No parking/instrument lights

[bschmidt]

Hi guys, wondering if anyone has come across this one. I have an 02 3500 with no parking/instrument lights. Everything works off the headlight switch except the parking lights. NO blown fuses under the hood or inside of cab. I did find that the 5 amp fuse for illumination has no voltage on either side of fuse. I back fed the parking light wire on switch plug and parking lights came on. So I replaced the headlight switch but it did nothing to change the situation.
I think my next step would be to see a diagram of the switch wires and determine what wire feeds the power for parking lights. Any thoughts would be great.
Thanks

 

[SnoKing]

From another forum:


bond150
Registered
Joined Sep 24, 2009
712 Posts
#10 • Aug 16, 2011
I had the same issue a while back. Fuse good, switch good, etc. Finally found it was the socket that the fuse plugged in to had been slightly stretched wider and needed the fuse prongs to be a little tweaked. I was at the point of saying screw it also.

 

[bschmidt]

Thanks for the help. Do you remember which fuse socket it was? Under hood or inside?

 

[bschmidt]

Thanks for the help. Do you remember which fuse socket it was? Under hood or inside?

 

[SnoKing]

Looks like there are two fuses. One by drivers battery and one on drivers end of the dash.

 

[brucejohnson]

Assumption from given info:
In Parking Light position, no parking lights or dash illumination;
The term "back fed" means jumper from 12VDC source to parking light terminal in headlight switch plug.
Question:
If the headlights illuminate in the headlights on switch position, do the parking lights and dash illumination also light up in the headlights on position?

 

[C M McCormick]

Let me add something please. I had the same problem last fall. Replace the switch and still didn't have parks or instrument. I was testing the fuses with a text light and they showed good on both sides. Long story short I pulled the fuses and I had one blown under the hood. Its the Chrysler electrical system where it feeds both ways. Hope that helps. Craig

 

[Cummins12V98]

Wiggle the little fuses. I added a Banks jumper that screwed up the tiny fuse holder and had to twist fuse ends to make contact.

 

[bschmidt]

Just fog lights work in parking light/fog light position. Just headlights in headlight position. Been testing fuses and checking everything again. The more I read about this the more I think it could be the printed board under the fuse/ relay box or power distribution supply. I would like to dig a lil deeper into checking if things are what they are supposed to be on the plug going into headlight switch. Thanks for the help guys. Gremlins like this are so much fun

 

[SnoKing]

With the F parking light fuse out(underhood), do you measure 12V on one on the terminals that fuse plugs into? Same test at the fuse at the end of the dash? SnoKing

 

[DavidC]

Not sure if you have a diagram this is 2001

 

[SnoKing]

Not sure if you have a diagram this is 2001
View attachment 120064

David how about the diagram for the parking lights.

 

[DavidC]

David how about the diagram for the parking lights.

Picky Picky Picky . Here ya go

 

[brucejohnson]

Just fog lights work in parking light/fog light position. Just headlights in headlight position. Been testing fuses and checking everything again. The more I read about this the more I think it could be the printed board under the fuse/ relay box or power distribution supply. I would like to dig a lil deeper into checking if things are what they are supposed to be on the plug going into headlight switch. Thanks for the help guys. Gremlins like this are so much fun

More questions:
Do the fog lights NOT work when the headlight switch is on? They should work in both Park and Headlight positions when the fog light switch is activated.
You state the parking lights are NOT illuminated when the headlight switch is on; only the headlights are illuminated?
Are the tail lights illuminating in park and headlight mode? Any change in brilliance if you turn on the left or right turn signals ?(check both front and rear)
Cargo light working OK?
Any other interior illumination lights working, or not?
Rotate light dimmer switch to see if all functions work, dimming, parade mode, cargo light.

Troubleshooting suggestions:

Fuse F (20A) in PDC. Most suspect. Check for power and continuity. It feeds the parking lights and illumination circuits.
Fuse 5 (5A) in Junction block. Check for power and continuity. Receives power from Fuse F thru headlamp switch then illumination circuits.
Front parking lamp sockets. Check socket condition and ground continuity on each socket.
From your descriptions it sounds like a connection issue related to connector C1, pins 1,2,and 14.

Measure for 12vdc on Headlamp Switch connector C1, Pin 2.
If no voltage present troubleshoot Fuse F and associated wire.
If present continue:

Jump 12vdc from Headlamp Switch connector C1, Pin 2 to connector C1, Pin 1. Parking lamps should illuminate. Remove jumper.

Jump 12vdc from Headlamp Switch connector C1, Pin 2 to connector C1, Pin 14. Interior illumination, dash lights, etc. should illuminate full brightness. Remove jumper.

That should get you started and narrow down the circuits involved.

Good luck.​

 

[SnoKing]

Picky Picky Picky . Here ya go

View attachment 120068
View attachment 120069

It appears the issue is in or around the F fuse on the power center under the hood. Check the voltage at the fuse holder. Or as it has been recommended, twist the blades a little before plugging the fuse back in after verifying it is good with an ohm meter. SnoKing

 

[bschmidt]

Thanks for the tips, I will be spending time troubleshooting tomorrow morning and will have more answers.
To answer Bruce's questions, everything on the headlight switch works as it should. Cargo light turns on. Fogs work with headlights. Brake lights work, turn signals work, hazards work. Just no parking lights or dash lights. Clock on radio is on and radio works normal. Can't check if dimmer is working because of no instrument lights. Interior lights do come on. Crazy thing is the reminder chime sounds when I turn parking lights on with door open.
I will dig deeper tomorrow and let you know. Thanks

 

[bschmidt]

Thanks for the tips guys. I will be troubleshooting tomorrow morning.
To answer Bruce's questions, fog lights work with headlights. Cargo light turns on. Interior lights work. Just no parking lights or instrument lights. Radio has clock and eq lights on. Can't check dimmer because of no instrument lights. Brake lights, turn signals, hazards all work. Even the reminder chim sounds when I turn on parking lights with door open.
I will dig deeper tomorrow and let you know. I'm the original owner and know what wires have been tapped into for gauges etc.
Thanks again guys

 

[bschmidt]

Sorry for double reply, thought it posted the first time but did not see it. Then I reposted and seen both.

 

[brucejohnson]

Thanks for the tips guys. I will be troubleshooting tomorrow morning.
To answer Bruce's questions, fog lights work with headlights. Cargo light turns on. Interior lights work. Just no parking lights or instrument lights. Radio has clock and eq lights on. Can't check dimmer because of no instrument lights. Brake lights, turn signals, hazards all work. Even the reminder chim sounds when I turn on parking lights with door open.
I will dig deeper tomorrow and let you know. I'm the original owner and know what wires have been tapped into for gauges etc.
Thanks again guys

bschmidt,
I think you'll find the issue quickly. SnoKing was right on the mark for the troubleshooting starting point at Fuse F. All indications say it "should be" between Fuse F, thru connector C134, to Headlight Switch plug C1, Pin 2. Since you have changed the headlight switch with no change in the issue, that leaves the circuit from Fuse F to Headlight Switch connector C1, Pin 2 as most possible cause for both the parking lights (front only, I would assume, as rear parking/tail lights are on a separate circuit) and the interior instrument and switch illumination to be inop. Also would account for the lack of voltage you experienced on Fuse 5. So, check for 12vdc on Headlight Switch Connector C1, Pin 2. Go back through the wire from there if no voltage detected. The light chime works off the headlamp sense circuit, which is separate from this circuit. Good luck!

 

[bschmidt]

Did more troubleshooting today and was able to determine that I'm not getting 12v to the headlight switch. I traced the feed wire down to the big connection plug behind clutch pedal. I used my ohmmeter and it makes a complete circuit from the large connection plug up the headlight switch. I don't have 12v coming in to big plug. So I would say next step is to pull apart PDC? I tried messing around with fuse 19 or fuse F on my box for parking lights and everything seems good with the socket/fuse.