I am having a problem with my 2000 Dodge Dakota I bought it used and since I have had it the interior lights will not come on when I open either door and when I turn up the brightness in the dash the map lights and dome light come on I just replace the headlight switch and that did not fix the problem. My fathers 99 Dodge Dakota has a door jam switch but mine does not is this the problem or do I need to look somewhere else.

 

The switches are part of the lock assembly. Both sides connect to the central timer module.

Does the chime go off with the key in and a door open?

 

the chime goes off with the key in the off position no matter if the door is open or not

 

I think he meant if you roll the brightness roller all the way up and open the door. He's trying to devise a way to see if the lock switches are bad (what replaced the old skool door jam switch).

 

i do not have power locks if that means anything

 

well thats the thing if i roll the brightness switch all the way up the lights come on no matter what

 

let me rephrase that if i roll the brightness above the lowest setting the lights come on no matter what

 

I think the switches are in the door handle assembly

 

I think you have a bad door ajar switch. From the FSM:

DOOR AJAR SWITCH
The door ajar switches are integral to the door latches on each door. The switches close a path to
ground for the Central Timer Module (CTM) when a door is opened, and open the ground path when a
door is closed. The door ajar switches cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the door latch unit must be replaced.

Pull the door panel and see what you find, I'd start with the drivers as it is opened/closed more often and it would explain the key in chime.