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Dashboard won't light?

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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 08:48 PM
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Default Dashboard won't light?

I have a '99 Ram 1500 5.9L
Aftermarket radio, new speakers, amp and subwoofers. Everything worked great until today.
All warning and notifications light up, but no gauge lights or A/C / heater lights work either. When I shut my fog lights off the fog light indicator comes on, but when they're on the indicator turns off? Any ideas on what could cause this?
P.S. I checked the fuses and they all looked fine.
 
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Old Nov 13, 2010 | 11:02 PM
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Check fuse F in the PDC, under the hood. (20 amp fuse)

Check fuse 5 in the fuse block in the dash. (5 amp fuse.)

Welcome to DF.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 09:20 AM
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I checked over all the fuses this time and non are toasty. Could it be the bulbs are wired in series? Or am I gonna get luckier and have to tear the dash apart again?

And thank you.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 11:02 AM
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Bulbs are wired in parallel. If you have had the dash out, might just be a bad connection somewhere..... Sorry, guess you get to yank it again.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 11:05 AM
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I suppose the headlight switch could be bad. I only say that because of the funky fog light condition.


Edit Remove the switch and make sure the harness or the back of the switch is not burned.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 11:56 AM
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The harness doesn't look burnt in any way. I took the dash out again and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Only thing I accomplished was making my LowJack alarm beep at me a few times.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 12:17 PM
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You took the plug off the headlight switch and looked at both halves correct?
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 12:23 PM
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No I didn't do that. I'll have to go back out there at some point and take another look. It just confuses me that it still turns all the lights on the exterior of the truck and my dome lights, but doesn't affect my dash lights or the overhead display.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 12:27 PM
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You took the plug off the headlight switch and looked at both halves correct?


EDIT: What the heck? Delayed reaction I guess, LOL.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2010 | 12:35 PM
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I guess lol. Only problem is the way they installed my alarm on this truck, I can't get the actual front plate off the dash, because the little light that is wired in can't be disconnected from the cover. And the wires are damaged so I don't wanna mess them up any more today. But I'm hoping it's just the headlight control and nothing further into the dash.
 
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