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2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission need help with headlight switch problem

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I have been having issues with the headlights in my truck for a while now,,the light flicker at night,,on and off,,sometimes they work fine,,sometimes they will flicker on and off,,,i pull on the switch to try and keep the lights on,,yesterday i noticed that if i pull on the high/low beam and keep it pulled in,,the lights will stay on,,,at least in high beam mode,,i bought a new switch from dodge but it's a little different in that the new switch does not have the other small connector tab on the side of it like my old one does,,,looks like maybe the old switch had a ground attached to a separate tab on the side of it,,,anyone else noticed this,,,also,,i am now wondering if the relay that was added years ago as part of a recall, could be faulty,,,,any ideas. .
 
The old switch handled to the full headlight current and could get hot and melt the connector. There's a repair kit that includes a connector with pigtails so you have to cut/splice/solder a new connector. If you can fix it with the high/low stalk then the multi-fuction switch might need replacing too. Or the connector is loose or a wire is broken. You have to get in there and start wiggling things.

If a relay was added as part of a recall then any dealer can look up your truck by VIN and tell you exactly want was done.
 
dodge had a recall on those years for the problematic headlight switch carrying too much current,,,and they installed a realy in behind the switch to fix things,,,could the realy cause my intermitent issues,,,???or is the switch more likely,,i ask,because i do have a new OEM switch,,,but my old one doesn't seem to want to release the pull knob when i press down on the release pin,,,and i still wonder why the new switch does not have the extra small blade connector on the side,,which i thought might be a ground,,
 
I can't answer the question about the extra small blade connector. Just thought I second the opinion of Road Dog. I think your problem lies in the multifunction switch, or it's wire harness. The multifunction switch can sometimes be brought back to life with some electrical contact cleaner sprayed into it. Do you utilize the tilt of the steering wheel very often? Once you have the problem solved I recommend you add a couple relays to the headlight system and replace as many exterior lights with LEDs as you can afford. The only stock bulbs I have on mine now are the front turn signal/parking lights.
 
i do use the tilt steering every time,,,what has me bafled is the fact that if i play with the headlight switch i can make the lights go on and off,,,i'll try to play with it again tommorow,,,if i can figure out how to remove the pull knob off,,
 
i do use the tilt steering every time,,,what has me bafled is the fact that if i play with the headlight switch i can make the lights go on and off,,,i'll try to play with it again tommorow,,,if i can figure out how to remove the pull knob off,,



Pull knob out to the headlights on postion, then press the button here as indicated in the red circle and pull the knob/shaft out of switch.





HL 1.jpg






Mike.

HL 1.jpg
 
actually on my switch... the extra spade terminal is at the oposite end of the knob on the rivet on the body... i took the switch appart and saw a wire that had been arcing and melting,,,i cleaned up the spot,,tightened up the contacts a bit and now seems ok,,,i dont know why Dodge would stuff a realy in there as well as the headlight switch,,theres hardly any room,,,stupid engineer. .
 
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