2000 Ram Headlight Problem

[dannyd2450]

OK, 2000 ram 1500 Sport... The headlights dont turn on when I turn the switch. The parking lights and fog lights turn on fine. If I turn the high-beams ON, all the lights work fine, but as soon as I turn the high beams OFF, the headlights turn off as well. Some times the headlights work and other times it doesn't.. This happen to anyone? or does anyone have recommendations on how to test if it is the light switch?? before I spend the money on a new one??

[spiffer]

So, have you fixed the problem yet?
I have just encountered the exact same symptoms on my 2000 Ram 1500. Everything but the low beams work fine. Have you found the source of the problem since your post?

[dannyd2450]

Yes. A cable was lose in the steering colmn. Turn on your headlights, if they do not turn on, adjust your steering column up and down. The harness that controls the high-beams was lose. When you'd pull the steering coulmn down, it would strech the cable out of the switch; but as soon as you'ld put the coulmn back up, the cable wasn't so streched and it would work perfect. I just found the problem less than a week ago and haven't taken it to the dealer, but as long as it works with the steering column up (where I like it), I don't see why I should spend the money! Try it and let me know if this is the same problem.

[spiffer]

First thing I did was get the Haynes manual for the truck and consulted the schematics to identify which wires to test in the harness as well as the multi-function switch. I then took apart the steering column and dash, and tested the multi-function switch and the wiring harness => no problems. Then I tested the headlight switch. Still no problems. Then I decided to remove both headlight bulbs again and ensure that the voltages were correct across both sides in both high and low. This is when it got somewhat weird => after finding no problems, I stuck the bulbs back in and tested things again only to find that now I had only a low beam on one side and a high beam and daylight running on the other. The only thing that I could see that would cause this type of odd behaviour was the daylight running light module as it seems to be the only device that could cause this type of switching within the lighting circuit. Problem is that this module is over $90 from Dodge and the dealer informed me that he wouldn't take it back if it turned out not to be the problem (they consider electrical components non-returnable and told me I need to bring the truck in for repair).

So, feeling somewhat defeated, I took the truck to my regular mechanic and explained the situation. Of course, he has to go through all the tests in order to ensure that he understands/identifies the problem correctly. The first thing he did was take the bulbs out => although they seemed ok, he swapped them out with new ones. Well, this fixed the problem... Everything started working correctly.

Can't really explain it and it doesn't make sense to me given that the original bulbs tested out ok (and that they changed from no lows to a high and a low). But, it was a $25 fix instead of $90 and so far, everything is working (3 weeks now).

[jethoma]

Originally Posted by spiffer

So, have you fixed the problem yet?
I have just encountered the exact same symptoms on my 2000 Ram 1500. Everything but the low beams work fine. Have you found the source of the problem since your post?

I have a 95 Dodge Ram 1500, just had it start have the delays when I turn on the headlights. Any updates to what you all have found / experienced? I saw another article that talked about replacing the $90 module, but recommended to trying cleaning the contacts on the module first. Apparently its located near the battery, on the fire wall.

So far the lights have always come on, but we are talking a 5 to 15 second delay and only after it sits overnight or several hours.

Let me know if you cleared the issue or had to do more

Thanks