Hi friends,

Hoping for a little information here. At inspection over the summer, my mechanic was about to install a manual switch to turn on my reverse lights as he said the automatic switch in my model Durango had stopped working (the bright reverse lights did not come on when the car was shifted in reverse). Unfortunately it's a large expensive part (according to my mechanic) in my particular version of the 2001 Durango, and not a small fix, so he had recommended a switch. Then, just from taking SOMETHING (I suppose, the area where this switch/sensor is), they started working again. So, he must have jostled it.

The reason I'm asking...the lights are out again. So I'm now hoping to get hands on and jostle whatever my mechanic might have did to see if they'll work for a while again. I'd rather not have a manual switch to flip every time I back up though he did say this will pass inspection if he does it.

Any advise for my beloved but aging Durango would beappreciated!

 

What engine/trans have ya got?

 

Thanks so much for the reply. Your question is great as I remember now my mechanic saying the particular engine type of Durango I had (2001, Automatic Trans, 4.7L engine) is a more complex expensive fix than all the others. It just figures right? Is that true?

I did find a video that was a similar vehcile year and problem (funny that he says the mechanic also wanted to do the manual switch override instead of fix it) but it does look like this was a simple switch replacement.


My mechanic usually shoots me straight, so is there really a version of the 2001 Durango where this switch is combined with a much larger more expensive part essentially screwing me out of a cheap fix? I'd love to know anything you can share so I can see if I can source it if it can't be fixed (but first if I can get at it I may just give it a little jostle).

 

Look on the drivers side of the trans, where the shift linkage hooks up. If it is an external switch, that's where it will be.

 

Thanks for sticking with me. I'll admit my time under the hood of a vehicle is limited, and my time under a chassis pretty much non-existent (never touched a transmission before), but I like to learn, so I'll get under there this weekend and see what I can see, maybe snap some photos.

I seem to think there's a version of the Durango that might be different than the others and my version has a more complicated mechanism than the video above shows for this switch to control the reverse lights, though I am only going on what my mechanic told me.

If it's just an inline switch I can ratchet off and replace, that seems feasible.