Pull high beams works, but push high beams doesn't work

[Kipslonk]

I recently bought a used 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie with 140k miles. When I pull the multifunction lever, the high beams come on and the gauge's light illuminates. But when I push the multifunction lever there is no high beam action - neither the gauge light nor high beams themselves. The lever physically engages, and i have to pull it back for it to return to the default setting. I've toggled auto dim high beams and this makes no impact.

Here's the curve ball - I replaced the multifunction lever and it didn't fix the issue!

Does anyone have any tips?

 

[Kipslonk]

Whew ok. I'm burning both my first & second posts as I question my intelligence. But I'll save anyone the effort of replying and hopefully help someone with my quirky situation.

I had purchased a new multifunction switch, installed it, and the damn high beams still didn't work when I push the multifunction lever. I'm toggling my auto dim high beam setting, switch back to the old lever, and was about to return the new lever. That was when I wrote the above post.

Then I went out to chase fuses and decided to toggle the fog lights and bam the high beams work! When fog lights are on, the truck won't turn on the high beams when you push the multifunction lever. Unfortunately it gives no warning or explanation, it just ignores the lever being pushed. But the high beams DO turn on when you pull the lever with fog lights on!!! What in the world was the Ram design team smoking..

So my old lever for sure was broken (I rechecked), and now the new one turns on the high beams when I push, just as intended. Next, I'll test out the auto dim high beams setting to see if it's worth a damn.

Hopefully I save someone a headache.

 

[JoeCo]

Whew ok. I'm burning both my first & second posts as I question my intelligence. But I'll save anyone the effort of replying and hopefully help someone with my quirky situation.

I had purchased a new multifunction switch, installed it, and the damn high beams still didn't work when I push the multifunction lever. I'm toggling my auto dim high beam setting, switch back to the old lever, and was about to return the new lever. That was when I wrote the above post.

Then I went out to chase fuses and decided to toggle the fog lights and bam the high beams work! When fog lights are on, the truck won't turn on the high beams when you push the multifunction lever. Unfortunately it gives no warning or explanation, it just ignores the lever being pushed. But the high beams DO turn on when you pull the lever with fog lights on!!! What in the world was the Ram design team smoking..

So my old lever for sure was broken (I rechecked), and now the new one turns on the high beams when I push, just as intended. Next, I'll test out the auto dim high beams setting to see if it's worth a damn.

Hopefully I save someone a headache.

Sounds like something is still wrong, I'm on my third ram (11,13,17) and none of them did that. Like most cars that don't allow the fogs to stay on with high beams, they simply shut the fogs off when you switch the high beams on, going either direction on the lever. You shouldn't have to manually turn the fogs off prior to turning on your high beams.

 

[quietpeen]

Sounds like something is still wrong, I'm on my third ram (11,13,17) and none of them did that. Like most cars that don't allow the fogs to stay on with high beams, they simply shut the fogs off when you switch the high beams on, going either direction on the lever. You shouldn't have to manually turn the fogs off prior to turning on your high beams.

this is also how all my rams worked.

There is still something wrong.

 

[crash68]

Like most cars that don't allow the fogs to stay on with high beams, they simply shut the fogs off when you switch the high beams on, going either direction on the lever. You shouldn't have to manually turn the fogs off prior to turning on your high beams.

Actually the fogs will stay on when you pull the lever back ("Flash to Pass"). I also concur that you don't have to turn the fogs off for the high beams to work, there is still something wrong. I wonder if there is something wrong with my fogs, they stay on with the high beams now...oh wait that an AlfaOBD mod! lol

@Kipslonk do the high beams act up when using the Auto Headlights(knob rotated to the left) or when you turn the headlights on manually (knob rotated to the right)? or both?

 

[JoeCo]

Actually the fogs will stay on when you pull the lever back ("Flash to Pass"). I also concur that you don't have to turn the fogs off for the high beams to work, there is still something wrong. I wonder if there is something wrong with my fogs, they stay on with the high beams now...oh wait that an AlfaOBD mod! lol

@Kipslonk do the high beams act up when using the Auto Headlights(knob rotated to the left) or when you turn the headlights on manually (knob rotated to the right)? or both?

Ah gotcha, my mistake on that one. I don't use the quick flash too often so I wasn't sure on that.

 

[quietpeen]

Ah gotcha, my mistake on that one. I don't use the quick flash too often so I wasn't sure on that.

That’s a good way to see how awesome it would be if the fogs stayed on with the high beams. Luckily there are ways to easily do that now.

 

[crash68]

That’s a good way to see how awesome it would be if the fogs stayed on with the high beams.

It works out nice when you drive down back country roads when there is no street lights or much on coming traffic. I have projectors for the lows and fogs, so lots of useable light on the road, the highs fill in the blank everywhere else. LEDs really make critters eyes glow good at night.

 

[JoeCo]

That’s a good way to see how awesome it would be if the fogs stayed on with the high beams. Luckily there are ways to easily do that now.

Yeah I may have to look into that, I really miss my light bar I had on my last 2 sports but can't figure out how I want to mount it on my longhorn. I really liked how it looked clean in the sports bumper, but there's no way it's going to look as good on this truck without being able to put it in the bumper.

 

[Kipslonk]

Actually the fogs will stay on when you pull the lever back ("Flash to Pass"). I also concur that you don't have to turn the fogs off for the high beams to work, there is still something wrong. I wonder if there is something wrong with my fogs, they stay on with the high beams now...oh wait that an AlfaOBD mod! lol

@Kipslonk do the high beams act up when using the Auto Headlights(knob rotated to the left) or when you turn the headlights on manually (knob rotated to the right)? or both?

It behaves the same in both auto and manual - high beams don't engage if fogs are on. Maybe the previous owner botched an obd hack?

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

 

[crash68]

That's a possibility, I remember reading that AutoEnginuity would have some strange "side effects" depending on what you were trying to modify.
It possible that a dealer may just have to flash it back to stock? or there is a bad module?
You might be able to use AlfaOBD to see what happening but it would total experimentation to try to fix the problem. It might make matters worse and end up with no high beams or headlights.

 

[Kipslonk]

Well, today the high beams are engaging while fog lights remain on. Both push & pull. It definitely wasn't working over the weekend. Thanks everyone for chiming in and making me keep trying!