2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Need Help with Headlamps not working

[K_Arts]

Ok guys, I had something weird happen to me that I can not explain and I was wondering if you could help me out.



So I woke up this morning intending to go to work early. I get ready, go out to the truck, start her up and of course it is dark outside. I flip the switch to turn on the headlights and nothing!!!!! So I spend from 5:15am till 7 am going over everything, checking the bulbs, wires, fuses. . etc. Everthing checks out ok. The parking lights work just find, turn signals are ok, brake lights are ok. . etc.



So I have to wait till the sun comes up to go to work... ERRRRGGGGg... there went all the extra work that I was intending on getting out of the way.



At lunch I go out and inspect everything again, just makeing sure that I wasn't having a bad morning. Same results, everything works but the headlamps... (now I am getting anrgy, cause I can't even stay late to help get caught up on my work).



So anyways, I just got home, went over everything again and same results, everything works, but the headlamps. So I then reach down and try to flip on my brights... ... . Hhhmmmmm What the heck, then work just perfect :{ :{ :{ :{ . So then I flick the brights off... . hmm nothing . I flick the brights on again, and the high beams work still, turn the high beams off... . now the low beams work. I turn the lights off... . turn them back on. Now everything is back to normal and working.





What is going on? Is this a sign that my switch is going back?? What should I do????



Kev

 

[K_Arts]

Ok guys, heres an update. Now that it is dark outside I was playing with my lights again. I can now make all of my lights go off at will.



If I flick on my brights, then turn them off, all is good. If I flick on my brights for a second time, when I flick the high beams off, all lights go off and the only way to get my low beams back on is to turn the brights back on then off again.



This is sounding more an more like a faulty switch. Or do you guys thing that I am wayyy off on this one?



Kev

 

[ndurbin]

my passenger side headlight has no low-beam. but everything else works. My guess on mine is it's something internal and I don't want to spend another 70-80 bucks for a new headlight assembly.



I just drive with my high-beams on all the time for now.

 

[djbobo]

faulty switch?

My 98' did the same thing last year for a while. When i turned off my high beams for approaching traffic all head lights went dead- hit the steering wheel they came on again so it has to be the hi/low switch in the steering column..... I would think.



dj

 

[FJfonda]

My guess would be the "multi function switch" or what we call the high/low beam switch. I hope I'm right 'cause mine is doing something similar. I find I need to switch hi/lo 5-10 times to get both the lo and hi beams working. Fog lights work normal. Just called and ordered one. Didn't ask how much.

 

[Trizae]

my 97 half ton did that,, i had to replace the headlight switch,,,,,,, guess what,,,,,,,,,,, the 97 diesel is doing the same thing

 

[K_Arts]

So should I go ahead and order the Hi/lo switch or the headlight switch on the dash?



Does anybody know how hard it is to replace the hi/lo switch in the steering column? I've never switched one before. Is this something that I should let the dealer change for me (let alone the fact that they'll probably rip me off by charging me 4 times it's actual value + install?)



Thanks



Kev

 

[Trizae]

the hi/lo switch is a pain in the A__,,,,,,, does you truck have foglights,,,,,,,,, if so,,,,,,, when you go to low beams do they come on,,,,,,,,,, if they do it is you headlight switch in the dash

 

[illflem]

Mine did exactly the same thing a couple weeks ago but was more exciting.

Going 65 in the pitch dark when I went to flip off the brights for an oncoming car, no lights!

By the time I figured it out by flipping the multi-function switch back and forth the oncoming car was only 25 feet in front of me when my brights went back on blinding the poor guy.

Must have scared the hell out of him, know it did me.

I tried to get it to do it again on a deserted road, no luck.



Suggest you replace the multi-function switch from the dealer, keep the receipt and most importantly lodge a complaint here, I already have. You will need your VIN

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Keep it short and sweet but sounding dangerous. Just a few complaints will start the ball rolling for a recall, you may get the money back for the new switch as this is definitely a safety issue.

Anyone else who has had this problem should also file a complaint, it's easy.



Trizae, the factory fogs are wired to only come on with the low beams, it's the law in most states. Sounds like your fog light switch is either on or the foglite switch is stuck on.

 

[FJfonda]

If I remeber the wiring diagram right, the fog lights are wired to be on all the time except when the headlight high beams are powered up. I believe the relay is a normally closed and it opends when the high beams have power. My fogs stay on during the times I can't get the high beams to work which led me to the multifunction switch. Looking at the wiring diagrams it makes sense. I'm sure I confused everyone with the words.....

 

[K_Arts]

Originally posted by Trizae

the hi/lo switch is a pain in the A__,,,,,,, does you truck have foglights,,,,,,,,, if so,,,,,,, when you go to low beams do they come on,,,,,,,,,, if they do it is you headlight switch in the dash

I actually have aftermarket Fog Lights and they are not tied to these switches at all. I have wired them completely independent of multi function switch and the headlight switch.



IllFlem - Thanks for that URL, I'll post a complaint right now.



Kev

 

[illflem]

FJfonda, are you saying that newer rigs don't have a foglite on/off switch?

Older ones have a switch seperate from the headlamp and multi-function switch.

 

[FJfonda]

ilflem...



I was sure I confused everyone with that one!!! I have a '99 with factory fogs. The fog on/off is a pull out of the headlight switch which I'm pretty sure is the same on all 2nd gen stuff. The fogs come on when this switch is actuated but the signal goes through a relay that is switched by the high beam lamp power. In my earlier post I should have included the part about the fog lamp on/off switch but I jumped in in the middle (in my haste). Sorry for the confusion!!

 

[GTX]

Kevin,

I have an in-dash headlight switch if you want to try it. I put the factory fog lights in mine and had to change the switch to turn them on. Worked fine when I took it out.



I sent you a PM.



Rick

 

[Andy Redmond]

94-97 has its own switch for headlamp switch and a seperate fog lamp switch to the left of the cup holder (presuming oe fog lamps).



Then it changed to integrate the fog lamp control into the headlamp switch from 98-02?

 

[tntway]

let me chime in here with my tale of woe

my factory fogs quit working last year..... they stayed on one night and just quit after that... ... now sometimes if i pull the switch on... my high beams come on and sometimes they don't... . but the fogs don't come on at all... . is this the headlight switch or the dimmer???

 

[TannerAZ]

Multi Function Switch is it!

I had the exact same problem, here is what I found.



Behind the plastic column cover which is held together by three t-15 torx screws is the multi switch which is actually very easy to access and change. It is held down with two t-20 torx security screws (pin in center) and one hex/torx combo in the rear which hold the harness in the rear. dont forget to unscrew the tilt column lever to remove cover.



Upon my replacement of this switch during disassembly I found that the brown wire with the white stripe (low beam wire) had broke off from the harness assembly, hence no low beam headlights. I removed the clip from the harness assy and soldered the wire to back to it and reassembled. Everything fixed!



It was definitely a nightmare though, I checked everything!! finally decided to spend the money and buy new headlight and multi switch. didn't need either!



a quick fix if you cannot get to a dealer for parts is to remove the quad beam relay in your main fuse box in engine compartment and just run with single high beam lamps till you can figure out whats wrong. I did this for 6 months but you still get flashed quite a bit. cool:



I am a new member, I have been reading for quite some time now and finally broke down and spent the money. I am glad I did.



Tanner

Gilbert, Arizona:

 

[djbobo]

Welcome Tanner

Great 1st post!



Your the kind of people that make this forum as good as it is.



You've probly been reading for a good while (as was I) before joining & come across a thread or two that you personally have had experience with & now join to contribute your knowledge to the pot. I know I've recieved more than given & the price of joining has returned itself many times over.



Now where does someone get these torx with the hole in the middle?



BALD tires or ok in AZ year round eh



dj

 

[illflem]

Re: Welcome Tanner

Originally posted by djbobo

Now where does someone get these torx with the hole in the middle?

Most any auto parts store

 

[LLiddell]

I lost my fogs and sometimes when I go to brights everything goes black. I traced the fogs to the switch and opened it to take a look. It is a real piece of junk as far as beefy goes. Unless I got a factory reject, it's only a matter of time until your fogs quit because of the fog contacts. I'm going to install a small switch for fogs even though I like the factory pull switch. My headlights seem to be in the column so I guess I'll be pulling it apart next.