I have a 2nd gen 03 dakota (sxt) and I purchased a new 3rd brake light with the reverse indicators. My original 3rd brake light was an all red assembly with no reverse indicators. So I plugged in the new set and threw my truck into reverse and they are not working. The plus seems to have all the correct ports with my original wiring harness. Does anyone know what it could be? I have a feeling that my truck did not come stock with a switch to tell the lights to come on when I put my truck into reverse because its the base model.

 

Welcome to the forum Matt.

Are you sure they're "reverse indicators?" On my '00 they are the cargo lights.

 

On my '04 it's the same thing, just cargo lights, although it would be kinda cool to also have them be reverse lights

 

Mine are also cargo lights. All cars come with functional reverse lights. Do the ones in your tail lights come on when you put the truck in reverse? If they do, your backup light switch is working.

 

All,

I was unaware that these lights are cargo lights. Even with this said the lights do not come on even when the doors are open. I've hooked up my volt meter to the relay harnesses on both of the cargo lights and there seems to be power even when my doors are open but the lights do not come on. I've even tried installing new bulbs and this didnt seem to be the issue. Anyhow, I do have the SXT Dakota (base model) and
I dont know if this could be a features problem since there are a lot of electrical features my model does not have?

 

I believe those lights are switched on the ground side, so they'll always have power. I also think the trucks that came with cargo lights have a separate switch on the dash.

 

I'm not sure on an '03 but on my '00 they don't come on with the doors - unlike ALMOST every other truck out there. I can rotate the dome light switch to get them to turn on manually though.

Check your owners manual.

 

My '04 is the same as DakDan's, the cargo light only comes on when you rotate the dimmer switch up to the cargo light stop, I believe it is the second to last stop before you turn on the interior lights.

 

I called a dodge dealership to ask a electrical specialist and they told me my truck doesnt come stock with the headlight w/ cargo switch. This could be the problem. I'm going to buy this today at the store and see if this works.