headlights not working

have a pro scan for codes it may be the central timer module in lh kick panel

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.

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

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 :(

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

Hi, high beam works, I have replaced the switch but still low beam does not work.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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

See pics below.

I checked all of the ground wires on the diagrams that you provided and still have the same problem.
Could it be the time and alarm module?
When I unplugged that the dim headlights went out.

It sounds like it has been shorted internally. Do me a favor. Reconnect it and allow the lights to come on dim again. Remove one fuse at a time under the hood and see which one turns the lights off. Let me know what fuse/circuit it is so I can focus on that specific circuit and determine what may be the cause.

If you want to replace the module, it may fix it. I just don't like replacing things until, I am sure. The test above will help limit possibilities.

Let me know what you decide.

Take care,

Joe

The 20-amp CTM B.

Hi,

Okay, since the lights turn on dim, it sounds like power is likely back-feeding due to a faulty ground. There are two ground locations under the dash I need you to check. See pic below

If the grounds are not the issue, my next suspect is that the CTM has an internal short. The CTMB provides battery voltage at all times.

If possible, have the can-bus scanned to see if there are diagnostic trouble codes stored in the timer module.

Let me know what you find with the grounds.

Joe

See pic below.

I’ll look again at the G207 ground. The ground that I found in the center is on the trans bell housing cover. I didn’t look for a wire color. Maybe there’s another ground up in there that I can’t see, but the one that I thought was the G207 looked go, but I cleaned it anyway.

Hi,

Let me know. Based on the schematics, that ground, G207, appears to be in the vehicle under the dash. Most times, it is identified as the engine compartment if it's under the hood.

Let me know.

Joe