2005 T&C Front Reading Light Problem

Hi :jerking:,

The 2 front reading lights which are situated on either side of the temperature display are not working. They look like they are the LED type so there is no bulbs to replace.
I have looked in the fusebox under the hood on the extreme right hand side but I cant find which fuse it is :confused:.

Can anybody point me in the right direction please?
I appreciate your advice and input!
Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Would be nice if there was an individual fuse for those lights but no, there isn't one. On earlier models the lights dimmer switch was the usual culprit. Not sure if that still applies.

Would be nice if there was an individual fuse for those lights but no, there isn't one. On earlier models the lights dimmer switch was the usual culprit. Not sure if that still applies.

Thank you very much for your informative reply.
From what you say I am now assuming that the actual light modules must be faulty as the dimmer switch seems to be working fine as it switches off the centre and rear lights.

I could obviously buy new modules and replace them, but I am not sure how to remove the trim around them so that I can gain access to remove them and replace them.

Would you be able to explain how the console around them is removed? or maybe point me to somewhere I can get this information?

Thanks again!

Not sure how they work on an 05 but on my 96 when you open the door they are supposed to turn on. They can be manually turned on by pushing on the lens. If applicable will yours turn on manually? If yes then the lights assembly is fine.

Potentially a bit of apples and oranges but here goes. My forward map lights haven't turned on when opening any door for a decade. They still work just fine when I push the lens on and off so I haven't bothered fixing them. Problem started off with them flickering when I opened the door. Noticed if I wiggled the rotary dimmer switch from side to side I could get them on steady. Eventually that didn't work. From that I can deduce the contact in the switch for the map lights is toast. All the other rear lights will turn on just fine so the door switches are good and the portion of the dimmer switch that controls them is good. It's just that single contact that's bad. You don't hear much about them now on any 3rd generation minivan forum but in the day, the switch was the fix. Some would remove it and repair it. Some would fork out the bucks and repalce it at $100+. I attempted to remove mine but it turned out to be a PIA for just a little switch so skipped it and lived with it.

What to do. Try posting your problem on the 4th generation (2001-2007) forum over at http://www.chryslerminivan.net/ Hopefully you'll get more detailed info on your 05.

Are you sure they are led lights. When I bought my 2006 T&C used, neither of the map lights worked either, and come to find out they were both burned out. When I took them out them plastic holders that they were in both looked like they had gotten hot and melted. I went to oreilly's and got new bulbs and they came with the holders already installed. I changed them and no problems since.

Not sure how they work on an 05 but on my 96 when you open the door they are supposed to turn on. They can be manually turned on by pushing on the lens. If applicable will yours turn on manually? If yes then the lights assembly is fine.

Potentially a bit of apples and oranges but here goes. My forward map lights haven't turned on when opening any door for a decade. They still work just fine when I push the lens on and off so I haven't bothered fixing them. Problem started off with them flickering when I opened the door. Noticed if I wiggled the rotary dimmer switch from side to side I could get them on steady. Eventually that didn't work. From that I can deduce the contact in the switch for the map lights is toast. All the other rear lights will turn on just fine so the door switches are good and the portion of the dimmer switch that controls them is good. It's just that single contact that's bad. You don't hear much about them now on any 3rd generation minivan forum but in the day, the switch was the fix. Some would remove it and repair it. Some would fork out the bucks and repalce it at $100+. I attempted to remove mine but it turned out to be a PIA for just a little switch so skipped it and lived with it.

What to do. Try posting your problem on the 4th generation (2001-2007) forum over at http://www.chryslerminivan.net/ Hopefully you'll get more detailed info on your 05.

first of all thanks for your reply.

They dont work manually anymore. first one stopped working and a while later the other one stopped too.

they do look like LED's as the lens cover doesnt come off as far as I can tell.

I will post on the 4th generation forum as you have suggested and I appreciate this info.

thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Are you sure they are led lights. When I bought my 2006 T&C used, neither of the map lights worked either, and come to find out they were both burned out. When I took them out them plastic holders that they were in both looked like they had gotten hot and melted. I went to oreilly's and got new bulbs and they came with the holders already installed. I changed them and no problems since.

Thank for your reply,

I am not sure but I tried to remove the lens and it doesnt seem to open and I tried to shine a flashlight into the lens and it doesnt look like there is a bulb in there just what appears to be two LED's but im not certain:runaround:

Refer to your Owner's Manual, page 395. Overhead Console Reading Lights bulb is # PC579. All internal bulbs are glass wedge base or glass cartridge types. Aluminum base bulbs are not approved and should not be used for replacement.

The plastic lens cover pops right off using a small screwdriver very carefully to pry off one edge. It's easiest if you pry on the middle of the long side next to the console (that is, opposite of the door). My van is a 2005 T&C also so everything should be the same.

C.B.