inermittant lamp out?

[DFrank]

the chime keeps going, occasionally the lamp out warning comes and goes.



Alll lamps seem to work.



It has stopped today, but I expect it back soon.



Any idea where to look?



Intermittant electric can be hard to diagnose.



TIA, Dave

 

[Pawpaw]

This is a common problem with 3rd Gen trucks and is caused by the tail light bulb sockets. They get hot and begin to loose connection.



Buy some new tail light bulbs. Try to get the ones with a glass base, instead of plastic. While you're at the auto parts store, pick up some battery terminal grease.



Heavily coat the base of each new bulb with the grease before you put it in.



Bob

 

[Buffalo]

I've been cleaning the contact areas with a pencil eraser & putting di-electric grease on those areas. Seems to help but, only for awhile. I did it about 1/2 year ago & it seems to be still working OK.



I, also, believe that you can replace the entire bulb holding device. Don't know if it's under warranty, though.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[JEstes]

I had the same problem with mine. Who would have guessed right? Anyway, you might also want to check your headlights too. Even after I replaced all of my taillight bulbs, I still had the lamp out chime. After looking for a while, I found that one of my yellow corner lights was partially out. It had two elements, and one had burned out, so the light still "worked". Replaced that bulb, no more chime.



I also think some dealers replaced the taillight bulb holders under warranty. It was something about the old plastic melting. Maybe somebody else can chime in.

 

[THanley]

I have a 2003 and had the tail light bulb problem.



The bulbs that came stock with my 2003 have a plastic base with the contact wires running along the side (much like the light bulb on a Christmas tree). It seems that the wire gets hot and melts into the base. This causes the wire to lose contact with the metal clamps which hold the bulb in place and provide power and ground.



The first time this happened, I had the bulb replaced under warranty. The second time (125k miles) I performed a "temporary" fix by bending the wire on the bulb back out and cleaning the wire with a pencil eraser. This "temporary" fix has lasted 25k miles.



It's a known issue. As long as you know how you can fix it in a pinch, you can save the aggravation of hearing the Lamp Out chime every time you hit a bump.

 

[DE Jeeper]

THe bulb pod is around $35 and easy to rerplace, I have done both sides.



Aaron

 

[DFrank]

This thing is kicking my butt.

Sometimes chiming with brake pedal sometims left blinker doing double time and recently the right blinker was keeping time at a staggered double pace.

I found one bulb with the plastic melted and replaced it. It was the right brake light and it still doesn't work.

Chiming has stopped, but I have lamp out light and left brake lamp not working. I think the bulb pod is bad, but I am not totally sure. If it is in stock I will try replacing that next, I guess.

Where can you buy the nicer all glass bulbs and are they any better? I ended up with one that way; it is made by wagner.

Dave

 

[GGill]

All I can say about this problem is AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!



I'm about ready to drop a few . 40 caliber jhp's into my dash to shut it up! I can't stand it!



BLING!..... BLING!... . BLING!..... BLING!..... BLING!... . BANG!... BANG!... BANG :-laf



Thanks for the info guys... between this thread and the search function I've learned a lot.



I'm off to the dealer for some tail light modules.



Greg