tried doing a search but really didnt find any info on this...occasionally the dash and running lights go out for a minute...then come back on...sometimes they arent on when i go to start the truck...but as i am driving down the road all of a sudden they come on...its always all exterior running lights and ALL dash lights...headlights work...any one experienced anything like this??thx...vs

 

Sounds like a bad ground.

 

thx Bill...i am curious though....how is it that the headlights can still function if everything else electrical is inoperative??? vs

 

I think I would want to look at the grounds and if all those are good clean and tight I would want to take a hard look at the headlight switch and plug, I've seen a couple trucks do that and traced the problem back to a burned contact at the headlight switch.

 

Sounds like a bad headlight switch to me too. They are a part that can get a lot of wear and tear on them depending on usage. Try r/r ing that.

Kurt

 

Yes I agree with the headlight switch. Unplug the connector from it and it will be all melted. I've seen dozens of those trucks with the park lamp circuit melted out of the headlight switch. It's just too much current for that switch and connector to handle, especially if the truck has cab lights, or there's a trailer connector that draws power through the headlight switch.

When you replace the switch and connector, it's best to upgrade the circuit by wiring a relay into the park lamp circuit. At the very least, trailer park lamps should be wired to draw through a relay, and it's best if the truck's park lamps draw through one too.