Headlights quit! Help!

[hiloguy]

'97 Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 2WD. The headlights won't come on. Passing lights (high beams) work with the turn-signal lever and the stoplights work, so its not a fuse. Do any of you guys know where the headlight relay is on this vehicle? If I could locate it, I could at least tell if the problem is on the switch side or on the headlight side.

Thanks for any help here . . . It's way cool to have headlights . . .

[Tbird100636]

'97 Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 2WD. The headlights won't come on. Passing lights (high beams) work with the turn-signal lever and the stoplights work, so its not a fuse. Do any of you guys know where the headlight relay is on this vehicle? If I could locate it, I could at least tell if the problem is on the switch side or on the headlight side.

Thanks for any help here . . . It's way cool to have headlights . . .
Start with checking black wires of the bulbs with a test light hooked to the positive cable. The light should illuminate. Next check the Violet/White wire of each bulb for power with the low beams switched on using a test light clipped to ground. Should be power. Now switch to the high beams and check the Red/Orange wires for power at each bulb. If there is no power from one or both circuits, check the Violet/White and Red/Orange wires coming out of the multifunction switch for power with low beams and high beams. If there is now power, you have a wiring problem somewhere going out into the engine compartment, start with the tall white connector under the left side of the dash. Any corrosion will cause a problem. If there is no power on either of these circuits still, check the Light Green wire going to the multifunction switch for power with the headlights on, doesn't matter if the low beams or high beams are selected. If there is power you have a bad multifunction switch. No power is either a bad headlight switch, or fuse 6 40A in the under hood fuse box is open.
Here's the diagrams of the circuits- the headlamp dimmer switch is part of the multifunction switch.
https://w05.dealerconnect.chrysler.com/service/mds2002/serviceInfo/en_US/br701160.gif
https://w05.dealerconnect.chrysler.com/service/mds2002/serviceInfo/en_US/br701161.gif

[hiloguy]

Thank you so much for the highly-detailed diagnostics! I'll get on it tomorrow.

Much Aloha!

Hiloguy

[05magmn]

I had this problem, on several trucks, it usually is the multi function switch (turn signal switch) If you flip from high beam to low beam many times fast they Will some times start to work right for a short period of time.

[hiloguy]

I've tried that, a bunch of times, hoping that it would work. No luck. I have not yet had time to get into a thorough diagnostics thing, but will as soon as my workload allows. Fortunately, I haven't had to drive the truck at night since the lights quit, and I've always got the fog lights in an emergency. The high beams do come on with the multi-function switch (as in "passing lights"). Can;t complain too much, as this is the first problem in 12 years and 106,000 miles!

Thanks for the reply. I'll keep trying that trick anyway. Who knows, I might get lucky!

[papa]

I had this problem, on several trucks, it usually is the multi function switch (turn signal switch) If you flip from high beam to low beam many times fast they Will some times start to work right for a short period of time.


I too had this problem, on my '99 2500ram -and a new muti funtion switch fixed it.

[PEIBOB]

I've tried that, a bunch of times, hoping that it would work. No luck. I have not yet had time to get into a thorough diagnostics thing, but will as soon as my workload allows. Fortunately, I haven't had to drive the truck at night since the lights quit, and I've always got the fog lights in an emergency. The high beams do come on with the multi-function switch (as in "passing lights"). Can;t complain too much, as this is the first problem in 12 years and 106,000 miles!

Thanks for the reply. I'll keep trying that trick anyway. Who knows, I might get lucky!

My 97 2500 has burnt out two headlight switches. Pull your dash out and take the wiring harness off the back of the switch and check your terminals. Have a good day from Canada.

[hiloguy]

Thanks to the diagnostic sequence posted by Tbird, I chased the problem down to the headlight switch. As with others who have posted here, this is also my second headlight switch. It is difficult to discern any integrity within a company that continues to produce faulty equipment for years on end when they know about the problems. This switch, just like the last one, had gotten so hot that it literally melted. And get this: In the five years I've owned this truck, and specifically in the three since the last switch replacement, I have hardly ever used the headlights. This is a work truck and is used almost exclusively during daylight hours.

Anyway, thanks to all who have contributed their thoughts on this, and especially to Tbird for the diagnostics!

[Tbird100636]

Thanks to the diagnostic sequence posted by Tbird, I chased the problem down to the headlight switch. As with others who have posted here, this is also my second headlight switch. It is difficult to discern any integrity within a company that continues to produce faulty equipment for years on end when they know about the problems. This switch, just like the last one, had gotten so hot that it literally melted. And get this: In the five years I've owned this truck, and specifically in the three since the last switch replacement, I have hardly ever used the headlights. This is a work truck and is used almost exclusively during daylight hours.

Anyway, thanks to all who have contributed their thoughts on this, and especially to Tbird for the diagnostics!

You are very welcome. What kind of headlight switch was it??? Factory or aftermarket???

[hiloguy]

I replaced the headlight switch with one from rockauto.com. They have a terrific Website, very user-friendly and they have an amazing inventory of parts that are very easy to locate on their site. The switch was less than half the price of the dealer item, plus the dealer wanted to charge me another $15 for shipping and then wait two weeks for the part. RockAuto had it at my door in three days. Check 'em out. I use them for parts for my various ancient Toyotas, too, and they ALWAYS deliver the goods!

Thanks again for the diagnostic directions!

Now anybody got a secret for dislodging the #7 sparkplug on this beast? Of course, it's the one right under the master cylinder and so far, no breaker bar, magic oils, or any other solution has made this thing budge. I REALLY, REALLY do not want to pull the head . . .

Thanks!