1997 dodge ram 1500 5.2l v8 2wd

My headlights will not come on, the only thing that works is if I hold the high-beam switch on the steering column. The thing is I have replaced this switch before maybe a year ago and it made everything work again just fine... i am thinking a short? but wouldn't that just blow a fuse? or possibly just a bad switch? I did get it from a junkyard... but I think that's a weird coincidence. Thoughts??

 

Junkyard electrical parts? Well you get what you pay for. Anyhoo, my 96 1500 ate headlight switches. I had the truck 3 years, replaced 4 of them, including the plug twice. Check the plug that goes into the switch very carefully. If anything looks melted or distorted, replace the plug too.

 

I would be taking a long hard look at the multifunction switch.

 

This happened to me on the way across country and, what is most likely happening is this: the headlight switch is failing. Mine actually burned up while driving at night cross country.

I had stopped to get a bite to eat and came back out to find I had no lights and, noted the same as you describe above- high beam indicator etc. I kept trying and eventually, they came back on and, I kept going.

After a while, I began to smell something burning and, I pulled over into Advanced Autio to investigate. After tearing the failing switch out it was VERY obvious what was going on.

When current passes through, it heats up not only the contacts but the composite case that insulates each pin. Well, after repeated attempts, it got hot enough that the contacts melted the housing thus allowing contact of the pins and the lights work. When it cools down, it solidifies and, next time the switch is used, no contact is made thus, no lights. This is what I found to be the root cause for failure: worn contact in switch inducing high resistance across pins.

Luckily for me, Advanced Auto had one in stock and I swapped it out right on the fly. Problem solved.

CM

 

X2 on checking the multifunction switch. Ours had a couple wires that pulled out of the connector that plugs into the switch - easy fix, solder in a new section of wire and some heat shrink tubing. Also ours had a similar problem that I finally traced to a bad fog light relay.

Chuck

 

I've the same problem now...

Relays are ok, headlight switch was just replaced a few mins ago, I'm stumped

 

my head lights wouldn't turn on also only the high beam,, this is what I found,, the plug shorted and melted the plastic ,, would I have to replace it or try to find a shorted wire,,,the bottom light switch you can see where its kinda burned or plastic melted on to it,,thanks

 

Replace the connector AND the headlight switch. Get the harness from LMC truck that uses relays to control the headlights. That way, the switch only has to deal with the current required to trip relays. End of problem.

Welcome to DF.

 

There was a recall about those switches in those years, it was recall #819, but it was ONLY for the 3500's , the roof lights tied into the switch with all the rest caused them to burn up.

 

yes for sure ill do that ,, Thanks for the help