Hello all,My name is Dustin and i own a 98 Ram 1500 sport 4x4. Has the 5.9 auto. I bought it for dirt cheap and drive it daily but I have a couple problems. 1- The headlights and fog lights do not come on when the switch is pulled, the dash, parking, and tail lights do though? When you pull the lever on the steering column back the brights still come on but when you let it go the just go off. Any ideas?
2- I cant get the trans to go into reverse. I was told that if the band inside the trans was broken I would have no 3rd gear but all my forward gears work perfect.

Any help is appreciated, Thanks

 

I can't really help you with much other then stating the obvious, check the bulbs, but I am pretty impressed that you daily drive a truck with no reverse!

 

The wires inside the steering column get stressed and broken from using the tilt feature. Remove the column cover and have a look at it. I had to repair my wires and then pull them further up into the column to give it some slack to prevent it from happening again.

Don't know enough about trans to be much help, but I am sure someone else will chime in.

 

Thank you both, I have checked the bulbs and no luck. I thought it might be the switch on the dash for the headlights but I would think that the parking lights wouldnt even come on. Ramzy- thanks I will get right on checking the column. 2x1972- I got my own designated parking spot at work that keeps me from gettin blocked in and I have got in a bad situation yet lol I just got skills like that

 

The rear band could be out of adjustment or broke and cause a no reverse and leave forward gears o.k. Move the shifter all the way down to 1 and see if you can still move forward. (The rear band is only applied in R and manual low 1) If it's the same in 1 and D, then pull the valve body and go through it, look for a problem with the manual valve, regulator valve or a check ball. If all looks good, next step is pulling the whole trans, disassemble and take a look at servo's and clutches.

 

My headlights did the same thing that yours did and it was the switch. It was melted at the connection inside.

 

If the rear band is too lose, you will loose reverse. Also, and band anchor ( a plate about 1 1/2" long ) can fall out of place. Gotta drop the pan to check. Also you could put a drain plug in pan and change filter while you are there. Only use ATF+4 and check fluid when you get it back together while truck is in neutral.

 

Thanks guys, very very helpful. I'll get right on all of that. Now if I need to ask any specific questions could I pm you?I plan on doin this soon because its annoying. I'll check the low gear now.

 

I checked manual 1st gear and it pulls strong. So the band isn't broken?

 

there is also a dervice manual in the FAQ/DIY section that you can download. Transmission section is very throuough. Need an inch pound torque wrench to properly adjust bands also.

If anchor fell out it will be easy to spot. This is waht you will see on the rear servo:



(.....been there....done that.....)