Hi guys, I am new to this forum (as you can tell) and was hoping you all could help me with a problem with my 1997 dodge ram 1500 4x4. I was driving a few weeks ago in a rain storm. Well to make a long storey short I slid my truck off road into a street sign. I was not going fast and no one got hurt but I did break my headlight,turn signal(all passenger side)and scratch my bumper. Well as soon as I hit the road sign my dash lights went out??? I thought it was because of my headlight being out. Well I had a body shop buff out the scratches and put a new headlight andturn signallight on. Well now my running lights and dash lights do not come on still. When I pull the headlight switch out very slowly and get it right in the middle between where the low beams would come on the switch would be deactivated all the running lights, fog lights as well as my dash lights come on, but as soon as I fully engage the switch all the lights go off and not even my low beams will come on?? Now if I pull the switch right in between where the low beams would be on and the high beams would be on all the running lights, fog light and dash light come on. Then as soon as I engage the switch completely all the lights turn off… but my high beams come on?? It’s really weird. So I can get only high beams, no low beams no matter what and fog lights, dash lights and running lights only when the switch is half engaged in either low or high settings. I thought it was the switch so I went and bought a bran new one and it had no affect, the same thing is happening. I really need this fixed because having to choose between having my high beams on and no running lights or having running lights and no head lights is not cool,Any help would be much appreciated.

 

sounds like its probably the switch on the dash. Ive had that switch go before. I found a replacement at auto zone for 20 bucks.

 

Thats what I'm thinking. Maybe check the switch on the dash as it seems like they go out fairly often. I don't know for sure thats what it is. I would personally probably get one from the dealer as I just haven't had luck getting parts store stuff to last very often. A buddy got a headlight switch for his car from Advance and it lasted 6 months.

I replaced my headlight switch because the **** broke off and you had to buy the whole switch you couldn't just get a ****. Mine still worked but it didn't have a ****. I think I still have it as a space but not sure where it is. I had to twist the rod the **** slides on so not a big deal but looks weird without the ****.

 

he bought a new switch.

 

Blown fuse? Short behind the dash?

 

yea i did get the new switch and if it was a fuse then it would not work at all right?? mine works but only when the switch is in the middle??

 

the stock switch is just barely up to the task of handling the amount of current that flows through it when it functions normally. More than likely when you hit the sign it shorted the wires together and fried the internals in the switch and you might have some carbon build up. The fact that you can get it to light up in the middle might mean that it's the 2 points in the switch that are still able to complete the circuit, but it would appear that the rest of the components are good as the dash lights up. Without pulling the switch apart it's just an educated guess, but it isn't really worth repairing it. Buy a new one or head to a junk yard and get one pulled for you.

My only other guess would be to check the relays in the PDC under the hood, but those usually just "pop" and stop working altogether.