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Headlights not working

Tiny
BONZ1234
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 270,000 MILES
When the ignition is on both headlights are on when I turn the light switch to on the drivers light goes out, I have both high beams but no low beam, I have switched bulbs from left to right to check for power and that is not the problem, I have light tested the connection and with the ignition on there is power and when the switch is turned to the on position no power at all could it be the switch or the relay? Thanks Rob
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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015 AT 10:39 AM

26 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Have a pro scan for codes it may be the central timer module in lh kick panel
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Monday, March 25th, 2019 AT 12:01 PM
Tiny
SOUTHTECH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 135,000 MILES
I have no headlights, wipers work but no intermitent, service 4wd light is on which by the way I just had it in the shop about a month ago and they put in a new 4wd modual and switch for the 4wd. Everything was fine when I parked the truck last night started it today to find the above problem. Any ideas? I checked fuses did not see any that were bad.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi:
Does the 4wd still work for you? To me it sounds like a body control module (BCM) problem. Have the computer scanned at a nationally recognized parts store. They should do it for free, and it may point us in the right direction.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VEMATHIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE DAKOTA
  • AUTOMATIC
I own a 2001 dodge dakota. The headlights just stopped working one day
They make a buzzing noise when you turn them on but will only lite up a very dim light. The dash lights will somewhat work. The check engine light and gauges also work including blinkers. The dome light does not work either. Help! We have replaced the switch that turns the lights on and no fix :(
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
If you hear a buzzing where the switch it located, it sounds like there is a bad electrical connection. Remove the switch and inspect the connectors. Make sure none look like there was an electrical arcing taking place. Inspect the plug that connects to the switch for connections which are pushed in or loose. One last thought, some of the headlight switches had a single wire to the side of the switch which was a separate ground. Make sure that is connected.

Let me know what you find. Also, if I am incorrect about where the location of the buzz is coming from, let me know.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HANK CADDYWACKER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
1998 Dodge Dakota: replaced headlight bulbs (with same Sllvania part #9007) because one quit working (presumed burned out). Now neither headlight will work, but all other light are operational. Suggestions? Thanks.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check fuses no.2 and 14-Check and test the headlamp switch and the dimmer switch it goes thru these switches before it hits the lights
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Use a voltage tester, check for voltage at headlamp connector. Headlamp switch on.

In the diagram, red wire is voltage for highbeam, violet wire is voltage for low beam. Black wire is ground.

There is also a fuse you can check, fuse 2--40 amp, in power distribution center under the hood. Not only check the fuse, check for voltage on the fuse circuit. Hot all the time.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CRAFTYD88
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
Headlights quit working. I checked fuse it's good. Also, the switch in truck to turn them on is fine. The bulbs themselves are good.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you have DRL then it may be the module if not that disconnect multi function switch as it may be that is bad. If you have DRL then a mechanic has to scan for codes. Also, check grounds near battery and right front inner fender.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,464 POSTS
First question, Does your truck have daytime running lights? Second are both high and low out?
If you have DRLs check fuse B (fifteen amp), fuse C (twenty amp) and fuse two (forty amp) those are in the power center on the fender. Also check fuses fourteen and seventeen in the panel at the end of the dash.
If you do not have DRLs check fuses two and C in the power center and fuse fourteen at the dash fuse panel.

If these are all okay, then you need to go farther. Reply back with the answers to the above questions and I will try to assist (different wiring and testing process).
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BALLIATICDON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Hi, high beam works, I have replaced the switch but still low beam does not work.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,464 POSTS
Probably a bad wire between the switch and the PDC or in the PDC.
Low beam battery feed comes out of the multi-function switch on the violet wire with a white stripe. From there it runs to the power distribution center. Inside it goes through a jumper and splits to feed both low beam lamps. As both low beam lights are out the issue has to be in that part of the circuit.

So get a simple test light and with the headlights on and on low beam see if you have battery voltage at the violet/white wire at the switches output.

Then find that same wire at pin 6 on the PDC. Do you have power on that end as well?

Now you need to go to either headlight and find that same violet/white wire. Run a quick test of the lights by running a jumper wire from battery positive to the violet/white wire post on the bulb, if both low beams come on you have a choice,
Replace the PDC costly or simply run a jumper wire from the output of the dimmer switch violet/white wire to the same color at the light side of the PDC.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BALLIATICDON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Steve, thank you very very much. I will try to follow your directions and give you an update after I fix the head light issue.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RDIMAMB
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • DODGE DAKOTA
Two days ago while I was driving the headlights went off. If I flick the warning lights the high beams come on but of course only momentarily. All other lights stay on. I took off the 50 amp fuse for the lights in the box on the driver's side inner fender. When I pull the fuse out all light go off.

When I put it back all lights came on but no headlights. After a while the headlights came on again on their own. I tried to test the fuse by pulling the fuse out again and all lights went out (including the headlights) and when I replaced the fuse the headlights came on again. So I figured that the fuse was good and it controls the headlights as well. Tonight the same thing happened again.

The headlights will not come on. So I tested the headlight switch by testing it on another Dakota and it worked fine. I put it back and still no headlights. All the other lights stay on as they should. Is there a relay or a breaker switch that may need to be replaced? This is the only vehicle that my wife can drive because of her leg problems (the truck sits higher than my Mazda MX6 and she can get in and out easier). I need it to fix it as soon as possible.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
The problem with these trucks is the switch is a little weak. Can you try wiggling it back and forth to see if you can get them to come on? Then replace the switch to fix the problem. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RDIMAMB
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you for your help. I traced all of the wires and ultimately we decided to change the light switch again. It was it. The switch was working intermittently thus suggesting a short somewhere when in fact there was none. In checking the wires I did find some that were corroded and fixed those before they became a problem too.
Thanks for your help again. Very helpful.

Roberto
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Here is a guide and the headlight wiring diagram so you can see where you are losing power if the headlight switch does not fix it. Check fuse G, 8 and 20.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Best, Ken
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Sunday, August 30th, 2020 AT 10:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ALLAN BIKOWSKI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have a issue with my 2004 Dakota. If you either click the key fob unlock or open the door the dome light doesn’t work, the headlights come on dim, and the 4-wheel drive doesn’t work.
The fix that worked for a while was to hold the fob unlock button while opening the door, then everything would work.
Now nothing works.
I checked every ground that I could find, I even removed the light switch, and with it removed the lights still come on dim?
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Sunday, February 6th, 2022 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi Allan, I just noticed you added on to an older post several days ago. Sorry for the delay.

Okay, I attached the wiring schematic below for the headlamps and highlighted several grounds. The one that has the most interest is G207. That one is the only ground that I noticed has something to do with the three things you mentioned. It is located behind the lower center of the dash. Has that been checked? Also, G208 at the left kick panel is also an important one. Has it been checked?

There are several others, but I don't see how they would tie into the things you mentioned.

If you checked all the ones I mentioned, let's look at it from a different point of view. Have you checked for corrosion at the fuses, switches, or anything that can cause excessive resistance to power things? Also, do the interior lights ever work?

Let me know.

Joe

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Friday, February 11th, 2022 AT 10:04 PM

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