Intermittent "Lamp Out" Chime & Dash Light

[Buffalo]

Recently, my '03 has been experiencing the "Lamp Out" chime & dash light.



This is very intermittent & the chime goes on much more than the "Lamp Out" light. Sometimes the chime will go on once & other times it will go on 10 times, in a row. The Lamp Out comes on only occasionally in conjunction with the chime.



I've checked the lights & they all seem to be working.



I wonder if there may be a "glitch" in the sensor or computer that's activating the Lamp & chime.



Any of you had this problem & know the fix?



Is this a common problem?



Just want as much info. as possible before going to the dealer.



It will sometimes go 45 minutes between chimes & other times, very often. It's very erratic. I can find no pattern to the chiming.



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[1Tufdsl]

Joe, I think there may be a TSB that covers this on the 03's where they re-flash the instrument cluster.



Good luck,



Karl

 

[SLangegger]

Buffalo,



I had the same problem on my 03. What i did is wait for the "lamp out" light to stay on, then checked all the bulbs. It ended up being the driver side, rear blinker. Since i figured it was a short of some kind, i just took the bulb out and cleaned it, then coated in di-electric grease. No problems since. Hope this helps.



Steve

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I have an issue with chiming, I have yet to see a lamp out indicator. Just driving along I will get a chime. Look down at the cluster and there isn't anything lit up. Think I'm gonna start randomly checking connectors.



Where do you get dielectric grease? Will the auto parts store have it? In the 15 or so years I have been messing with cars I don't recall ever seeing this stuff in the parts store, probably because I wasn't looking.



Jeff

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

Buffalo,

I had the exact same problem about 1 1/2 yrs ago. The dealer replaced a "circuit board" in the rear taillight/brakelight assembly, and I haven't had a problem since. Since then, I've seen on other threads associated with this subject that others have fixed this problem without having to go to the dealer and have the fix I did. I don't know if I got "taken" or not, but I haven't had a reoccurence of the problem either.



Steve

 

[Pawpaw]

Where do you get dielectric grease? Will the auto parts store have it? In the 15 or so years I have been messing with cars I don't recall ever seeing this stuff in the parts store, probably because I wasn't looking.

Yes you have, just not by that name. You know that grease they sell to coat your battery terminals and prevent corrosion? That's dielectric grease.



What they sell at tha auto parts stores tends to be pretty thin. I prefer the kind (typically called no-ox) we use in the telecom industry. You can pick up a small can of it at any electrical supply. It will cost more, but I prefer the thicker consistency.



Bob

 

[daytripper63]

I had the same problem with my 03 and YES there is a TSB for Erronious gage lites, i knew there was a problem when the trans temp lite blinked and i have a stick shift

 

[Mark1si]

I just went to the dealer yesterday about my lamp out and i guess they are having trouble with the light bars. I guess the plastic bar that the bulbs go in is shorting out!!!

Take it in they will fix it

 

[mgonske]

I've replaced an intermittent left rear turn-signal or brake light bulb twice now. Each time, I've found evidence of arcing and subsequent burning/melting of the wire and plastic on the bulb base. I've tried prying out the contacts in the bulb sockets to improve the contact, and dielectric grease, but I had some chiming again last week, so it may be time to bite the bullet and replace the board.



Anyway, bottom line: Even if the chiming stops for a while, pull your bulbs and inspect the bases to prevent progressive damage.