I would have never thought of it if it hadn't happened to me right after I bought mine.

 

I don't think the hidden fuse box was in the 1998 and 1999.


Here is an issue,

Dodge likes to power ground wires hot while they are dormant (yes make the ground wires hot) when the switch is dead (at least some switch's I have seen in the Ram). If the ground is in fact hot and grounded, then it would pull the amps. What I am saying here is the first thing you need to do is start testing for continuity and see if a switch is open or closed and if you are grounded or a broken wire somewhere.

 

Yes there is the hidden box in the 98-99s.

 

Turned the dimmer all the way up, which I believe is supposed to turn the lights on, and the "dinger" sounds but, the lights don't come on.

I'll have to look under the dash for the other fuse box.

BTW- what's the deal with the little plastic "housings" around some of the fuses (including the interior light fuse)?

 

Yup, Indy is correct. I seen it on my '99 when I pulled the dash, and my dash I got came from a 2000, and it also had it.

 

it does not exist on the newer dash design, i just went out and checked mine, i have pictures if anyone wants to argue it with me

 

Can't find it ANYWHERE in the service manual or Juntion Boxs. In the 1998 it has all the fuses in the dash and I have proof as here is my 1998 Durango SLT+:

 

i have 29 fuses listed on that panel in my truck ill add my pics soon as i get em up

 

What I don't see in that panel is a fuse for the rear wiper. Or is it on the same circuit as the front?

I know this is veering off topic, but I ask because my rear wiper has never worked, so when I heard about this "hidden" fuse panel I immediately started wondering if I just hadn't yet checked the right fuse... Lack of the rear wiper has never bothered me much, so I haven't made it a priority to troubleshoot it, but if it turns out to just be a fuse I didn't know about, then might as well have it working....

Wife has the D at work right now, so I can't go out and look for the panel to see what's in there.

 

ok since theres another post ill just put the pictures here so that nobody misses them


(the labels for each fuse)









and these last two are pictures up behind the primary fuse panel, nothing but the plugs for the primary panel back there

even looking in my owners manual doesnt show any mention the 'special' fuse panel behind the primary