Chrysler 300M with Automatic Headlights

My wife has a Chrysler 300M with Automatic Headlights. With the headlight
switch in the Automatic position, the headlights will come on for no reason,
stay on for a minute or so and then go off again. This can happen when the
car is first parked, but it can also happen hours later, or the next day.
It can happen whether it is day or night, so I don't believe that it is the
photo cell.

Our work around is to keep the headlight switch in the off position.

Does any one know what part is probably causing this problem, the procedure
for replacing it, and the cost of the part?

I can replace $10 parts to trouble shoot the problem. If it's a $400 dollar
part, I need to figure it out before replacing the part.

 

First thing to do is to work the switch. Also work the interior light
switch. It probably won't fix the problem but sometimes contacts get
corroded and it solves the lights issue.

 

As I said, my work around was to turn the switch to Off, and we havn't tried
it on Automatic since. I will turn the switch back and forth a few times,
and then set it to Automatic and see what happens. It's worth a try.

But then if it doesn't work what should I replace, and how do you get to it?

Todd

 

I wonder what year this vehicle is?

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

You might do a search on the 300M Club forums
(http://300mclub.org/forums/index.php?sid=426876de8fc01e7e267dc347d2afee34).

Seems I remember more than a couple of threads on your exact problem -
as they often do, they may have come up with a definitive standard cause
and solution (as neither of my Concordes has automatic lights, I didn't
pay much attention). It may be as somple as disconnecting the battery
or pulling a fuse to reset some controls, but do the search.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

2004

Todd