Dodge Journey: Diagnosis and Testing

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service.

This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

Lamps Lighting - Exterior
Fig. 60: Brake Lamp Switch - Early Production

Lamps Lighting - Exterior
Fig. 61: Brake Lamp Switch - Late Production

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.

CAUTION: Do not remove the Eary Production-type brake lamp switch from the mounting bracket. The self-adjusting plunger of this switch is a one time only feature. If the switch is removed from the mounting bracket, it MUST be replaced with a new switch.

2. Disconnect the wire harness connector from the brake lamp switch.

3. Using an ohmmeter, perform the continuity tests at the terminal pins (1) in the brake lamp switch connector receptacle as shown in the Brake Lamp Switch Tests table below.

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TESTS

PLUNGER POSITION (2) CONTINUITY BETWEEN
Released (Extended) Pins 1 and 2
Compressed (Depressed Pins 3 and 4, 5 and 6

4. If the switch fails any of the continuity tests, replace the ineffective brake lamp switch as required.

    Description, Operation
    DESCRIPTION Two unique brake lamp switches are used in this vehicle, depending upon whether the vehicle was built during early or late production. These switches are not interchangeable and both a ...

    Removal
    Two unique brake lamp switches are used in this vehicle, depending upon whether the vehicle was built during early or late production. These switches are not interchangeable. Both switches are il ...

    See also:

    Fascia, rear
    REMOVAL Fig. 15: Push Pins 1. Open the hatch. 2. Remove the 6 pushpins (1) securing the fascia (2). Fig. 16: Rivets 3. Remove the rivets (2) and the Torx screw (3) around the wheel well for ...

    Removal, Installation
    REMOVAL WARNING: Disable the airbag system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the negat ...

    Disassembly
    NOTE: Cleanliness through entire disassembly and assembly of the valve body cannot be overemphasized. When disassembling, each part should be washed in a suitable solvent, then dried by comp ...

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