No Parking lights

[Taylor44]

I have an 02 Ram 1500 ... On my way to the race track tonight I noticed when I turned my lights on I had no running lights on my trailer... no big deal, figured it was the fuse (this happened the first time I hooked the trailer to it about 4 years ago) .. well all the fuses were fine. Then I noticed I didn't have any parking lights on my truck (had the switch just on parking lights).. I turned the main headlights on and they worked fine as did the fog lights.. just no parking lights, thus no trailer lights.... All the brake lights and turn lights work just fine on the truck and trailer... All fuses are good, even stopped at the auto store to get a relay just in case.. no help...

I assume I am looking at a bad switch, but before I tear into the dash panel to go after the switch, I just thought I would see if anyone else has experienced this?? If so, any hints on taking the panel out without breaking anything if indeed this is what I need to replace?

By the way, I have a 15yr old mad at the ole truck because I turned around and didn't get to take him racing.. so the pressure is on for ole dad to get this thing fixed before next weekend.. preferrably tomorrow I'm sure.. hahah

Thanks!
Jon

[Taylor44]

any help on this would be appreciated... I have not replaced the switch on the dash, against my better judgement still no luck... I have pulled every light bulb on the truck and check all of them... even replaced the license plate light as both were blown.. just in case it was some crazy feature that killed your parking light if both were burnt out. The 4-prong flat trailer connector was corroded so I snipped it off completely.. pulled the plug of the round trailer connector everything looked fine..

Done a continuity check on all the fuses associated with the lights.. all checked fine. I done a check on the plug that goes into switch on the dash... This is where some expertise would be very helpful... there are 6 prongs on the switch... 4 on top, 2 on bottom... one of the bottom ones has 11.38 volts, 2 of the top ones have 5 volts... I assume the other bottom one is a ground. I would like to verify if all the top ones are to have voltage or just the 2.. (I assume just the 2)...

There is a 50Amp fuse for "park lamps" in the fuse box ... when I check the fuse box it has 12 volts coming to it... when I check the fuse box where the smaller fuses plug in (the 10amp and 20 amp ones for the right tail, left tail, trailer, etc...) they all only seem to have like 150millivolts ... not sure if that is right or not... doesn't seem right to me.... anyway.. I am about to pull my hair out right now... is there anything that I am missing or does anyone have voltages or continuity that I should be checking somewhere??

Thanks,
Jon

[angus10]

It is the headlight switch! Pull it out and see if the plug is melted. I bet the trailer plug or wires on the trailer are the prob and burned the switch. And the parking lamp fuse on my 98 is a 15 amp fuse. Where is the 50 amp located ?

[angus10]

And how many parking lamps are on the trailer? If there is too many it will draw major amps through the switch and burn it out.

[Taylor44]

I'm sorry about that last post... I meant to say I did replace the headlight switch... still not luck... sorry about that...

the trailer is a 8x16 and I'm guessing only has about 7 running lights on it... I've pulled this trailer for 4 - 5 yrs with no problems. I have obviously unplugged the trailer and still no parking lights on the truck... headlights work, fog lamps work, dash lights work, dimmer works.... everything works but the parking lights... brake lights, reverse lights, turn signals... everything ... uuugggghhhhh

[angus10]

Did you find the ground wire? Mine is a 98 but it is located inbetween the battery and the inner front part of the fender behind the headlight. There is a bolt (or stud and nut) with two ground wires.

[angus10]

And actually there is two more ground wires just below the 2 I described.

[angus10]

I realize you have a generation 3 ram and mine is a 2nd generation, but, after you say you replaced the headlight switch , I have to go with a bad ground.

[Taylor44]

there is one ground between the battery and top part of the inner part of fender (I checked that one)... I will have to search for others :-)

Thanks!

[angus10]

I think with a 2003 the problem goes deeper then on a 2nd generation ram. here is a post off another forum!


I had issues with my 03 Hemi.
After much checking, lots of head scratching and thread bashing, I found it was the power distibution center............fuse box to you and I.
There are a bunch of printed circuits running through it, that corrode.
This makes a high resistance/open circuit earth return, stopping the front contol module turning on the park lights.
You can test this by putting a jumper into the park relay and check if the lights work south of the relay.
That way you will at least find out if there are any problems further back from the park lamp relay/fuse box.
It will also give you temporary lights.
Just remove the park lamp relay, put a thin wire jumper between pins 30 and 87 of the park relay, then push the relay back into the socket.
Turn on your park lights and all should be OK.
If it is, it's the fuse box.
This information is with ref to my 03 Hemi 3rd gen truck.
I beleieve the info will be the same for your 02.
This is another, known and famous issue with Dodges.
I purchased another PDC/fuse box whilst on holiday, from a dealership and fitted it on my return home to the UK.
No more problems.
I have helped at least 5 members of different forums about this same issue and ALL bare none, after all the simple stuff like relays and fuses were checked etc, were the fuse box.

credit goes to abarmby

[Taylor44]

WOW... well, I'll cut a piece of wire and jumper it in the relay to see what happens... Wonder how much a new fuse box is gonna run.. haha out $80 for the switch that didn't fix it and $8 for a relay that I tried just in case.. haha Maybe I'll just keep the wire under the relay if that fixes it .. haha

Thanks!!
Jon

[angus10]

$80 ! Wow! My 98 cost $20 , where did you buy it?

Just called my parts supply and the one with fog lights is $75 and without $50. Geez I'm glad I take care of my 98 ! Gonna suck when I need a newer truck. LOL

[Taylor44]

yeah it was $77 I think with tax... it has the fog lights. got it at AutoZone, Advance Auto was $55 or so but it was the wrong one, mine is square and the one from Advance was rounded on one side.. Advance could not get the square one so I had to go next door to order from AutoZone.. This truck is for sale or trade for a 12v Cummins by the way :-) I plan to have the lights fixed of course prior to sell

[Taylor44]

I put the jumper in the relay sockets and when I did I immediately had parking lights .... didn't have to plug the relay back in, nor turn the switch on as described .... I assume this still tells me the fuse box is bad, correct??

Called the dealership, as Advance and Autozone cannot get them... Dealer wanted something like $860 (you had to also get the wiring harness for the lights and all.... checked out junk yards and found one for $166 including shipping... I have not taken the fuse box out yet, but would anyone happen to know if the bottom of the box can be taken apart to clean the corrosion by chance?? from what I can tell by looking at the top it seems to be welded plastic tabs possibly... If nobody knows, I will find out after I get the other one installed, because the current one will be taken apart somehow and checked out... If I can get to it, I will clean it and see about making it work again.... the one I am ordering can be returned, already checked into that.

Thanks and let me know if it seems this is what is bad with the lights coming on as soon as I put the jumper in without installing the relay or turning the switch on....

JT

[Okie Dokie]

I have a friend that wired a seperate parking light switch, it is a hassle to turn on the parking lights every time you turn on the headlights, but it is a bunch cheaper than a new box!

Here is an ebay box, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ksid=p3907.m29
could end up with the same prob eventually, which is why he wired a seperate switch, good luck!

Buy a Ford next time! Got rid of my Ram and haven't looked back!
Better ride/drive and tons more power AND NO FREAKY ISSUE, YET!

FOMCO FOREVER!