Problems with head lights

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Big Jon 95

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My truck is a 98 and had the turning knob for the head lights. The daytime lights are on when the know is point straight left and when I turn it clockwise to turn on my running lights. When i turn the know straight up so that i can use my high beams my low beams turn off and my high beams wont turn on. Not sure but I think there is a wiring issue or the knob has gone bad. Has anyone else had this problem?
 

Jrgunn5150

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I wonder if I'm misunderstanding you... Because my knob doesn't have a highbeam position? I turn my highbeams on or off by pulling the turn signal stalk back towards me. I've never seen a switch with a high beam position on any vehicle, it's always a separate mechanism AFAIK.
 

slowburb

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I wonder if I'm misunderstanding you... Because my knob doesn't have a highbeam position? I turn my highbeams on or off by pulling the turn signal stalk back towards me. I've never seen a switch with a high beam position on any vehicle, it's always a separate mechanism AFAIK.

Hang on...I think I can translate...

My truck is a 98 and had the turning knob for the head lights. The daytime lights are on when the know is point straight left and when I turn it clockwise to turn on my running lights. When i turn the know straight up so that i can use my high beams my low beams turn off and my high beams wont turn on. Not sure but I think there is a wiring issue or the knob has gone bad. Has anyone else had this problem?

He's saying that when the headlight knob is in the on position, his headlights don't work; neither the high beams or low beams. The DRL's work in the off position, and when the running/parking lights are on, but he has nothing when the knob is "on".

My take...the switch is probably bad.
 

Big Jon 95

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Sorry for not saying that better, when the knob is straight up the low beams turn off and i can not get the high beams to turn on
 

someotherguy

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Like slowburb said, your headlight switch is probably bad. Or, the harness leading up to it is toast, which does happen from time to time on the 1995-up trucks. Both are kinda marginal designs, but the switch goes bad more often.

DRL's will work even if the headlight switch is bad, but they're designed to turn off when you turn the headlights on.

Richard
 

Jrgunn5150

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Hang on...I think I can translate...



He's saying that when the headlight knob is in the on position, his headlights don't work; neither the high beams or low beams. The DRL's work in the off position, and when the running/parking lights are on, but he has nothing when the knob is "on".

My take...the switch is probably bad.


Lol, I knew I had to be not getting something lol.
 

Big Jon 95

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Took my truck to the dealership at home and they said they played with the switch some and got it working, but the new switch is $112. could it have just been loose wires?
 

Big Jon 95

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So the switch is messin up again and i want to try to replace it myself if at all possible. Does anyone know what i would need to do to access the switch and replace it?
 

1500z71

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Get a replacement switch off of eBay or from a junkyard if you don't want a new one, it is an unmistakeable black box. Turn the key but don't start the truck. Put the truck in 1st gear to get the shifter out of the way then remove the dash bezel. Be gentle but firm, it's only held on the dash with a few clips. That should free up your headlight switch. Can't remember if there's anymore screws or clips for it, but then just unplug the switch and replace. There's countless videos on stuff like this.

Edit: I recall now that you will have to unplug everything like your airbag, cargo lamp, 4x4. It's pretty self explanatory just don't get in a hurry or frustrated.
 
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