Interior/Exterior Lights Flicker

[Chestermom]

'99 Concorde LXI -- nightmare since day one -- at 3,000 miles I had to replace motherboard -- lights started flickering car seized and it was dead!
At 4,000 miles a new motherboard was needed.

Then there were no more diagnosable motherboard problems

Now the car has 54,000 miles and the interior and exterior lights occasionally blink on and off -- not a major problem during the day but not OK on a dark road.

Has anybody else experience this problem?

Thanks

[windowpane]

I have not had this problem myself BUT the LH platform of cars, 2nd gen Intrepid/concorde/lhs/300m all have this problem due to the design of the headlamp switch. The problem is usually that the terminals get dirty and then you get this odd behavior.
If your are using the headlamp switch on auto all the time, manually turning them on and off MAY cure the headlamps flicker while driving, if that is what you meant, otherwise cleaning the contacts, use a contact cleaner from radio shack rather than the chrysler solution of just unplugging/replugging it to clean it, and sealing them with the dealer's dieletric grease or something comparable should fix this. Everyone I've encountered with this problem has their switch set to auto all the time, that is why I think using the switch manually will fix the headlamp issue some have but cleaning the switch is still recommended.

They say not to replace the switch because the problem will manifest itself again sooner or later, cleaning the terminal and sealing them is the way to go.

Here is the TSB:

NUMBER: 08-022-03
GROUP: Electrical
DATE: July 4, 2003
SUBJECT:
Headlamp/Instrument Panel Illumination
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves applying dielectric grease to the headlamp switch wiring connector.
MODELS:
2000 - 2004 (LH) LHS/300M/Concorde/Intrepid
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Subject vehicles may have the instrument cluster illumination change in brightness.
Subject vehicles equipped with "auto-lamps" may also have headlamps or fog lamps come on at unexpected times while the switch is in "auto-lamp" mode.
DIAGNOSIS:
If the vehicle operator describes one or both of the above Symptoms, perform the Repair Procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED:
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
NOTE DO NOT REPLACE HEADLAMP SWITCH BECAUSE PART REPLACEMENT WILL NOT CORRECT THIS CONDITION.
1.
Open hood and disconnect the negative battery cable.
2.
Remove the instrument panel left end cap.
3.
Remove steering column shroud cover.
4.
Tilt the steering column down into the lowest position.
5.
Remove one screw (Limited/300M) to cluster bezel.
6.
Remove the items to expose bezel mounting screws. Items vary depending on model.
7.
Remove two screws over upper cluster bezel in instrument panel brow area and all remaining attaching screws (four on Intrepid, Limited, and 300M, and five on Concorde).
8.
Using a trim stick (special tool # CA755), gently pry out on the instrument panel cluster bezel.
9.
Disconnect and connect the wire harness from the headlamp switch three (3) times to clean the contacts.
10.
Disconnect the wire harness from the headlamp switch and apply Mopar Dielectric Grease, p/n J8126688, to the harness connector terminals.
11.
Reconnect the harness to the headlamp switch.
12.
Reassemble the instrument panel.
13.
Connect the negative battery cable and set the clock to the correct time.

POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.

[rooster12]

I had my AC FIXED AND NOW THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE FLICKERING...SAME FIX??????
THANX!!!

Originally Posted by Chestermom

'99 Concorde LXI -- nightmare since day one -- at 3,000 miles I had to replace motherboard -- lights started flickering car seized and it was dead!
At 4,000 miles a new motherboard was needed.

Then there were no more diagnosable motherboard problems

Now the car has 54,000 miles and the interior and exterior lights occasionally blink on and off -- not a major problem during the day but not OK on a dark road.

Has anybody else experience this problem?

Thanks

[rooster12]

i HAD MY AC FIXED THIS WEEK AND NOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE FLICKERING...HEADLIGHTS ARE OK...WOULD YOUR SUGGESTIONS FIX THIS AS WELL?
ROOSTER12

Originally Posted by windowpane

I have not had this problem myself BUT the LH platform of cars, 2nd gen Intrepid/concorde/lhs/300m all have this problem due to the design of the headlamp switch. The problem is usually that the terminals get dirty and then you get this odd behavior.
If your are using the headlamp switch on auto all the time, manually turning them on and off MAY cure the headlamps flicker while driving, if that is what you meant, otherwise cleaning the contacts, use a contact cleaner from radio shack rather than the chrysler solution of just unplugging/replugging it to clean it, and sealing them with the dealer's dieletric grease or something comparable should fix this. Everyone I've encountered with this problem has their switch set to auto all the time, that is why I think using the switch manually will fix the headlamp issue some have but cleaning the switch is still recommended.

They say not to replace the switch because the problem will manifest itself again sooner or later, cleaning the terminal and sealing them is the way to go.

Here is the TSB:

NUMBER: 08-022-03
GROUP: Electrical
DATE: July 4, 2003
SUBJECT:
Headlamp/Instrument Panel Illumination
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves applying dielectric grease to the headlamp switch wiring connector.
MODELS:
2000 - 2004 (LH) LHS/300M/Concorde/Intrepid
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Subject vehicles may have the instrument cluster illumination change in brightness.
Subject vehicles equipped with "auto-lamps" may also have headlamps or fog lamps come on at unexpected times while the switch is in "auto-lamp" mode.
DIAGNOSIS:
If the vehicle operator describes one or both of the above Symptoms, perform the Repair Procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED:
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
NOTE DO NOT REPLACE HEADLAMP SWITCH BECAUSE PART REPLACEMENT WILL NOT CORRECT THIS CONDITION.
1.
Open hood and disconnect the negative battery cable.
2.
Remove the instrument panel left end cap.
3.
Remove steering column shroud cover.
4.
Tilt the steering column down into the lowest position.
5.
Remove one screw (Limited/300M) to cluster bezel.
6.
Remove the items to expose bezel mounting screws. Items vary depending on model.
7.
Remove two screws over upper cluster bezel in instrument panel brow area and all remaining attaching screws (four on Intrepid, Limited, and 300M, and five on Concorde).
8.
Using a trim stick (special tool # CA755), gently pry out on the instrument panel cluster bezel.
9.
Disconnect and connect the wire harness from the headlamp switch three (3) times to clean the contacts.
10.
Disconnect the wire harness from the headlamp switch and apply Mopar Dielectric Grease, p/n J8126688, to the harness connector terminals.
11.
Reconnect the harness to the headlamp switch.
12.
Reassemble the instrument panel.
13.
Connect the negative battery cable and set the clock to the correct time.

POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.