1992 Dodge Shadow Ignition switch light stuck on

pentecost2190 · Posted at Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:04 pm

Electrical problem
1992 Dodge Shadow 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My 1992 Dodge shadow has the ignition switch light stuck on. How can I either fix the problem or disconnect the light all together? I've already had my battery go dead twice.

jdl123 · Posted at Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:01 pm

Are you talking about the halo around the key cylinder? If you turn the key a little, one way or the other, it may go out?

pentecost2190 · Posted at Tue Sep 01, 2009 1:30 am

Yes the halo around the switch is exactly what I'm talking about, it just will not go off as long as the battery has power. I've tried jiggling the switch with and without the key to no avail. I'm just not sure what else to do.

jdl123 · Posted at Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:49 am

If you pull fuse 13-- 10 amp, that should kill it. It is wired from the time delay relay in the relay module. Can't say the relay is faulty, might be a relay wiring circuit? I wanted to add, there are other circuits that work off that fuse.

caradiodoc · Posted at Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:52 am

If you have a backlit headlamp switch, that light should also be staying on with the halo light. It's rare, but the contacts in the time-delay relay can arc and stick together. First, try tapping on it with a light metal object like a screwdriver. The doors will have to be closed. This unit is a silver round relay, about 3/4" in diameter, similar to the old fluorescent light starters. If the lights go off, the contacts were sticking.

You can find a bunch of these in the salvage yards, and chances are you'll find a good one because they don't fail very often. Another clue is to crawl into the car and close all the doors, wait a few minutes, then feel the time-delay relay. If it's cold and the lights are still on, the contacts are stuck. If the relay is warm, it's being turned on by a door switch. The older metal pin-type switches have multiple contacts so it's possible the dome light will not be affected. The pin switches can slide in the tube nut and become out of adjustment too.

caradiodoc