Posted By: MonGoo$e
Headlights cut out 1996 Dakota. - 03/18/12 07:06 AM
I had a problem that started a few weeks back on my '96 Dakota Sport. driving down the road at night the headlights went dark..i fiddled with the knob for the switch and they came on. days later did it again...a little more effort and they flickered on, off..on, then again..finally made them stay.
I figured switch needed replaced..I kept that in mind. The other night they worked fine, and 20 minutes later i had to go back out. Dead..wouldn't come on at all..I've always had running/parking lights but dimmer and brights were just out.
So next day I go to O'Reilly and get a new switch. I replace it no problem. Hey I have lights. I did noticed on of the connectors on the plastic pigtail had a little melted spot. didn't seem to be any problem phyisically beyond that so I put it in.
Worked great last few nights, very crisp signal on or off.
Then tonight I was driving a backroad with brights on, then boom, out lights go..I slow down and fiddle with switch..nothing..then boom, there are lights..it popped out on me again..made me nervous as I was on the highway for a moment and there was not much light via light poles or moon, etc. I just wanted to get home.
What else could this be? I always thought headlights were hardwired in to avoid that stuff. Never had an issue like this on my old cars.
I figured switch needed replaced..I kept that in mind. The other night they worked fine, and 20 minutes later i had to go back out. Dead..wouldn't come on at all..I've always had running/parking lights but dimmer and brights were just out.
So next day I go to O'Reilly and get a new switch. I replace it no problem. Hey I have lights. I did noticed on of the connectors on the plastic pigtail had a little melted spot. didn't seem to be any problem phyisically beyond that so I put it in.
Worked great last few nights, very crisp signal on or off.
Then tonight I was driving a backroad with brights on, then boom, out lights go..I slow down and fiddle with switch..nothing..then boom, there are lights..it popped out on me again..made me nervous as I was on the highway for a moment and there was not much light via light poles or moon, etc. I just wanted to get home.
What else could this be? I always thought headlights were hardwired in to avoid that stuff. Never had an issue like this on my old cars.