Dimmable Parking Lights/Taillights

[RangerReviver1990]

I made an older thread father down but I replaced my dimmer switch with a slightly older one from an ‘89 and installed it. Nothing changed but now the parking lights and tail lights are constantly on when I start the truck and I can turn the headlight knob and i can adjust the brightness of the lights and if i can it all the way to the right, they just turn off. But when its off and i pull the switch back to the actual parking light position, i can adjust the bright of the parking/ taillights, along with the ability to switch the radio off, and adjust the brightness of my dashboard and my interior dome light and the door chime thing. Can anyone shed some light on wtf is going on? Any help would be appreciated

 

[ericbphoto]

I made an older thread father down but I replaced my dimmer switch with a slightly older one from an ‘89 and installed it. Nothing changed but now the parking lights and tail lights are constantly on when I start the truck and I can turn the headlight knob and i can adjust the brightness of the lights and if i can it all the way to the right, they just turn off. But when its off and i pull the switch back to the actual parking light position, i can adjust the bright of the parking/ taillights, along with the ability to switch the radio off, and adjust the brightness of my dashboard and my interior dome light and the door chime thing. Can anyone shed some light on wtf is going on? Any help would be appreciated

The terminals on the new switch are oriented differently from the old switch. So, now those exterior lights are connected to the dimmer terminals that are meant to control the dash general illumination circuit.

 

[RangerReviver1990]

The terminals on the new switch are oriented differently from the old switch. So, now those exterior lights are connected to the dimmer terminals that are meant to control the dash general illumination circuit.

Oh crap, i never would’ve thought of that. Thanks for the info

 

[RangerReviver1990]

The terminals on the new switch are oriented differently from the old switch. So, now those exterior lights are connected to the dimmer terminals that are meant to control the dash general illumination circuit.

I think it could just be my original switch being burnt out or something because I temporarily installed a brand new switch and it does the exact same thing. So it could just be that the original one is faulty or something. Idk, my truck gives me a headache

 

[RobbieD]

A bad light switch can get hot enough to melt plastic. How did the connector look on the truck's wiring harness?

Look at the connector body, and the insulation on the wires, too. Copper conducts heat well; you may have melted insulation allowing two (or more) wire to short together.

 

[RangerReviver1990]

A bad light switch can get hot enough to melt plastic. How did the connector look on the truck's wiring harness?

Look at the connector body, and the insulation on the wires, too. Copper conducts heat well; you may have melted insulation allowing two (or more) wire to short together.

I might have to check for melted insulation, pretty much everything behind my dash is untouched from the factory. The connector was is pretty good condition though

 

[ericbphoto]

I might have to check for melted insulation, pretty much everything behind my dash is untouched from the factory. The connector was is pretty good condition though

It's usually just the switch.

 

[SenorNoob]

I don't think I've ever seen the connector melt. Replaced a few switches. I did manage to melt a fusebox. Guessing I got a low grade fuse in it. Probably from Amazon.

 

[ericbphoto]

I don't think I've ever seen the connector melt. Replaced a few switches. I did manage to melt a fusebox. Guessing I got a low grade fuse in it. Probably from Amazon.

I had to replace melted switch and connector in my Ranger.