Chrysler Repair: Back up light not working: 98 minivan, chrysler town and country, neutral safety switch

Question
Hi Roland,
I have a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country LXI minivan and the back up lights are not working.  Have checked the fuses and bulbs, they are working, have taken it to the mechanic and they cannot find the back up neutral safety switch.  they called Chrysler and were told that the switch was located in the transmission, they drained the fluid and stuff but still could not find it.  Could you possibly help me to locate the switch or have any suggestions.  Your help will be greatly appreciated. I also called auto part store and the said that it could be located on the transmission or the gear switch column.

Thanks,
Edell

Answer
Hi Edell,
That is an interesting question as I too had a penciled ?-mark shown on my wiring diagrams of the '98 manual. However, after looking at the '95 manual and getting some corroboration from the '98 manual I believe that you will find the park/neutral position switch on the corner of the transmission {front side (of the vehicle)/end (of transmission}, mounted on about a 45-degree angle surface of the lower edge of the trans housing. It is black in color and has a 3-wire plug (white, violet/black, black/white). That switch serves not only the park/neutral safety starter function but also the back-lamp (via the violet/black wire). I can't be absolutely certain but this is my best estimate. The manual unfortunately doesn't show the switch, but it does show wiring connector nearby which if you could identify would then allow you to trace the violet/black wire to the switch proper. I could xerox copy and postal mail you a copy of the connector location drawing if needed.
Interestingly, the electronic transaxle that is used in the '98 LH body amd Sebring cars shows the back-up lamp switch to be inside the transmission as part of the shift position range switch system. But the '98 van manual does not show that kind of a set up, rather the separate externally-mounted switch that I have described above. So I can see why there would be some confusion on this.
Please let me know if you find it where I have described it. Use the "thank/rate" tab to get back without having to wait for me to be available for a question.
Roland