On my 90 dodge when you use the headlights and leave the headlight switch on and turn the ignition switch off the temp gauge goes all the way to hot the oil pressure gauge also goes up to the high side. But if you turn the headlight off before the ignition the gauges act normal. What is my problem????

 

Check the ground connections for headlights, it sounds like it's trying to ground through the gauges.

ramguy

 

Start pulling and cleaning connections, especially the headlight switch. Mine was corroded so bad, I used up $5 in fuses before I could find the problem.

 

where are the grounds for the headlights??? also why wold my right hand turn signal not work. the left hand one does. but when you turn on the right one it doesn't do anything. I did notice though that when you hit the brakes and have that signal on the light goes out. I also tried the four way flashers and it still doesn't work. the light on the dash doesn't even light up. any Ideas??????

 

redleg, was your truck doing the same thing????????? and all it was was the headlight switch

 

My headlight switch is out too. I've gone through a few fuses already. It's pretty common on any vehicle with a pull-type switch. I've replaced nearly all in my past vehicles. In my truck, sometimes the headlights won't come on, but the dash lights will...or vise versa. Sometimes they flicker. It's typical, most pasrts stores have these switches for a few bucks.

 

i have the same exact problem as wise-cummins and was thinkin it was the switch as well...anyone priced one out??

i think Monty had this same problem if i remember correctly or it was someone else

 

well I think I figured out my turn signal. A buddy of mine, his dad is an electrical engineer and he said the only way that could be that way is if the right hand brake light isn't working and when I checked it wasn't but I moved the turn sinal lever around and sure enough it started to work. So I believe the problem is in the turn signal switch the contacts are just so worn out in it, I mean what do you expect with 233,000 miles on the truck things start to wear out quick. we got out the wiring diagram and it showed that the brake lights go through the turn signal switch and so does the flasher. I really believe that is the problem. I'mm gonna get a turn signal switch and try that. as for the gauge I think I'll just get contact cleaner to clean the plug-ins on the gauge assembly and just buy a new headlight switch. I work at napa and we stock the headlight switch so that isn't a big deal to get.. thanks for the help guys let me know how you guys come out

 

Sorry for the late reply, my switch was so corroded, it was shorting out. All vehicles our age need to be checked for corrosion at all connections. 1st because of moisture buildup (especcially the way the cabs are prone to leaking), also because of metal types being mixed at the connections. It's been said here before and needs to come up from time to time, to clean ALL connections and you've eliminated the first step in trouble shooting, much less prevented most problems.

 

I went thru so many headlight switches on my 93, 3500 that I finally made my own little switch housing that now holds seperate switches for headlights, parking lights and interior lights. 3 switches seems to have solved the problem. I think the OEM switch just has too much amperage going thru it, as it would regularly melt itself to death. The new switches don't even get warm now.

Just my 2 cents worth.

chaikwa.

 

well I put in a new switch tonight and that took care of my gauge problem, thanks for all the help guys. why I had the dash that far apart I took the gauge cluster out cleaned all of the gauge plugins as well. I just can't believe it was that simple of a thing. Thanks a bunch