Dome lights

boulevard2006 · 02-23-2009, 05:24 PM

1999 Dodge Dakota
Just wondering if anyone can help me with a dome light problem. They won't go out. I can turn them off with the switch, but then at night i can't adjust the brightness of my dash lights. Both door switches are working, but i don't seem to have any power to the drivers side switch. This doesn't make any sense, because if there was a break in the line it would act as a switch and the lights shouldn't come on, but they are on all the time. I'm confused on this one.
Thanks to anyone who can help.

crabtruck · 02-23-2009, 08:04 PM

Welcome to the forum boulevard2006.

Sounds like a strange one, maybe the headlight switch has problem.
Did you just buy the truck, or is this a new problem? Maybe someone
put in a wrong door switch.
I'm guessing when you say the door switches are working,
that you pulled them and checked operation. Interesting that the
passenger side didn't "have power". Pretty sure these switches are
to ground out the circuit turning on lights. Short is something to look for.
Unless you have the base model, I believe the driver door has a 3-wire not 2-wire switch.

Dodges are not really something I've played with but maybe these two
drawings will help you. Dimmer and dome don't look to be connected.
Not even on same drawing.

Good luck with this, maybe someone else will chime in here.

boulevard2006 · 02-24-2009, 03:52 PM

Thank you for the wiring diagrams. I have had this truck for about 2 years and this is the first time I've had any trouible with the dome lights. I thought the problem was the headlight switch, and i replaced it with a new one.($90 later it still don't work) I did a continuity test on the door switches, they both work. But I still have no power to the drivers side switch.
By the way, both door switches only have 2 wires on them. I see your diagram has a 3 wire switch on the left side. I will check to see if a wire didn't come off and fall down inside.
Thank you for your help. I'll let you know how i make out.

crabtruck · 02-24-2009, 04:15 PM

No problem, wish I was more familiar with that set-up. Weird stuff.

02-23-2009, 05:24 PM	#1
boulevard2006 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2	Dome lights 1999 Dodge Dakota Just wondering if anyone can help me with a dome light problem. They won't go out. I can turn them off with the switch, but then at night i can't adjust the brightness of my dash lights. Both door switches are working, but i don't seem to have any power to the drivers side switch. This doesn't make any sense, because if there was a break in the line it would act as a switch and the lights shouldn't come on, but they are on all the time. I'm confused on this one. Thanks to anyone who can help.

02-24-2009, 03:52 PM	#3
boulevard2006 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2	dome lights Thank you for the wiring diagrams. I have had this truck for about 2 years and this is the first time I've had any trouible with the dome lights. I thought the problem was the headlight switch, and i replaced it with a new one.($90 later it still don't work) I did a continuity test on the door switches, they both work. But I still have no power to the drivers side switch. By the way, both door switches only have 2 wires on them. I see your diagram has a 3 wire switch on the left side. I will check to see if a wire didn't come off and fall down inside. Thank you for your help. I'll let you know how i make out.

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02-24-2009, 04:15 PM	#4
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on your 9 Posts: 3,192	No problem, wish I was more familiar with that set-up. Weird stuff.