When i turn on my headlights (on a 1996 dakota sport) none of the rear lights come on. If I turn on the "parking lights" they all come on. Does anyone know what could be causing this? Thanks for the help.

 

A bad switch or a bad ground.

 

+1 on the switch. the wires should all be ok if they turn on in the parking lights posistion though. get a good switch from your dealer though. i've had nothing but trouble with am ones. and the ones you get am will be rheostats and alott of out are actually digital.
go figure.

 

Thanks for the advice! Ill try the switch. Is it very hard to replace?

 

it's pretty easy. pull the knee bolster and take loose the two column bolts facing you so that the column drops a bit. then remove (ten i think) torx screws from the cluster/radio bezel and set it aside. then you'll have 4 phillips screws that hold in the switch. pull it out part way and unplug it. you may want to have a connector repair kit on hand because they used to be pretty bad to melt. there is a round button on the bottom side of the switch push it then pull out like you want to turn on the lites and the **** will come out of the switch. then another phillips screw and thge switch comes off of the bracket.
read it backwards for installation directions

 

Great step-by-step. Thanks!

So far, I've replaced the ac blower resistor and repaced the windshield wiper linkage bushings, all with info from this site!

Now if I can get the rear lights working and replace the rear light covers, this truck will be good as new (well, as new as a 175 k mile truck can be)!

Thanks again!