k here it is my 94 ram 1500 last night smoke started coming out of the dash driver side right by the door and head lights started flickering made it home had no clue what was going on. today headlight worked for little bit but tonight on way home ended up headlights didn't work bright or dim but if I kept pulling back on dimmer switch I had light any ideas on what the prob could be maybe someone out there has had same prob thanks I appreciate any ideas you may have

 

Either the headlight switch or wiring.

 

Need to pull the switch, and have a look at it, and the harness.

 

Replace the switch. Same thing happened to me and I replaced the switch and it works fine.

 

I am having the same issue on my 97. I have replaced the 40a fuse link in the distribution box twice, replaced the headlight switch as well as replacing both bulbs. Can anyone tell me what I may be overlooking.

 

Is this a pretty common issue on 2nd gens? I've been smelling hot plastic or wires occasionally while driving at night only (lights on) and thought maybe it was my aftermarket fog lights having an issue. The other night driving home the high beams started flickering randomly and then quit. I'm starting to think it's the on/off light switch is going bad. Is this sounding about right?

 

one more question, when looking at ordering a switch, it looks like it comes with the harness? Why would it? I really don't want to splice into the wires likely cause more problems then I'd be fixing.

 

Headlight switches are indeed a weak point on these trucks. Best to have a look at it SOON, as they have caused trucks to burn to the ground.

You can fix the results of the problem, but, it doesn't address the actual problem..... high current load on the switch. Getting one of the relay harnesses from LMC truck, or, simply making your own, so the switch only controls a couple relays, solves the problem completely.

 

If anyone has looked at the switches sold today it seems all they sell is the ones with the replacement plug and pig tails to replace the oem one. The plugs melt and the terminals heat up on the switch. I had the this same problem it's a common failure point. The other fourm i'm on people are upgrading to the 2000 switch. I am not sure what the differences are.

 

Thanks HeyYou. Is it the Heavy Duty Headlight Harness the one you're talking about? Any DIY's you know of that address this install? I'm not too electrical savvy yet but doesn't sound like it takes rocket science either it says it draws power directly from the battery, could this be a problem with other things I have hooked to the battery and work the alternator too much? Or I am thinking way to far into it?