Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
1995 plymouth voyager backs lights stay on after auto is shut off. Finally took ou the fuse for the night but can't understand why this happened, can I fix it myself?
Answer -
Hi Thome,
I have to admit some ignorance (as I stated in my "bio") about the electrical wiring of the van models, though I expect to get a wiring diagram for the '91 model year tomorrow or early next week so I can give you some info at that time (I would expect somenthing as basic as a b/u light switch to be pretty much the same over many years). I looked at my '94 FWD car manual and I don't see how the back up light could stay on after you shut off the ignition because the power source it uses is from a fuse that is operated by the ignition switch (unless the ignition switch for that circuit is broken in the "on" position). But maybe that wiring circuit is different in the van. We will see. In the meantime, can you tell me which engine is in you van, and which transmission (specifically does the gear shift show 1,2,D or does it show L,D and OD)? That will make a difference in where the lamp switch is located and the wiring for it. I think you can fix it, but I need to get those diagrams first to give you the details.
Roland
My 95 Voyager does not have overdrive. I know it is a 6 cylinder, but I don't know the engine size. maybe it's a 3.0 'cause its the lower end model,it's not a grand voyager. Thanks for your help. Thorne
AnswerHi Thorne,
The diagrams arrived and I think I know what is wrong. There is a relay used to power the back-up lights, and I suspect that the relay is stuck in the "on" position. It is possible that the transmission controller, which energizes the relay is goofing up, but that is very unlikely to do that if the ignition is "off". So according to the manuals, this relay is said to be located on the right rear side fender. I am not familiar with how the wires are layed out in the van, but you could trace the violet/black wire from one of the lamp sockets backward to find the relay. I notice too that if you have a car that came equipped from the factory to tow a trailer then the back-up lamp relay is located in the engine compartment on the front of the right side strut tower. A new relay is probably less than $5 so that is a good first move. It merely plugs into a socket.
Let me know how that works out.
Interestingly, there is not a similar set-up in the cars. I guess the physical size of the vehicle and the issue of trailer towing and the need for a second set of b/u lamps is the reason for the use of a relay rather than sending the 12V directly from a switch on the transmission.
Roland
