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1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem #2567104
10/20/18 11:09 PM
10/20/18 11:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 131
NJ, USA
Kevlisa Offline OP
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Kevlisa  Offline OP
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NJ, USA
My 16 year old son just bought his first vehicle, a 1986 Ram 150. The truck is very original and rust free. I'm having a problem with the exterior lights. The parking lights, taillights and instrument panel lights don't work. The headlights work, the turn signals work and the brake lights work so I know the bulbs are good. The fuse for exterior lights in the fuse panel is good. I replaced the headlight switch figuring that all of these lights intersect there but it did not solve the problem. I'm stumped. Any ideas?

Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: Kevlisa] #2567111
10/20/18 11:30 PM
10/20/18 11:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,883
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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Grand Prairie,Texas
Have you checked all the fuses with a test light? Tail lights and parking lights use different parts of the bulb then turn signals and brake lights so they still could be bad. But the fact that the dash lights don't work makes me think it's a fuse.

Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: stumpy] #2567116
10/20/18 11:39 PM
10/20/18 11:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 131
NJ, USA
Kevlisa Offline OP
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Kevlisa  Offline OP
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NJ, USA
I only visually inspected the fuses. I'll be checking with a light first thing in the morning. Thank you...

Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: Kevlisa] #2567135
10/21/18 12:41 AM
10/21/18 12:41 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
3hundred Offline
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3hundred  Offline
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Colleyville
Check the cigarette lighter socket for loose change. Then change the light fuse. DAMHIK

Robert


'68 Fury Convertible
'69 300 Convertible
'15 Durango 5.7 Hemi
'16 300 S Hemi
Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: Kevlisa] #2567161
10/21/18 02:18 AM
10/21/18 02:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Freeport IL USA
I ran into a batch of 3 in a row, defective new headlight switches from 3 different auto parts stores. Everyone of them had a different problem. The last one I took apart. There was a fiber board inside the switch that held 1/2 of the set of the contact points in place. That fiber board was warped which held the contacts away from the other contact point as it was slid across the switch.
I ended up putting a good used light switch in and everything worked.

The tail, park, and instrument lights get their power from different points on the light switch. These days, new does not mean the part is good.

Pull the switch out of the dash, connect the wire plug, and using a test light, see if there is power coming through the switch for each light circuit. Gene

Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: Kevlisa] #2567277
10/21/18 01:21 PM
10/21/18 01:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
larrymopar360 Offline
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Central Florida
I always buy NOS headlight switches after I had an aftermarket one melt down and almost start a fire. The original one lasted 39 years. The aftermarket; 1 year.


Facts are stubborn things.
Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: larrymopar360] #2567731
10/22/18 11:13 AM
10/22/18 11:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 131
NJ, USA
Kevlisa Offline OP
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Kevlisa  Offline OP
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NJ, USA
Well I found the problem. I pulled the wrong fuse which was good. I double checked after reading these replies and realized I checked the wrong one. I checked the right one and guess what? I was blown. Turned out to be a simple fix. I should've double checked my work before posting.

Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: Kevlisa] #2567839
10/22/18 02:57 PM
10/22/18 02:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,883
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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Good fix, easy and cheap.

Re: 1986 D150 Ram truck electrical problem [Re: Kevlisa] #2572421
10/31/18 11:34 PM
10/31/18 11:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,788
Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Magnum Offline
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Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Originally Posted By Kevlisa
The headlights work, the turn signals work and the brake lights work so I know the bulbs are good.


Glad you found the problem.

Just FYI, that test only tells you the brighter filament is good.


69 Super Bee, 93 Mustang LX, 04 Allure Super






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