Interior lights not coming on..?

[stratusfear02]

Never seemed to work since I bought it, and I assumed it was a bad fuse, but I never actually checked. Last week they started working all of a sudden, but didn't seem to come on to full brightness. Today they stopped working again. I checked the fuse, it looked fine, but I replaced it anyway.

Things I tried...

• Wiggling the dimmer on directional stalk
• Pressing in each light to try and get it to turn on
• Playing with the door switches, hoping for a bad contact

Is there some sort of relay or something? Or whatever makes them do that fancy dimming action when you close a door..? p:

 

[martin_metal_88]

There is a relay, it could be bad but it's weird that they lit up only a bit. You could test the relay, take it off and use a 12V battery to see if you can close the contact. But I have no idea what kind of relay it is and where it is.

 

[Billwill]

Never seemed to work since I bought it, and I assumed it was a bad fuse, but I never actually checked. Last week they started working all of a sudden, but didn't seem to come on to full brightness. Today they stopped working again. I checked the fuse, it looked fine, but I replaced it anyway.

Things I tried...

• Wiggling the dimmer on directional stalk
• Pressing in each light to try and get it to turn on
• Playing with the door switches, hoping for a bad contact

Is there some sort of relay or something? Or whatever makes them do that fancy dimming action when you close a door..? p:

The Body Control Module (BCM) does the dimming of the interior lights and there is not much one can do about it as the BCM is basically a chunk of memory with programming inside. You can try re-plugging the connectors on the BCM which sits on the rear of the internal fuse panel.

Also replace fuse 34 (15 A) on that fuse panel if you have not already done so.

 

[martin_metal_88]

Try to clean all ground. That could be a solution. Maybe try a BCM reset at the dealer.

 

[Billwill]

Try to clean all ground. That could be a solution. Maybe try a BCM reset at the dealer.

Yeah in this case the BCM supplies the ground.....agreed that if re-plugging the connectors does not help then maybe the BCM needs re-programming.

I do not trust the multi function switch too much though....it tells the BCM what to do!

Connectors C306 and C308 also are in line with the voltage supply to the lights...these may need re-plugging. There are no relays involved.

@stratusfear02....I can give you a link to the Service Manual with circuit diagrams if you require them.

 

[stratusfear02]

Also replace fuse 34 (15 A) on that fuse panel if you have not already done so.

I did replace that one. I'll test the relay this afternoon. Hopefully it isn't the BCM. They only Chrysler dealership in my area isn't very friendly when you roll in with an older vehicle.

 

[Billwill]

I did replace that one. I'll test the relay this afternoon. Hopefully it isn't the BCM. They only Chrysler dealership in my area isn't very friendly when you roll in with an older vehicle.

What relay? I do not see any relay in my circuit diagrams!

 

[1BADKJ]

There is no relay. Well there is but it is not serviceable. It is built into the BCM and not accessible.