Headlights don't work on '98 Ram

[Edmond]

I checked the fuses, there is no relay. It's not the bulbs.

This is a friends' car. Her headlights weren't working so she assumed the bulbs, the guy at the store put them on and told her to turn the lights on. She did but the lights didn't light up.

The fog lights and high beams work, though.

Headlight switch? If so, doesn't that entail taking the dash apart?

 

[John_K]

I can say that on my old 91 Dakota when the high beams worked and not the low beams, it was the headlight switch. (Different model, same company.)

John

 

[Jimmy9190]

I would suggest testing the headlight switch, because the high beams are working. If it tests OK then I would test the multi-function switch. A Haynes or Chilton book for the truck should have diagrams and detailed instructions for testing both.

Jimmy

 

[Yazmeister]

Had the same problem with my '97 Ram 1500. Had to have stealership repair wiring. If you have some time and patience, you should be able to repair it.

 

[Edmond]

The vehicle is actually a Durango, not a Ram.

She picked up a headlight switch, I swapped it out and the result is the same.

I did some more research and some people were saying that it could have something to do with loose wires in the steering column? One guy had his work properly when the steering wheel was tilted all the way up.

 

[meep]

a. there may be a "hi/lo" relay in the relay box--- prolly the one in the hood.
b. check for working headlamp ground
c. there's gotta be a relay... I haven't seen a non-relay headlamp circuit this side of 1980... they shouldn't dump 10+A through that little switch...

 

[opus1]

Similar thing happened to my Dad's old Concord (AMC, not Chrysler), headlights went out, he assumed it was the switch since they were all out but the parking lights were on. We replaced the switch, no dice.

Looked at the wiring diagram and the only other thing it could be was the hi-lo switch (located on the floor at the time since this was a 1980 car. Bingo.

I'd look at that first before chasing after wiring gremlins.