I have a 4x4 96 Laramie SLT with a 318. The headlight switch fried up and melted the switch, harness and a couple of wires. Ive switched out the wiring using a harness from a 97 with the same options as I had. Pretty easy, just matched the colors, I assumed it would be the same for both trucks. Problem is the parking light (tail lights and interrior dash lights) dont activate when the headlights are turned on.

My mistake was probably when I assumed one specific wire for a ground wire. It is black with a yellow stripe. It was melted so far back I couldnt change it out without ripping the dash off. So I simply rigged it up to a part of the dash frame work.

What is this wire? Is it a ground? Am I gonna need to rip off the dash and replace to whole length of this wire? Any help MUCH appreciated!

 

in the 98-02 trucks, the lights use a switched ground, so there isnt a common ground. im not sure about the 94-97 trucks, but its worth looking into

 

Humph, I guess I'm not the only non-electrician around here, huh?Any one know where I could find a detailed diagram. My Haynes book has its limits.

 

www.alldatadiy.com itll cost you some money, but it does have a lot of info, i have bought them for a few different vehicles.

 

That switched ground is a PITA! I tryed to do my fog and couldn't get in than some said something about that the light bulb went off. Now I just have them on a switch the fogs and driving light.

 

i had a fog lamp issue with my truck, you right, it is horrible to diagnose without proper scematics, then i thought i was nuts because even with them i couldnt find problem, then i found 3 opens in the harness that runs under the bumper. all good now!