I have a 98 Durango. My gear selector goes into gear fine but I've noticed that unless seated a particular way, my reverse lights won't come on. When the vehicle is in reverse, there's a little play between park and neutral and you have to play with the shifter some to get the lights to recognize that it's in reverse. Not really a serious breakdown in functionality but it is a bit of a safety issue. I'm sure I've ticked off a good number of people in parking lots not always having my reverse lights on.

Any ideas on what is going on or how to fix it?

Thanks!

 

Most likely the Netural/Safety switch is going out. It is on the transmission on the drivers side by the linkage on your 1998 year. It should have 3 wires going to it.

 

Thanks, just purchased a new one on RockAuto and will try installing it this weekend. Is it pretty accessible? I did notice another thread with pictures of the switch but just wanna make sure it's not hiding behind something else.

 

Well it is a PITA....But it's do-able.

 

You're lucky your NSS is located on the OUTSIDE of the tranny. Mine ('01) is located INSIDE the tranny behind the valve body! Stupid engineers!

 

I just got the truck back from the shop. It has a rebuilt tranny and new neutral safety switch and is still having issues with the reverse lights. Anything else that could be causing it?

 

The Netrual/Saftey switch also allows the car to start only in P or N so I'm guessing if it also starts while in R when the lights don't come on, then it's deffinatly a problem with the switch or a misadjusted cable maybe? I don't know I'm even confusing myself now with this troubleshooting haha but maybe you can piece some of that information together to find the problem. Good luck.

 

Sounds like your drunk and that's my role! Anyway, I'm flat out dumb founded and drunk so there!

You have the switch that if open sends an electrical signal to the CTM. From there it goes to a few other palaces like the reverse lights. If you have replaced the switch, and dependent if the feed is live coming off the switch (check to ensure), then something down line of the switch is shortened. Meaning, you would have an open short from the switch or CTM to the rear lights.

First you would have to ensure that a live feed is in fact being recieved to the CTM, then look for feed coming out of it to rule out the CTM. Then you would move down stream of the CTM and find the short weather it is the live feed or the ground.

 

Hydra has the right idea, just start tracing back the wiring from the switch to the lights with a multimeter if you have one. The only thing that threw me off and got me not thinking it was a wiring/shorting issue was you mentioned when you got the lever in the right spot it would work.

On my 98 D I know the PDC box behind the battery jumpers/splits the reverse light signal with one of those white jumper blocks from the NSS to the lights and to some other places I forget what else needs it. (probably the CTM) If I remember correctly it's like a violet/black wire for all the reverse light wiring but someone with a service manual should confirm that. I only messed with all that because I added a switch on my dash to turn them on whenever someone followed too close behind me on the highway and it certainly works well haha