Head Light

Tiny
WARRIOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 DODGE RAM
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 186,000 MILES
I have a 2004 dodge ram 1500 4x2 The dummy light came on and I had a lamp out. I checked my headlights and the driver side was out. I replaced with new ones and it still doesnt work. I checked the fuses, relay, I purchased a chilton book but it was a dead end. This is frustrating. Any help would be much appreciated! I think maybe its the switch and if so is this expensive to have repaired @ a local dealership?
Friday, January 28th, 2011 AT 6:56 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
If the switch was defective, you wouldn't have any head lights. Does the high beam work?

There are two separate fuses, one for each side. Check them under the hood. I seem to recall they are 20 amp fuses. If they are good, use a test light to check for voltage on the common terminal in the head lamp socket. If you have voltage there, test for continuity to ground on the other two terminals.

Caradiodoc
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Friday, January 28th, 2011 AT 7:41 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for your quick response. Yes both high beams do work. And my fuses are good so now I will check for voltage Great tip I appreciate.
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Friday, January 28th, 2011 AT 9:03 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Hold on. If the high beam works, you have voltage to the common terminal. The fuse must be good. I should stop here and ask, do you have one headlight bulb on each side or do you have "quad head lamps"?

To help me plan the troubleshooting steps, can you access the wires in the bulb socket from the backside without removing the bulb? I don't approve of piercing wire insulation to take measurements. Let me know if you can poke a voltmeter probe through a rubber seal in the back of the socket.

Next, I only have a 1999 service manual. If you have a violet feed wire, a red / orange, and a violet / white, the circuits should be the same as yours.

There really isn't much else in the circuit. The violet / white wire goes through a joint connector, (in the fuse box), to the low beam wire from the right head light which is working. Either that wire is broken, or more likely, the the terminal in the socket is corroded or stretched out.

Caradiodoc
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Friday, January 28th, 2011 AT 9:45 PM

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