Last night after I turned onto the gravel road coming home I switched up to my hi beams and the lights went dead. After a few minutes the low beams came back. Tonight I went out and had low beams, but not high again. Jumpered the high beams at the back of the light socket, and they came on, I thought I had a short but was trying to run power into the wrong part of the socket last night.

Anyhow, the odd thing, once I put power to the high beams, I ran the switch back and forth a few times, and they are working fine now.

Anyone ever replaced the headlight switch with toggles? I was thinking maybe put one in for the headlights, one for the markers, and a momentary for the markers as well.

 

I am no expert, but i would look at the Jim Lane sticky about putting your headlights on a relay or two. IMO find a new switch and then do the relay modification and you will be happy. I did this mod a few months ago and can honestly say that it has been a huge improvement. If you do the mod it wont require you to install toggle switches in your truck and it maintains the stock look. My two cents!

 

I would put a over ride switch in. What if the head light switch goes south.

 

I keep a piece of wire on the battery hold-down so I can jump power to the back of the driver headlight. I didn't have much time so I put the right headlight on relays, but need to do them both and do them right. Lots of things I need to do.

I was thinking toggles just for something different.

 

Probably the multi function switch on the steering colunm.

 

AMEN BROTHER !


The best improvement I made to my electrical system, other than cleaning up the grounds and cleaning out my fuse panel. HUGE DIFFERENCE in headlamp brightness, and I'm no longer worred about my headlamp switch burning up any longer.

By far, one of the best stickies for our year trucks.

 

The two killer loads in the truck are headlights and heater motor.

Headlights, of course, take out the headlight switch, and the overheat takes out the headlight switch connector and any other bad connection. Also, they're wired with long light gauge wires. If you install relays you also replace the poor wiring and routing and increase the voltage at the lights considerably. That translates to seeing better at night.

Simularly, the heater motor load can take out the ignition switch, heater control switch, or fan speed switch. It also will run better when on relays.

If you're pulling a well lit trailer, or multiple trailers, the tail light and signal circuits are also a little thin. Relays and fuses mean brighter lights, and protection from wiring faults. Who would think there could be a wiring fault on a trailer?

Relays are cheap. Use em to your advantage.

Just my 02
jm

 

For the time being, before you get the chance to install relays, how about the idea of just not putting your heater switch on high ?

Less amps being drawn, means less chance of overtaxing a poorly designed electrical system, no ?

Just guessing here.. What's ya think ?

 

Usually the Dodge fan switch forces that decision for you.

 

A relay in the lights is the way to go. Very easy to install. I put a relay in mine years ago after replacing 2 headlight switches and have had no problems since.

 

That's what I am thinking. Tonight the high beams went out when I hit a bump. And it's not drawing any extra amperage when I switch up to high beams and they aren't working like it seemed to be the other night.

WHen I got home I started running the beams up and down, they'd go out on high, then after a few clicks of the switch they'd flash and then the low beams came on again.

 

Stupid question, but did you check the ground screw that is between the battery and radiator support? see if its loose, corroded, etc. If any of those conditions exist it could cause your issues your having.

 

I ran a new ground to the radiator support. The right headlight where I put the relays is also grounded to the fender, relays and headlights both.

 

The ground I put on the fender for the relays and headlights, I put in parallel to the factory ground.

I checked last night and the screw that holds my battery hold-down and the ground I added was loose. Tightened it up, and today my headlights worked for longer than they did the other night. Fixed? who knows................

 

I take power and ground distribution seriously.