Lamp out w Chime will drive you nuts

[Grayhackle]

This past week I have had intermittent lamp out messages. The light will blink on and off for short periods of time. I remember last may my truck went through a period (about 5 minutes) of lamp out and off and on chiming then nothing all summer. Last week it started again. Lamp out message would not stay on long enough for me to get out of the truck. I checked the lights many times including 3rd brake light and license plate light. I searched the board and got a lot of information. All bulbs were lighting up nice and bright. I removed the passenger side tail light and found one bulb that had some black areas inside the bulb.

I replaced all bulbs with Sylvania long life's. Lamp out with chime continued to go on and off.

Today I pulled the driver's side tail light. The center bulb had about 1/4 inch of the wire connector at the base of the bulb completely burned away and melted into the plastic base of the bulb a bit. I replaced all 3 of the bulbs. Dielectric grease was applied as recommended and cleaned the connections as best as I could. After a drive I did not have a lamp out message ! I know this test is not conclusive yet but it encouraged me.

dam the Chime!



I would like to know how to remove the electrical wire connector from the bulb holder

I slid the red tab over and was hoping to remove it. The tip of the red tab was flush with the slide that was holding it. I could not push in the the top part of the connector to release the unit. With the red tab all the way to the right the top part had some give to it.



I know it is hard to explain, but would someone give it a try. Do I use a screwdriver to pry it apart? Do I use hammer and chisel to get the red tab out? Where does it come apart at? I recall the top of the connector had some blue plastic, does it come apart there?

Darn the Chrysler engineers. This connector can't be that cheap to justify using it.

I would appreciate any help. Thanks



Bill James



I

 

[JReagan]

I had to replace both light strips, about 20. 00 ea from dealer.

moved red tab to one side, don't remember what direction

connector pulled straight out.

read on here these strips were bad on 2003

no more lamp out or chiming

 

[AHofner]

I feel your pain!

This issue was driving me nuts, I searched the forum and came to the conclusion that I needed to replace the light bars. I did, and like you did, I used dielectric grease and that has resolved the issue.

As far as the red tabs, I popped them completely off of the connector with a screwdriver and never replaced them. I did toss them in the door pocket in case I needed them in the future. I have not had any issues with the connector unplugging from the lightbar.

Good luck.

 

[Grayhackle]

If I have any more problems I think I will go ahead and replace the light bars.

Thank all you guys for your help