We just picked up a 1998 Durango SLT with 80k miles for my parents. It's in pretty good shape for it's age. The only problems we noticed on the test drive was the cruise doesn't work and one of the dash vents needs replaced. On the way home I noticed the brake lights weren't working. When I got to look at it, I found the brake light switch on the pedal but there are no wires attached to it. I felt up every part of the harness I could reach but could not find any hidden plugs. My mother is going back to the dealership tomorrow as she forgot her garage door opener in her trade in and I told her to bring the brake lights to there attention. On the off chance they can't figure it out, what should I do? I am totally baffled right now. I did check all the fuses and bulbs as well.

Here's the new ride.

 

There is a plug that connects to the switch, 1/4 turn if I remember. That's why the cruise doesn't work as well.

 

Sweet looking D - nice to see one so "old" yet so "low" mileage.

So any reason the roof rack is slid back like it is?

 

Any problems with the torque converter not unlocking?

 

If the techs were doing safety inspection as a used car, they should have seen there wasn't any brake lights.
The torque converter would unlock even without a brake switch. The pcm use's the tps as a input and will release with either letting off the gas or WOT, ( Wide Open Throttle). They need to fix the brake light problem!

 

The dealership fixed it for free, they agreed it was a safety hazard and should never have been released like that. Oddly enough they couldn't find the plug either so they had to go get one and attach it to the harness. Everything works like it should now, only thing left that needs fixing is one of the A/C dash vents is not adjustable so I will be hitting a salvage yard for that. No clue about the roof rack, it was that way when we got it. Maybe the PO thought it looked like a spoiler with both of them all the way back.

 

That would be cause for a serious discussion with whomever did that inspection--cant imagine how he could miss that--must have been texting on the job 0-o*

 

Looks nice, proper color (PR4). I'd take off the front grill/bumper thing and the roof rack rails (the small plastic covers at the very rear of the long tracks allow removal).

 

It's kind of goofy the way that push bar hangs so low under the bumper. It's the parents rig though, so if they want it off I will remove it for them. This is the flashiest rig they have ever owned, they traded in an 07 PT cruiser and an 04 Grand Am. My father was diagnosed with dementia and lost his driving privileges so they decided to consolidate to one vehicle that my father could get into easily and haul 2-3 grandchildren.

 

That's great that the dealer step up and fix the problem. I'm sure the tech got an ear full from the service manager.