Dodgezilla

Well last week while driving down the road I got a single chime but no lights on the dash. Each day it has gotten to be more and more to where sometimes it will chime up to 3 times in a row and the Lamp Out light will flicker a couple of times. It seems to happen more when I am applying the brakes but sometimes does it while cruising. I checked the brake lights and they are all working and it has done this without any lights on at all. Has anyone else experienced anything like this. I will be checking to make sure I don't have an obvious loose connection, especially in the brake circuit.

handymantim

There have been several recent threads about this. Try a search for "brake light" or "lamp out". Seems like the "lamp out" indicator is pretty sensitive and starts sending a warning before the bulbs actually burn out.

Dodgezilla

Thanks Tim...

Ramasaur

Your PC boards in the taillights are bad. They are $23.50 each from the dealer if your not under warranty.... don't let them put them in .....unless its warranty..... you will walk outta there with a $279 bill.

Dodgezilla

Do you think this would cause the chime even if I wasn't hitting the brakes?

handymantim

I searched high and low in my manual for how the system works but couldn't find it (or it isn't there). But my hunch is the system works off of continuity. When a light bulb burns out it loses contnuity i.e. the filament breaks and electricity can no longer flow. The Front Control Module (FCM) senses this break by the sudden loss of continuity. Continuity can be checked whether or not the bulbs are on. Loss of continuity can be caused by things other than a broken filament. A loose or coroded connection anywhere in the wiring between the FCM and the ground on the other side of the bulb will cause a loss of continuity.

In fact, since people are getting the "lamp out" chime before their bulbs actually burn out I'm guessing the FCM checks for an actual amount of ohms and not just pure continuity. Once the resistance hits a certain level the FCM triggers a lamp out chime/message.

rich

it will chime even if you dont apply the brakes pull the drivers side off and look at the middle light bulb i believe, the leads for the bulb wil be burnt or slight burnt giving the false reading but will eventaully not work even tho the filament is still good been thru about three times now bulb is cheaper then board

Dodgezilla

I picked up bulbs today and I'll try those before spending $50.00+ on circuit boards that I can't return if they're not the problem....

Dodgezilla

I replaced all the bulbs. Of course none of them were bad yet but both middle ones were turning brown on the black plastic base and the glass was starting to darken. All the contacts on the circuit board looked like brand new.
Hopefully this will fix the problem. My lights came out pretty easily by the way...

Dodgezilla

Well, I made it all the way to work without a chime!! Man! How did people get along without the internet? Thanks again for all the replies. This place is the greatest!!!!