Chrysler Repair: Chrysler Voyager 98 Back-up Light failure, chrysler voyager, fuse box

Question
Grateful if you could advise where next to check! Both rear back-up lights have failed. Have checked bulbs & fuse box and they are ok. What could have caused failure?

Answer
Hi Karen,
If you have checked fuse #12 and verified that it actually is conducting voltage (sometimes a subtle crack can occur which fools you to thinking it is good), then you would focus your attention on the park/neutral/back-up switch mounted on the side of the transmission that faces the front of the van. It is round with a black plug and it is located at the base of the vertical rod that changes position when a helper moves the shift lever. Gently lift the locking tab on the side of the plug then pull it straight out. You will find three pins. Test for conductivity between the two outside pins when you have the gear shift lever in reverse. If it doesn't show 0 ohms but rather infinite ohms then the switch is bad. When you remove it be prepared to catch fluid which will drain from the hole in a clean container and replace it via the dipstick tube when you are finished. A new switch should fix the problem. When you remove the old one make sure that the "fingers" that move the switch are seen to be centered in the opening. Use a new gasket (which should come with the switch) and tighten it about the same as a spark plug (24 ft-lbs). If the switch seems OK by measurement, then either the voltage is not reaching the switch from fuse #12, or one pin of the back up lamp is not grounded (which is unlikely).
Let me know if this doesn't work out for you.
Roland
(PS Please rate my answer, thanks.)