Hi all,

I have a problem with my 1997 1500 Dodge Ram pickup-- a headlight malfunction. The headlights stay on and will not shut off unless I remove the corresponding fuse. Is this a problem with the switch or a relay? Although I bought the truck used three years ago, there is no additional added lighting and I did not have any additional lighting added. Does anyone have any ideas as to the problem and/or how I can troubleshoot the problem? Thanks.

 

I would say its a bad switch or relay. Check both of them. Its a pretty simple system. The only other thing it could really be is a short somewhere.

 

Didn't those trucks have a recall on the headlamp switch.....I think so.

 

in my 04 sometimes the lights stay on. im pretty sure its the switch because if it turn the switch back on and off a few times they finally go out, or if i just turn it kinda hard the first time they go out. i wonder if theres a recall on the 02-05 switches as well?

 

On the 04, if you turn off the lights before you shut off the engine they will turn off, but if you turn off the lights after you turn off the engine the light's will stay on. This may be the same on older trucks as well.

 

Will they then eventually go off? I thought there was a problem with the switch because when I do that, and then switch them on and off a few times they go out. The first night it happened to me I was only in the house a few minutes before heading back out and I realized they were still on but I had turned the switch off. I dont mean to hijack the thread.

 

From what I see in my wiring diagrams power comes from the fuse to the headlamp switch, from there to the dimmer switch and from there to the headlights. I would think the headlight switch is bad also.