Chrysler Repair: 300M interior/exterior lights flash randomly, negative battery cable, fog lamps


Question
I have been experiencing a problem with my 2000 300M.  The interior/Dashboard lights flash on and off randomly.  At first it happened only when I was driving and seemed to be during dusk conditions so I thought it might be light sensor related. The lights would flash on and off  (1 sec on the 1 sec off) until I turned the headlights to manual then back to automatic.  However, last night the car was in the driveway, not running and it started the same thing.  The interior lights AND the head lights started flashing on/off.  It was dark and I didn't see it myself but it might be that it started when the driveway light came on when my son walked in front of the garage light sensor.  It's weird that the car was locked, had been shut down for 6 hours and then all the electrical activity started.

Answer
SUBJECT:
Headlamp/Instrument Panel Illumination
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves applying dielectric grease to the headlamp switch wiring connector.
MODELS:
2000 - 2004 (LH) LHS/300M/Concorde/Intrepid
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Subject vehicles may have the instrument cluster illumination change in brightness.
Subject vehicles equipped with "auto-lamps" may also have headlamps or fog lamps
come on at unexpected times while the switch is in "auto-lamp" mode.
DIAGNOSIS:
If the vehicle operator describes one or both of the above Symptoms,
perform the Repair Procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED:
Qty. Part No. Description
1 J8126688 Mopar - Dielectric grease
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
NOTE: DO NOT REPLACE HEADLAMP SWITCH BECAUSE PART REPLACEMENT
WILL NOT CORRECT THIS CONDITION.
1. Open hood and disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the instrument panel left end cap.
3. Remove steering column shroud cover.
4. Tilt the steering column down into the lowest position.
5. Remove one screw (Limited/300M) to cluster bezel.
6. Remove the items to expose bezel mounting screws. Items vary depending on model.
7. Remove two screws over upper cluster bezel in instrument panel brow area and all
remaining attaching screws (four on Intrepid, Limited, and 300M, and five on Concorde).
8. Using a trim stick (special tool #C-4755), gently pry out on the
instrument panel cluster bezel.
9. Disconnect and connect the wire harness from the headlamp switch
three (3) times to clean the contacts.
08-022-03 -2-
10. Disconnect the wire harness from the headlamp switch and apply Mopar Dielectric
Grease, p/n J8126688, to the harness connector terminals.
11. Reconnect the harness to the headlamp switch.
12. Reassemble the instrument panel.
13. Connect the negative battery cable and set the clock to the correct time.