Interior light and radio not working

NROY97

MEMBER
1997 DODGE DAKOTA
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
220,000 MILES

I had added a small amount of oil to the truck as a just in case before I to change the oil completely, new filter everything that night, and when I shut the hood got back into the cab I noticed that the interior light went out and the radio as well. Meaning that the light does not turn on when the door is open and the radio has no display of the time and not work I guess. When I turn the volume knob all the way down and turn it up to turn the radio on oh, you could hear the pop like in the speakers as if it was turning on but doesn't admit sound or display.

Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM

2 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Hi,

Does the light turn on at the light switch? If it doesn't, then we need to check fuse 12 under the dash. If you look at pics 1 and 2 indicate that fuse supplies power for both the lights and the radio. So check that first.

In addition to checking the fuse, confirm there is power in and out from the fuse. Here is a link that you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

If the fuse is good, next check to make sure the ground hasn't been damaged. See pic 3 for location.

I'm not sure how the oil change could have caused this, but when you opened the hood, is it possible that you pulled a wire near the opener that could have caused a short? There is wiring there that goes to the driver's side light switch for the door. Also, the ground is also near that area.

Note the fuse is under the dash on the driver's side.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,332 POSTS

Various radio models act differently when memory power is lost. The memory circuit is always tied in with something that stays live all the time. That could be the horn circuit or the cigarette lighter circuit, but on most Chrysler products, that is the interior light circuit. That means once the interior light system is diagnosed and repaired, the radio will resume working, but you'll likely have to reset the correct time.

Start by checking the fuse for the interior lights. That's fuse 12 in the Junction Block on the left side of the dash. If you need it, here's a link to an article on how to check fuses:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

If this fuse is blown, and a replacement also blows, I'll describe how to pursue this without wasting a lot of fuses.

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