Hey all;
This AM on my way in for duty, I cranked up the the truck for a warmup as it was 40 this am in Smithfield, VA. When I turned on the head lights, I realized the main beams did not come on . I have running lights, and I used my foglights to drive in. If you actuate the hi/low beam on the turnsignal, the hi's will come on when the turnsignal is pulled, and go out when released(as if you were signaling someone to pass). I pulled the bezel(dash trim) ring and pulled the switch. No burnt wires or anything, and the switch has not been hot. I checked all of the fuses and and even looked at the bulbs. I have deducted that it is the switch and have one ready to go and pick up after duty in the morning. Any thoughts?
V/R
Eric

 

With all of the "cross-circuitry" that seems to have permeated thru just about everything that is built nowadays, I 'spose it's possible it could be a fuse, thou it seems it would take two fuses blowing to cause this, and that is easy nuff to check, but it sure sounds to me like the switch is the leading suspect.
And ohh yeh....THANKS FOR SERVING!

 

Chief, I just went through this with my 01. Except my low beams would not work. I went by the dealer and picked up a mulit switch ($61.00) that is below retail and you just have to ask. Anyway, I broke open the column and took out the switch and found the broken wire behind the switch. It was a ***** to fix but I was able to save the money and return the switch. Your problem sounds a little more complex but it may be as simple as one or possibly two bad wires that are not quite broken all the way yet but have bad contact. Oh yea, you will need one of those tamper resistant torx head or star bit set to pull the switch out!!!

 

Sounds like the multi-function switch (turn signal, etc) is the problem.
Due to the open construction of this switch they are quite prone to getting gunked up till they no longer make good contact. Most times just dousing the switch where the shaft enters with aerosol electronic cleaner while flipping from hi to low beam will cure the problem for several years till it gunks up again.

 

Hey all;
First off Jarhead, thanks for an additional starting point as to where to look with my lights issue. I broke out the wiring diagram, and found the white/purple wire and after giggling it, the headlights came on. Stopped by the local dealer for a minute, told the senior mechanic of my problem, and he told me to add an inch or two to the wire, as the tilt wheels cause the wire to come loose. So I cut the wire, soldered in a two inch piece, retaped the areas of the harness, and hoooooyah, the headlights are back!!!!. Sure saved me a lot of coinage. Thanks!!! Also Jarhead, I just left Pascagoula, MS onboard USS San Antonio and we just got home last Monday. If i had known you were in Bay Minette, we could have hooked up.
R/
Eric

 

Right on !! Another Gator Goat !! How does the new LSD ride ?

Thanks for posting the fix. I am sure it will happen to several of us in the future.

PISTOL

 

Chief,
Got to ask, did you "giggle" with the wire or did you "jiggle" the wire? Because I mean, if I could just laugh at all my problems and they went away, that would be great

Thanks for serving,
~formersquidRob

 

Kinda like "getting Jigg-ly with it".

PISTOL

 

Try tilting your wheel all the way up and down and see if they come on. I'm having this same problem right now, tilt the wheel down and the headlights go out, tilt it all the way up and they come back on. When I install my column mount for my FP gauge this summer I bundle those wires to the main wiring harness and now with the colder temps we've been having the wires/wire harness may not be as forgiving and just pulled loose from the harness.

 

I know it's not likely but did you check the bulbs? I always start with the easy stuff.

 

Hey all;
Yeah it was the wire. I added the length of two inches to it, and then moved the column up and down with the lights on to ensure a good fix. Also used a tiny pair of needle nose pliers to ensure I had a good crimp in the plug area. I put shrink tub on the wire prior to connecting it and soldering, and after the joints cooled, I slid the heat shrink into place and then warmed it with my heat gun. I sealed it from the plug to an inch past the solder joints.
The New LPD rides good. You can see her by looking up the commissioning committee website which is [URL=www.usssanantonio.org] that will let you all see what she looks like. Oh yeah, she is diesel powered!!!!!!!!!!!
R/
Eric

 

Oh and by the way, as for giggling or jiggling that wire. I reminded my Chiefly self, that this is a family oriented board and didn't want to use some of the colorful expletives that were used on Thursday AM while going to work in the rain with only my foglights while trying to decipher in my mind what could be wrong. My wife would have had a cow!!! LOL
R/
Eric

 

Just got through fixing mine today. The culprit, that same purple w/white stripe wire on the left side blue wire harness below the tilt lever. The wire was just dangling there...added a couple inches and whoola, I can drive with the wheel in my lap again and still have light