Park/Instrument Lights - Dodge Dakota Forum

Subject: Park/Instrument Lights
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Hello to all,

On Wednesday morning, my parking lights/instrumental panel lights fuse bruned through. Changed the fuse, switched them back on and a few secons later, the fuse goes again. Took a look at all the parking lighst and they checked out okay. Apparently, it's in the isntrument panel. Anyone have any idea on where I should start looking, and what could be causing the short?

Thanks,

David

JM
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2008
16:05:58

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Have you added anything lately to the circuit like accessories or stereo? Anything that may overload the circuit will blow a fuse. I wouldn't think the instrument panel had a very big fuse. But being no electrial wizard, it's just a guess.

DavudInOhio
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2008
20:17:21

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Hello,

The fuse is for not only the instrument panel, but the parking lights as well.

Davd

Jimmy9190
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2008
21:44:02

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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What year is your truck? If it happened all of the sudden and there were no prior problems with the lights, and you have not added any accessories or worked on any wiring in the truck, it could be the headlight switch went bad. It could also be the central timer module if you have one but the only way to tell is to have the ctm scanned at the dealer. A Haynes book might tell you houw to check the continuity on your headlight switch. That is where I would check first.

Jimmy

dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2008
23:22:17

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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I would check any new accessories that you may have had installed first, like JM said, but if that checks out, I also think that it is your headlight switch. I had this same exact problem happened to me in two vehicles ('92 Taurus & '96 Dak), with the same thing being wrong with both of them. After blowing a few fuses, I decided to take my lightswitch out and see if I could find anything. Well, somehow, the plastic piece that connects the light switch to all of the wires had somehow melted into a big plastic blob, exposing all the bare ends of the wires to eachother, thereby causing a short. After I replaced that and got a new switch, all was well. You didn't say what year your truck was, but the operation in both of my vehicles was relatively simple and quick. Let us know how it goes...

DavidInOhio
Dodge Dakota
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3/17/2008
07:30:48

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Hello and thanks to all who've responded...

The truck is of 2000 vintage :-) So if the headlamp switch is bad, I could still turn my headlights on/off? Also, I notice that when my fog lights are off, the fog light indicator is glowing as if they're on. When I turn them on, the indicator goes off.

David

dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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3/17/2008
08:33:01

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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As odd as it may sound, yes, you may still be able to turn your headlights on, I was also able to turn my headlights on whenever the dash and parking lights wouldn't on both of my vehicles. As far as your fog light indicator, I didn't take notice of mine whenever my switch went bad...maybe the connections are arcing, but I'm not too sure about that one-perhaps somebody else can help you with that one better than I.

Jimmy9190
Dodge Dakota
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3/17/2008
11:36:07

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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As Dakownr said, yes you can have headlights and no parking/dash lights with a defective headlight switch. Try this test: remove the headlight switch from the dash and unplug it. Then replace the fuse that had been blown before. Then use a piece of wire to jump voltage from the positive battery terminal to the parking light wire at the switch. It would help to put a 10 amp fuse inline on the wire from the battery, just for safety's sake. The parking light wire behind the switch should be black with a yellow stripe. If the parking lights and dash lights come on, it is most likely a bad light switch. Plus the fact that the fog lamp indicator is on when the fog lamps are off is a dead giveaway something could be wrong with the light switch.

Jimmy

DavidInOhio
Dodge Dakota
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3/17/2008
11:45:26

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Okay, thanks everyone...I will check these things out and let you know how it works out.

David

DavidInOhio
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2008
07:39:15

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Well, I replaced the switch on Friday and everything seemed okay until this morning when *POOF* the fuse burned again and I'm back to the same problem.

Anyone have any idea where I start looking next?

Frusrated David In Ohio

dakownr
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2008
08:24:27

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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did you already check the foglight switch?

Jimmy9190
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2008
20:30:24

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Was the headlight switch confirmed defective with an ohm meter? See if you can disconnect the fog lamp switch then replace the blown fuse and try the headlights, dash lights and parking lights as normal. I don't think the 2000 Dakota has a Central Timer Module. It's not listed in the Chilton book I have for the 2000.

Obviously, if the lights work ok with the fog lamp switch unplugged you need a new fog lamp switch. If you still have the problem you may have a shorted wire or connector somewhere, maybe check the wire connections at each individual light first. This problem could also be a bad instrument cluster, but the fog lamp part of it makes me think the cluster may be OK.

Jimmy

DavidInOhio
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2008
07:58:50

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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In regards to the foglight switch, it's within the entire head light switch (these are factory fog lights). I'll try disconnecting the foglight connection and see if things work out, but how does one replace just the foglight switch on the factory head light switch? I should also tell you that the foglights are working fine with or without the parking lights.

David In Ohio

DavidInOhio
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2008
13:53:27

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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Note to self: don't forget to check the license plate light :-)

Anthony
Dodge Dakota
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12/01/2010
04:48:54

RE: Park/Instrument Lights
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I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota and almost everytime I make a left turn my parking lamp/dash lights fuse blow. I have burnt up about 100 fuses and ive spent about 4 hours total looking for exposed wires...Anyone might have any idea whats wrong??

Jetson
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2011
05:11:04

HbsPaCqUCtUcvoFtk
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Yo, good liokon out! Gonna make it work now.

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