Have a 1998 Dakota. Headlamps sometimes don't come on. I need to know if there is a realy for these or does it work just off the headlamp switch? The Haynes manual suggest a few different scenarios but unclear. Can't find a relay. If the switch is the only thing involved then I know what to do. Thanks for any input.

 

I know on my '99 Dakota the fog lights have a relay so I would think the headlights would have one too. I would replace the relay if you find it. They are maybe 5 bucks or less at advanced auto parts. My fog lights wouldn't work so I replaced the relay and they worked.

 

Okay, I'll continue to look but so far I can't find anything that relates to a relay either in the engine compartment or the driver side fuse box. If anyone has a lead on where to look please let me know. In the meantime, I will continue my research. Thanks!

PS... I did find the fuse block in the engine compartment but that's all it is.

 

Robert, I really doubt there is any relay for the headlights, later years didn't use them. Unfortunately I don't have a wiring diagram for your vehicle and the wiring did change greatly over the years.

In some years the headlights were always "hot" and the grounds were switched. Do they work at all? How about the "pass to flash" feature?

Can you check for power at the bulb? That'll at least give us an idea as to what might be happening.

 

The headlamps do come on. Every once in a while when I go to turn them on they don't come on. I have to turn the switch on and off a few times and then they light up. I did pull the fuse in the engine compartment just to see if a bad connection could be the issue. So far, they have been working. I will be able to tell in time I guess if that was indeed the problem. I kind of suspect the high beam low beam switch though because at one time some years back I lost the lights when I switched to high beam and back to low beam again and had to play with that to get them back on. Thanks!