QuestionQUESTION: I have a 2000 Chrysler neon. More than a month ago my
interior dash lihgt started to come off and on
intermittently.
If I played with the switch, sometimes it would come back
on. and now I cannot get it on. At the same time my
taillights,side marker light and tail lights don't work
either but all the other lights work including Dome light.
What could be wrong. thanks.
ANSWER: Hi Terry,
There is a fuse for the park lamps but because my most recent manual is a '96 I can't be sure it is the same fuse number in your '00. The manual says is it #2 under dash, but take a look if you have an owner's manual or there are labels on the fuse box look for a 15 amp fuse so-labelled. If it is good then it is very likely the headlamp switch which is bad. You could remove the cover on the steering column as necessary to access the 3 screws that hold the switch into the dash panel and pull it out. Disconnect the 9-wire plug to the switch then check to be sure you have 12v on pin 4 of the plug that comes from the parking lamp fuse. If you do, then you could check the continuity (ohmmeter-voltmeter or continuity tester) or see if you have 12V on pin 9 of the switch itself which should show voltage when you have it in either of the 'on' positions. If it doesn't show that then replace the switch, if it does show continuity/voltage then check that the wire (black/yellow) attached to pin 9 of the plug is connected and not showing any evidence of looseness or a short to ground due to rubbing away of its insulation (that would cause the fuse to blow). The circuit for the park lights also controls the dash and the side markers so what you have is consistent with a bad fuse, a bad switch, or a short.
Roland
PS I expect to receive an '01 manual which I just bought on eBay in about a week so can verify the fuse # at that time.
Another option would be to spray the internals of the switch with electrical contact cleaner (electronics supply store) to see if you can re-establish continuity in the park lamp switch contacts. There should by a crack in the switch body into which you can spray the cleaner.
There are at least two sections of the switch: one turns on the head lamps, the other the park lamps, so that is why one could work but not the other.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION:
Hi Roland,
According to your instruction I checked all 15 amp fuses and other fuses that might sound related. They all aregood.
So I decided to check the switch. I removed the cover on the steering column, took the 2 screws out and then pull it out, but I couldn't find the 9-wire plug to the switch. I got a 7-wire plug on the right and a 17-wire plug on the left whcih does have yellow/black wire.
Do you think a Canadian model might be different?
P.S. Do I have to disable airbag system before I paly with the switch?
Terry
AnswerHi Terry,
The switch must have been changed to handle some other tasks, but the yellow/black wire should still be the dash/side/park lights supply wire and thus the one that isn't getting power.
The incoming wire from the fuse could very well be pink/red so look to see if there is one and that it is "hot" all the time. Chrysler engineering seems to stay consistent in its wire colors as time goes by, which proves helpful.
I will be getting my '01 manuals shortly if the check out for the continuity between the pins that have those two wires attached to them seems to be ok/you get voltage out on the yellow/black. We can then see what else could be wrong.
I don't believe you need to be concerned about the airbag system unless you are fiddling with wires relating to the steering wheel, and then the safety precaution is to disconnect the battery for a few minutes before starting anything relating thereto.
I don't believe the Canadian model would be different as regards the switch (except for wires for the daytime running lamp module might be added), but the '01 manual should tell all.
In the meantime look for the pink/red 'hot wire' and check the switch continuity.
Roland
