Being able to see at night is very important when you are driving. Headlights offer you enough visibility to see oncoming vehicles and any obstacles that may be on the road.
If you are having issues with the headlights on your Dodge Ram, you need to fix them as soon as possible. In our article today, we are going to look at some of the common Dodge headlight problems and their solutions.
1. One of the Headlight Not Working
This is practically one of the most common headlight issues with Dodge Ram. Have you ever come across cars with only one functional headlight? When you drive past such cars, it may look funny. But wait till the same ordeal happens to you.
If one of your headlights isn’t working, there may be a wide range of causes. One, the bulb for that side could be dead, or there may be a wiring issue.
Both these problems require a diagnosis. In case it’s a blown bulb, you can buy a new one and replace it. That’s very easy.
However, if it’s a wiring problem, you will need to have some electrical knowledge and experience to fix such an issue. If you don’t, you can always take your vehicle to a mechanic.
Wiring problems will require you to go much deeper into the vehicle and check the conditions of the wires.
You might need to replace some wires or reconnect others. This, however, isn’t very common. The other thing that can cause one of your headlights to stop functioning is a faulty TIPM, (Totally Integrated Power Module).
This is what distributes power all over the vehicle. Before checking the TIPM on your Dodge Ram, always confirm the status of the bulb, fuse, and wiring.
A faulty TIPM won’t just affect the headlights, but it will also interfere with other electrical components of your car.
2. Headlights Going On and Off Occasionally
If you have been driving your Dodge Ram for a while, your headlights may start misbehaving by going on and off without you touching the controls. If you check the bulbs and they are working just fine, this is usually caused by dirty connection plugs.
The plugs that connect the headlight wires accumulate dust and eventually, they can start misbehaving. What happens is that the headlights work sometimes and in other instances, they don’t.
Cleaning the plugs and connections using dielectric grease or WD 40 can remove dirt that prevents the wires from connecting properly.
This should ensure the headlights work as they should. In case cleaning doesn’t help, you should take the car to a professional mechanic for a more accurate diagnosis.
3. Flickering Headlights
Another common problem that you may face is flickering headlights. Every once in a while, if your headlights start to flicker, you should check the condition of the fuse.
A blown fuse is what mostly causes the headlights on your Dodge Ram to behave in this manner. Blown bulbs can also lead to flickering. But, what are the odds that both bulbs blow at once?
If you are dealing with flickering lights, pop the hood and look for the fuse box.
Using your car’s manual, you should be able to see which fuse is responsible for turning on the lights. Remove the fuse and make sure it looks like the rest.
Fuses are often very cheap and replacing them shouldn’t be a problem. That should solve flickering lights.
4. Both Headlights Not Working
If both of your headlights are not working, that can signal a much bigger problem. As mentioned earlier, blown bulbs most likely won’t occur on both lights. However, it is important to first start by inspecting the bulbs.
The best way for you to know what’s wrong with your headlights is by checking various components.
If you rule out that the bubs are working fine, the next thing you should check is the fuses. Then if all these components are working just fine, inspect the condition of the wires.
5. High Beam or Low Beam Headlights Not Working
There are two main culprits in this scenario. It could either be a burned-out bulb or a faulty beam switch.
Whenever people experience headlight issues, their minds quickly rush into replacing the bulbs. However, if your low or high beams are not working, there is another common culprit and that’s the beam switch.
You will have to take out the switch and insect if it’s working. In case, it’s not, head over to your dealer and get a replacement.
6. Dim Headlights
After a while, your car headlights can become dim. This usually isn’t a cause for concern because it’s a problem that you can fix.
The biggest causes of dim headlights are dirty lenses and worn-out bulbs. If the lenses are dirty, you should be able to see them when examining the headlights. If it’s the bulbs, replacing them should restore maximum light.
Even though most people don’t perceive dim headlights as a big issue, it is something that should be solved as soon as possible because it can hinder visibility in extremely dark areas.
Why Should I Fix Dodge Ram Headlight Issues Fast?
It’s quite obvious, that without functional headlights, you can forget about driving at night. Let alone the dark, even during the day when there is a lot of rain, visibility is often compromised.
Headlights ensure that you can see clearly and oncoming motorists can see your car as well.
Also, if you are caught by the authorities, that can land you in serious trouble. To be on the safe side, whenever you notice a headlight issue on your Dodge Ram, attempt to find out what’s happening.
It is easy to figure that out when you identify the cause. In most cases, headlight issues arise due to physical issues such as damaged bulbs or broken wires. They can also occur because of electrical problems.
DIY vs Professional Diagnosis
If the headlights on your Dodge Ram aren’t working, there are two approaches you can follow. One, you could go digging to find out the cause. Or, you could take your car to a mechanic for troubleshooting.
Both these options have pros and cons. Starting with the DIY option, won’t cost you a lot of money. And in the process, you can learn a thing or two about Dodge Ram headlights.
The problem with DIY headlight repair is that it involves a lot of research. To figure out the problem, you will need some knowledge about headlights. Hiring a mechanic, on the other hand, ensures you avoid research and trial-and-error methods.
It simplifies and speeds up the repair process because the person repairing is an expert who understands what they are doing.
Common Culprits for Dodge Ram Headlight Problems
No matter what headlight issue you are experiencing, there are a bunch of components that are always the culprits behind these issues.
Familiarizing yourself with these culprits is essential as this ensures you know what to look for when your headlights start misbehaving.
1. Blown Fuse
When you face an electrical situation in your car, the first thing you should always look for is a blown fuse. These tiny little objects can be a source of headache when you are trying to find out why your headlights are not working.
If you find yourself in such a scenario, the first thing you should do is replace the headlight fuse with another that has the same amperage.
If your headlights start to work, get a new fuse and install it. If it doesn’t, then check out the following culprits.
2. Wiring Issues
Wiring problems can be quite tricky because other than causing the headlights to stop working, they can also blow the fuse. If your fuses blow frequently, you could be dealing with an underlying wiring issue.
For the average car owner, a car’s wiring system can be hard to figure out. To avoid causing more damage, you should take the car to a mechanic.
3. Faulty Relay
The relay plays a critical job in switching on your headlights. If it’s faulty, no matter how hard you turn the switch it won’t get the headlights to turn on.
Depending on the year of manufacture of your Dodge Ram, it may have different relays for both the high and low beams. Be as it may, if a relay goes bad, you may need to get a new one.
4. Burned Out Bulbs
Finally, we have the leading cause of all Dodge Ram headlight problems. If the bulb is burned out, it will not work. You can spend hours trying to figure out the underlying cause yet it’s your bulb that is blown out.
Sometimes, the bulbs on both headlights can stop working at once. Therefore, never think that is impossible.
Before moving on to any of the above culprits, always start with the bulb.
How Often Do Headlight Issues Occur on a Dodge Ram?
Headlight issues aren’t a common problem in Dodge Ram. They, however, may occur occasionally and are more common in older cars. The good news however is that most of these issues can be fixed easily by replacing the above electrical components.