Hey guys, I have a 2002 dakota. Suddenly yesterday the turn signals stopped working, the lights dont light up inside (on the dash) or outside. The brake lights also stopped working except for when the truck is completely off. They don't work when it is on or when the key is clicked to accessory. I installed an aftermarket JVC radio into it about four days ago but everything worked fine for about three days. The truck also has a trailer braking system installed. I removed the dash to make sure I didnt make any mistakes with the radio, i also checked all the fuses inside the truck and under the hood. I have no idea what it could be. Any help appreciated, thanks

 

If there are no problems with the wiring at the radio (be sure the orange and black/yellow illumination wires are not shorted to ground) then there must be some problem with either the trailer brake controller or the wiring where they tapped into the brake lights for the trailer brake system. Maybe start by removing the trailer brake control module and see if there is any obvious wiring problem there, then go back and check all of the wiring at the brake/tail lights, probably done under the back bumper area of the truck. If you find no obvious shorts or other problems, maybe remove the controller and also cut loose all of the wiring for the trailer brake system back at the brake/tail lights, put it all back to factory condition Check the 30 amp fuse #5 in the PDC, that is the main fuse for the brake lights. If it is OK you may have to check every single fuse in the truck, both at the interior fuse panel and at the Power Distribution Center. This sounds more like a problem with the trailer brake system, or possibly the trailer brake controller just coincidentally went bad after you installed the radio. The problem would probably have showed up right away if there was a problem with the radio installation.

Jimmy

 

thank you so much for the response, I haven't been able to find anybody else who has this same issue so this helps alot.

Thanks, jack

 

Jack, I had the same thing happen to me just today. Did you find the problem? If so, would you please share.


thanks,
Curt

 

Curt, It turns out the people who worked on my plow this year took the front bumper off and did something wrong when working in there or reattaching the bumper that caused a short. I did not fix it because I couldnt find the problem so Im not exactly sure what they did in the shop to fix it. hope that helps!

 

Thanks for the reply Jack. I actually figured it out yesterday. I had shorted my trailer pig tail at the rear bumper. Turns out besides the fuse located on the drivers side dash panel there is also a fuse located in the fuse box under the hood. The in the dash was good but the fuse under the hood had blown. I patched up the bear wire on the pig tail and replaced the TWO FUSES under the hood. There are two separate fuses under the hood. One for the hazard lights and one for the brake(stop) lights. Hope our posting can help somebody else. I ran across a lot of posts looking to solve this problem.

 

I have a 2002 Dakota that has had both brake light problems and lately turn signal problems. I have found my wires and plugs in rear of truck for my lights and trailer lights not making good connection. May left blinkers has started to blink fast and most recently right side started blinking fast, then my dash blinker light for right side stopped working, my rt. front blinker stopped working. I read other forums on this site about the combination flasher at drivers side under dash above the data port, unplugged it and plugged it back in fixed my blinker problems except my lt. Blinker still blinks fast but all are working now. It might be the combo. Flasher still working on that. Thanks to this forum I'm on my way thanks.

 

on my '02 Dakota, the left blinker has started blinking fast. I was messing around under the dash - I will try finding the problem tomorrow.