Hello fellow Dodge lovers. A buddy of mine referred me to this forum when I asked him a question. He couldn't answer it, but thought someone here might be able to.

I have a 1992 Dodge RAM 2500 with a 5.9 litre Cummins diesel. I'm the second owner, buying it from the original owner in 2000, and I still love it. It hauls my 27 foot 5th wheel trailer along with no problems. A few years ago I installed 40 hp injectors, and a 4 inch exhaust. That made hauling even easier.

Recently I've had a problem with my headlights. When I have the high beams on for a while, all of a sudden all my lights go out. Everything goes out...even my dash lights. If I stop and turn them off for a minute or so, they come on and all is well for a while ... then it happens again. This problem doesn't happen with low beams on, so lately I've been restricting myself to low beam.

I've checked the wiring, the connectors, changed the headlights, sprayed connection cleaner into the dimmer switch, all with no luck. I'm wondering if there is some kind of overload relay or solenoid in the circuit that is cutting out. I have a manual with circuit diagrams, but can't see one.

I'm hoping that some Dodge afficionado out there may have had this problem in the past and know where else I might look.

Hoping to hear from you ... Bob

 

the only thing i can posibly think of is a bad ground wire that is being overloaded when the high beems are on. this is an odd problem since your lights will work again if you turn them off then on.

 

Sounds like something you can live with temporarily. Try these steps to help isolate the problem. What happens if they go out and you pull over and do nothing for a few minutes just to let everything cool down? When they go out try not turning off the lights at the switch but just hit the dimmer and see if they come back on. If they don't after a few minutes try wiggling the light switch stem around a little without really switching out of headlight mode. You might even gently pound on the dash around the switch. Let us know what the results are. We really need more info here to help you but I suspect a switch problem. Dirty or corroded contacts most likely be they power or ground.

 

I have had the circuit breaker built in the headlight switch go bad several times over the years.

 

Thanks for the info. What you are saying about the switch seems logical. A couple of times I have done just that (pulled over and done nothing except put on my flashers). The lights do come back on and then go off again after a few seconds. This continues until I turn off the light switch then go back to dims. I've tried wiggling the switch but have had no results. I'll try to pull the switch and have a look at it.

 

I didn't realize there was a circuit breaker built into the headlight switch. I've had some experience with regular (house type) breakers and have seen lots of them go soft.Now it is beginning to make sense. Thanks