goodie, fix off the TDR.