first post here. first time owning an older cummins. 98 12v. 2500 sport, 188k miles.

Headlights work, Cluster gauge and parking lights work but when I pull the headlight switch all the way out, the headlights work, cluster gauge and parking lights are off. at some point in the pull, the cluster gauge lights flash on. I can toy with the position of the lights and get the cluster gauge lights on but not while the headlights are on.

I added headlight relays as many of the forum posts suggest. I replaced the dimmer switch on the steering column as other posts have suggested. I changed the headlight switch harness and I swapped out the headlight switch 6 times. I can't find any sign of burned wires or any indication of a problem. I have not checked the grounds but if a ground was poor I would think I'd get different behavior. The lights on the cluster gauge when I hit the right position are bright and don't flicker. To me, it still points to a headlight switch-related problem. But after the 6 replacement with the same results, I'm too close to the problem and need some insight from others.

Any thoughts?

 

There was another thread not so very long ago, with the same problem. Lights only worked with the headlight switch in just the right position...... that member went thru a bunch of the same stuff you did, but, I do NOT recall what the actual fix was. You should be able to find that thread with a search...... (use google, and put site:dodgeforum.com in the search bar as well. Google is a much more effective search engine, than the search feature here.) I am pretty sure the thread was last year some time..... but, may be as long as two years ago.

 

The headlights and the parking/dash lights are on separate circuits which have separate power feeds (separate fuses too). Did you check that both the red/white (B1 connection) and pink/red (B2) wire have power ?

 

That was me I'll link the thread, here it is.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ch-issues.html

 

Thank You.

 

You are welcome just glad my threads will finally help someone

 

Thank you. I'll check it out and let you all know what I find.

 

What brand headlight switch did you put in and did you use the same brand each time? I had a similar issue but the main problem was the switch. Auto zone junk! Got a new switch and pig tail from RA and the problem hasn't been back. Also if you are not aware there was a TSB on the headlight issue for the 3500's. The 2500's should have been included because they have more lights(load on the switch) than a 1500 but not as many as the 3500's but still experience the same problem. To help keep the load off the switch it helps to install some LED lights(marker & clearance).

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/819.htm