Discovered last night, that my 2001's headlights won't turn on. When the switch is in the "on" position, I can switch between brights and headlights, and the brights turn on, but the headlights don't flicker. I tried messing with the switch in the steering column to no avail.

To add a little kicker to this, my headlights are currently a true HID 7000k conversion kit, but that shouldn't make any difference. I haven't had a problem till last night when I had nothing. I was wondering if there was some sort of a relay that might have been fried, or if something else got eaten up. These style headlights do draw more power, so I'm wondering what behind the scenes got eaten up. The last time I drove the truck was at night and everything was fine.

I've tested with my multimeter the power at the fuse box, and i'm seeing 12v at both fuses. What is my next course of action?? It's cold and I hate to "un-install" my HID kit.

 

Don't know if this will help or not, but try changing the position of the tilt wheel. Mine had a wire coming lose (don't remember which one) that would lose connection with the wheel down.

HTH

Jim

 

Had this happen 3x when I added my sport lights. 1st time was the multifunction switch "blinker and wiper switch". The connector behind the colum cover to the switch was visible hot, "melted plastic". 2nd and 3rd time was the headlight switch. I would start with the headlight switch. They can't take much more draw than what comes with the factory. Both times when the switch was bad if you pulled it out and shook it you could hear the ball bearing slides "clicks you feel when turning the switch" rolling around inside. Good luck.

 

I'm off to pick up a new switch at the dealer for $52. Hopefully this will fix it. I think I'm also going to order that summit racing headlight rewiring kit as well, but for the time being, this should at least get my truck back on the road at night.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

Went ahead and replaced the switch to no avail. I wondered about that since the brights still worked and the headlights didn't kick in. Nothing appears to be melted so I guess I'll start testing things. What a royal pain this is turning out to be.

 

Dodge dot com /bodybuilders has a wealth of info you just have to dig it out.

click here

quote from 2005 cautionary statement :

"Headlamp/Taillamp Circuit

Adding lamps to the headlamp/taillamp circuit without a
separate relay may damage the electrical system. For all
Ram 1500/2500 LD/HD pickup models without cab
clearance lamps, the “available” current capacity is 3.5
amps. For all other RAM HD pickup models, NO
additional lamps should be connected without using a
separate relay"


ELECTRICAL CONSIDERATIONS

HEADLAMPS

Each headlamp bulb is independently Pulse Width
Modulated (PWM) controlled by an electronic control
module. This module also monitors each bulb to detect
failures (i.e. bulb burned out) on both the high beam and
low beam filaments. When this failure occurs, the “LAMP
OUT” telltale indicator in the instrument cluster will
illuminate whenever the ignition is in the RUN position.
The module also provides the DRL function when required
and therefore there is no separate DRL controller.


•NOTE – the aftermarket bulbs must draw no more current than the
OEM bulbs (9007QL).


hope this helps someone

mel